Conjunctivitis is a common infection of the eyes. Conjunctivitis means inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the mucous membrane that lines the inside surface of the lids and covers the surface of the globe up to the limbus (the junction of the sclera and the cornea).

Causes:

• Bacterial
• Viral
• Allergic

Bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children. It is commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Steptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Bacterial conjunctivitis is spread by direct contact with the patient and his or her secretions or with contaminated objects and surfaces. Patients typically complain of redness and discharge of the affected eye.

Viral conjunctivitis is usually caused by adenovirus. The conjunctivitis may be part of a early onset of viral infection followed by adenopathy, fever, pharyngitis, and upper respiratory tract infection, or the eye infection may be the only manifestation of the disease. It is high contagious and spread by direct contact with the patient and his or her secretions or with contaminated objects and surfaces. Patients typically complain of watery discharge, burning, sandy or gritty feeling in one eye. Viral conjunctivitis is a self-limited process. The symptoms frequently get worse for the first three to five days, with gradual resolution over one to three weeks.

Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by airborne allergens contacting the eye. It typically presents as both eye redness, watery discharge and itching.

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Achalasia is motility disorder of esophagus. Achalasia is a rare disorder affecting about 1.6 per 100,000 individuals. Both men and women are equally affected. The disease usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 60 years. The primary cause of Achalasia is unknown. Secondary cause of Achalasia can be due to Chagas disease caused by protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma Cruzi which occurs predominantly in Central and South America.

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Tinea is a fungal infection of skin, nail and hairs. Tinea is usually caused by filamentous fungi such as Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Among those fungi, Trichophyton is the most common cause of Tinea in human skin.

Tinea can be spread by skin to skin contact or indirectly through sharing of towels, clothes or walking with barefoot on floors. Tinea tends to grow on warm, sweat prone areas of the body.

There are few types of Tinea which depends on the locations of the body affected:

• Tinea corporis- Infection of body surfaces other than feet, groin, face, scalp hair or beard hair
• Tinea pedis- Infection of the foot (Athelete's foot)
• Tinea cruris- Infection of the groin (Jock itch)
• Tinea capitis- Infection of scalp hair
• Tinea unguium (dermatophyte onchomycosis)- Infection of the nail

Symptoms:

• Itching and stinging
• Circular red scaly rash with central clearing (usually happens on body, groin, arms and legs)
• Blister scaly rash due to intense inflammatory reaction 
• Yellow or white discolouration of the nails. Loosening or separation of fingernail or toenail from its bed
• Bald spots on the scalp known as Kerion

Treatment:

• Antifungal cream such as Lamisil cream can be used to treat Tinea but it takes time to work and can be expensive. Canestan cream does not work well in treatment of Tinea
• Terbinafine tablet. More effective but also take time to work. The medication is generic and therefore, even without approval from PBS authority, the price is still reasonable to purchase privately
• Azole tablets such as Itraconazole and Fluconazole  
• Griseofulvin