Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva.  (It is the thin clear tissue that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids).

It is one of the most common eye infections in children and adults.

Children get it a lot. It can be highly contagious (it spreads rapidly in schools and day-care centers), but it’s rarely serious.

SYMPTOMS

Different types of conjunctivitis can come with slightly different symptoms, but in general common symptoms are:

• pink or red-toned eyes
• a gritty feeling in your eyes
• watery or thick discharge that builds up on your eyes at night.
• itchiness in your eyes
• abnormal amount of tears

  CAUSATIVE AGENTS & Risk factors

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Irritants such as shampoos, dirt, smoke, and pool chlorine
• A reaction to eye drops.
• An allergic reaction to things like pollen, dust, or smoke.
• Can be due to a special type of allergy that affects some people who wear contact lenses.
• Fungi, amoebas, and parasites.

Risk factors for pink eye include:

• Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis.
• Exposure to something you’re allergic to, for allergic conjunctivitis.
• Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses.

 TYPES OF CONJUNCTIVITIS

Viral strains – are the most common and the most contagious forms. It affects both eyes. First start in one eye, it causes lots of tears and a watery discharge. Within a few days. You might feel a swollen lymph node in front of your ear or under your jawbone.

Bacterial strains usually infect one eye but can show up in both. Your eye will put out a lot of pus and mucus.

Allergic types produce tearing, itching, and redness in both eyes. You might also have an itchy, runny nose.

Ophthalmia neonatorum is a severe form that affects new-borns. It can be caused by dangerous bacteria. Get it treated right away to prevent permanent eye damage or blindness.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis is linked with the long-term use of contacts or an artificial eye (ocular prosthesis).

Is pink eye contagious?

Pink eye that happens due to bacteria or viruses is highly contagious (very easily spread from person to person). This is because you can spread pink eye before you know you have it. We are also all touch our faces and eyes much more than we think.

Pink eye caused by allergies isn’t contagious.

How long its contagious with pink eye?

If you get pink eye from bacteria, you’re contagious while you have symptoms or until about 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.

If you get pink eye from a virus, you’re contagious for as long as you have symptoms (usually several days). You can also spread pink eye before you notice any symptoms.

How is conjunctivitis spread?

• During close contact (touching, shaking hands) with another person. Viruses and bacteria move from someone else’s hand to yours, then you touch your eye.
• By touching surfaces contaminated with bacteria or viruses then touching your eyes before washing your hands.
• By using old eye makeup or sharing makeup that’s contaminated with bacteria or viruses.
• Through sexual contact. Pink eye caused by STIs spreads when you touch infected semen or vaginal fluid vaginal fluid and then touch your eyes without first washing your hands.

COMPLICATIONS

In both children and adults, conjunctivitis can cause inflammation in the cornea that can affect vision.

Prompt evaluation and treatment by your healthcare provider can reduce the risk of complications. Seek medical attention when you have:

• Eye pain
• A feeling that something is stuck in your eye.
• Blurred vision.
• Light sensitivity.

DIAGNOSIS

Your healthcare provider will diagnose by taking proper history and inspecting your eyes.

For example, a healthcare professional might ask you if your eyes are itchy and whether you have watery or thick discharge. They might also ask if you’re experiencing symptoms of a common cold, hay fever, or asthma.

They may also perform a few tests, including:

• a vision test to see whether your vision has been affected.
• external eye tissue examination, including the conjunctiva, using bright light and magnification.
• examination of the inner eye to make sure no other tissues have been affected.
• conjunctival tissue smear, which is typically done when a person is dealing with chronic pink eye, or the condition is not improving with treatment

Treatment

Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the cause.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

For a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the most common method of treatment. Adults usually prefer eye drops. For children, ointment might be a better choice because it’s easier to apply.

With the use of antibiotic medication, your symptoms will probably start to disappear in just a few days but it’s important to finish your entire prescription to reduce  the risk of pink eye coming back. In the meantime, using a warm compress, or a cloth moistened with warm water, can help soothe your symptoms.

Viral conjunctivitis

Most of the time viral conjunctivitis is caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold.

These cold viruses don’t currently have any treatments, but symptoms are usually mild and resolve on their own in 7 to 10 days

In rare cases, other viruses like herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus can be involved, which can cause more serious infections. This infection is treated by antiviral medicines, but these treatments can only be used for these specific types of viral infections.

Chemical conjunctivitis

Rinsing your eye with saline is one way to help ease symptoms if you’re dealing with chemical pink eye. Topical steroids may also be prescribed if the case is severe enough.

Allergic conjunctivitis

To treat pink eye caused by an allergen, your healthcare professional will probably prescribe an antihistamine to stop the inflammation.

Loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are antihistamines that are available as over-the-counter medications. They may help clear your allergic symptoms, including allergic pink eye.

Other treatments include antihistamine eye drops or anti-inflammatory eye drops.

It’s also good to stop wearing contact lenses until your pink eye completely clears up.

Prevention

Practice good hygiene to control the spread of pink eye. For instance:

• Don’t touch your eyes with your hands.
• Wash your hands often.
• Use a clean towel and washcloth daily.
• Don’t share towels or washcloths.
• Change your pillowcases often.
• Throw away old eye cosmetics, such as mascara.
• Don’t share eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.

OUTLOOK

Pink eye usually isn’t serious. It’s highly treatable and preventable.

It’s very unlikely to damage your vision, especially if you find it and treat it quickly.

When you take care to prevent its spread and do all the things your doctor recommends, pinkeye clears up with no long-term problems.