Which condition is often confused with allergic conjunctivitis due to similar symptoms?

Viral conjunctivitis is often confused with allergic conjunctivitis because both conditions can present with similar symptoms such as redness, itching, and tearing of the eyes. In viral conjunctivitis, the viral infection leads to inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can mimic the symptoms seen in allergic conjunctivitis triggered by allergens.

While allergic conjunctivitis usually arises from exposure to allergens and often includes itchy eyes, viral conjunctivitis may be associated with additional systemic symptoms such as a sore throat or cold-like symptoms due to the viral etiologies. Differentiating between these two can be challenging, especially in cases where the patient may not report other typical systemic symptoms associated with viral infections.

Although conditions like bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis can cause discomfort and redness in the eyes, their symptom profiles and causes differ significantly from those of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic rhinitis, although it can accompany allergic conjunctivitis and share some symptoms, refers primarily to nasal allergy symptoms rather than direct eye involvement.