Which of the following is a symptom of viral conjunctivitis?

Prepare for the PAEA Pediatrics EOR Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Bilateral eye itching is a common symptom associated with viral conjunctivitis. This condition often presents with a watery discharge from the eyes, typically seen in cases caused by adenoviruses. The discharge is copious and can be very watery rather than yellow or green, which is more characteristic of bacterial conjunctivitis.

In addition to the watery discharge, patients may also experience red eyes, mild ocular irritation, and often both eyes are affected, which reinforces its viral nature.

Notably, while significant visual changes can occur in some eye conditions, they are not typically associated with viral conjunctivitis. This type of conjunctivitis generally does not cause drastic visual impairment, as it primarily affects the conjunctiva and does not involve deeper structures of the eye.

Purulent discharge tends to suggest a bacterial origin rather than a viral one, further distinguishing the nature of the discharge seen in viral conjunctivitis. Thus, the copious watery eye discharge is the defining symptom related to viral conjunctivitis in this context.

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