Effects of Over-Prescribed Antibiotics for Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is also called pink eye or sore eyes. The eyes appear reddened, with itchiness and discharge. Though bacteria can cause conjunctivitis, viruses and allergies are often more common causes. Infections are caused by various agents - viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa. The doctor differentiates between these infections during examination by conducting various tests, and prescribes antibiotics for bacterial infections only. Antibiotics are being misused for viral and allergic conjunctivitis, where they are not only ineffective, but could also result in the development of resistance. A study that evaluated the prescription-filling patterns for acute conjunctivitis in the United States over 14 years was published in the Ophthalmology.