Pink Eye How Long Contagious

Pink Eye How Long Contagious, Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection in the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that covers the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball. When the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they become more visible. This is what makes the white part of the eye turn reddish or pink.

The most common cause of conjunctivitis is a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction or, in babies, a partially open tear duct.

While conjunctivitis can be bothersome, it rarely affects vision. Treatments can help relieve the discomfort of conjunctivitis. Since conjunctivitis can be contagious, early diagnosis and treatment limit the spread to others.
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Pink Eye Early Symptom

The most frequent symptoms of conjunctivitis are the following:

•     Redness in one or both eyes

•     Itching in one or both eyes

•     A sandy sensation in one or both eyes

•     Secretion in one or both eyes that forms a scab during the night, which can prevent you from opening one eye or both in the morning

•     Tearing

When should you consult a doctor?

There are serious eye diseases that can cause redness in the eye. These diseases can cause pain in the eyes, the feeling of having something stuck in the eye (feeling of having a foreign body), blurred vision and sensitivity to light. If you have these symptoms, you should seek immediate attention.

People who wear contact lenses should stop wearing them as soon as the symptoms of conjunctivitis begin. If the symptoms do not begin to improve after 12 to 24 hours, ask your ophthalmologist to make sure you don't have a more serious eye infection related to the use of contact lenses.

Pink Eye Causes

    1. Virus
    2. Bacteria
    3. Allergies
    4. A chemical splash in the eye
    5. A foreign object in the eye
    6. In newborns, a blocked tear duct

Pink Eye Viral or Bacterial

Most cases of conjunctivitis are the product of a virus.

Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can occur along with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore throat. Wearing contact lenses that are not cleaned properly or that are not yours can cause bacterial conjunctivitis.

Both types are very contagious. They spread through direct or indirect contact with the fluid that drains from the eye of the infected person. One or both eyes may be affected.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes and is a response to a substance that causes allergy, such as pollen. In response to allergens, the body produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This antibody causes special cells called mast cells in the mucous lining of the eyes and airways to release inflammatory substances, including histamines. The release of histamine from your body can produce a series of signs and symptoms of allergy, including red eyes or conjunctivitis.

If you have allergic conjunctivitis, you may experience severe itching, tearing and swelling of the eyes, as well as sneezing and watery nasal secretions. Most allergic conjunctivitis can be controlled with allergy drops.

Irritation Conjunctivitis

The irritation caused by a chemical splash or a foreign object in the eye is also related to conjunctivitis. Occasionally, washing and cleaning the eye to remove the chemical or object causes redness and irritation. Signs and symptoms, which may include watery eyes and mucus secretion, usually disappear on their own in about a day.

If the initial redness does not resolve the symptoms, or if the chemical is caustic, such as bleach, you should consult your doctor or ophthalmologist as soon as possible. A chemical splash in the eye can cause permanent eye damage. Persistent symptoms may also indicate that you still have a foreign body in the eye, or possibly a scratch on the cornea or the cover of the eyeball (sclera).

Risk factor's

Risk factors for conjunctivitis include the following:
    1. Exposure to an element that causes allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)
    2. Exposure to a person infected with viral or bacterial conjunctivitis
    3. The use of contact lenses, especially those of prolonged use

Pink Eye Complications

In both children and adults, conjunctivitis can cause inflammation of the cornea that can affect vision. Timely evaluation and treatment of eye pain by the doctor, the feeling that something is stuck in the eye (foreign body sensation), blurred vision or sensitivity to light can reduce the risk of complications.

How to Cure Pink Eye

Prevention of pink eye infection

Maintains good hygiene to control the spread of pink eye. For example:

    1. Do not touch your eyes with your hands.
    2. Wash your hands often.
    3. Use a clean towel and cloth every day.
    4. Do not share towels and cloths.    5. Change the pillowcase often.
    6. Discard eye cosmetics, such as the mask.
    7. Do not share eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.

Keep in mind that the pink eye is no more contagious than the common cold. If you cannot take a break, it is good that you return to work, school or resume child care as long as you are consistent and maintain good hygiene.

Pink eye prevention in newborns
The eyes of newborns are susceptible to a bacterium that is normally present in the mother's birth canal. This bacterium does not cause symptoms in the mother. Rarely, this bacterium can cause babies to have a serious type of conjunctivitis called neonatal ophthalmia, which requires immediate treatment to preserve vision. For this reason, shortly after birth, an antibiotic ointment is applied to the eyes of all newborns. Ointment helps prevent eye infection.

Pink Eye of the newborn baby

A few days ago we talked extensively about conjunctivitis of the newborn, about its symptoms, its causes and its treatment. Today we focus on the types of conjunctivitis, related to the origin.

    Chemical conjunctivitis: It is related to an irritation in the eye as a reaction the administration of eye drops to the newborn to help prevent a bacterial infection. Although it is very rare with today's medications, sometimes the newborn can develop a chemical conjunctivitis. Normally, the eyes are slightly red and inflamed, starting a few hours after the drops have been administered to the eyes, and lasts only 24 to 36 hours. It is usually a mild conjunctivitis and does not need treatment.

    Gonococcal conjunctivitis: It is caused by a bacterium called 'Neisseria gonorrhea', which causes gonorrhea. Newborns get this type of conjunctivitis through the duct through the birth canal of an infected mother. This type of conjunctivitis can be prevented with the use of antibiotic eye drops or ointment in babies at birth. The newborn's eyes are usually very red, with thick drainage and swelling of the eyelids. This type usually begins 2 to 4 days after birth approximately. Treatment of gonococcal conjunctivitis usually includes antibiotics through an intravenous catheter.

    Inclusive conjunctivitis: its cause is infection with chlamydia tracomatis. Symptoms include a moderate drainage of the eyes, redness of the eyes, inflammation of the conjunctiva and mild inflammation of the eyelids. This type usually begins 5 to 12 days after birth approximately. Treatment usually includes oral antibiotics.

    Other bacterial causes: after the first week of life, other bacteria may be the cause of conjunctivitis in the newborn. The eyes may be red and inflamed with some drainage. Treatment depends on the type of bacteria that caused the infection. Treatment usually includes antibiotic eye drops or ointments, warm compresses in the eye and proper hygiene when infected eyes are touched.

Childhood Conjunctivitis

Childhood conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva and may also include an infection. Infectious conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria or viruses. The following are the most common causes of childhood conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis is the most common eye infection in children. Although most conjunctivitis is contagious (they cause epidemic outbreaks of conjunctivitis in nurseries or schools), they usually do not cause damage to the eye or vision.

    Bacteria: The majority (80%) of infectious conjunctivitis are caused by bacteria that normally live in the nose or skin.

    Viruses: the remaining cases of infectious conjunctivitis are viral.

    Allergies: conjunctivitis that appears in spring outdoors, with more itching and burning than secretion, suggests allergy to some type of pollen. Maintained conjunctivitis, which worsens when hands are stained with dust to the eyes, suggest allergy to dust mites that live in house dust. In both cases there is usually nasal sneezing, obstruction and watery discharge.

These are the types of allergies that we can find in infants and children, but in the suspicion that they have an infection or any eye problem, you must go to the specialist to make the correct diagnosis and determine what is the right treatment.