Health & Safety
Each month we will be featuring a common childhood illness or safety issue. This month…
Pinkeye
(conjunctivitis)
What is Conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelids and part of your eyeballs. It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, by an allergic reaction or, in newborns, by an incompletely opened tear drainage duct.
If you have conjunctivitis, you may feel as though something's in your eyes and you can't get it out. When you awake in the morning, your eyes may seem to be pasted shut. The whites of your eyes also may begin to look pinkish, and you may not see as clearly as before.
In conjunctivitis, inflammation causes small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become more prominent, resulting in a pinkish or reddish cast to your eyes. In fact, pinkeye and redeye are terms that are commonly used to refer to all types of conjunctivitis.
The inflammation of conjunctivitis makes it an irritating condition, but it's usually harmless to sight. If you suspect conjunctivitis, you can take steps to ease the discomfort. But because it can be contagious, conjunctivitis should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-aged children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.
Signs & Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
Redness in one or both eyes
Itchiness in one or both eyes
Blurred vision and sensitivity to light
A gritty feeling in the eye
Discharge in the eye that forms a crust during the night
Causes
Viruses, bacteria or allergies are the most common causes of conjunctivitis. Newborns may also experience conjunctivitis as the result of an incompletely opened tear drainage duct.
In viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, one or both eyes may be affected.
Viral conjunctivitis usually produces a watery or mucus discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces thicker, yellow-green matter, and may be associated with a respiratory infection or with a sore throat. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are associated with colds. They are also common among children and are very contagious. Adults can be affected as well.
Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes and is a response to an allergy-causing substance such as pollen. In response to allergens, your body produces an antibody called immunoglobin E (IgE). This antibody triggers mast cells in the mucous lining of your eyes and airways to release inflammatory substances, including histamines. Your body's release of histamine can produce a number of allergy symptoms, including red or pink eyes. If you have allergic conjunctivitis, you may experience intense itching, tearing and inflammation of the eye - as well as itching, sneezing and watery discharge from your nose. You may also experience swelling of the membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelids and part of your eyeball, resulting in what may look like a clear blister on the white of your eye.
Risk Factors
Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are common among children and are very contagious. The most virulent and contagious type of conjunctivitis - the one responsible for outbreaks in schools - is called epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. This type of viral infection can spread through a classroom of children in just a few days. Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually not epidemic.
Diagnosis
Conjunctivitis can be an irritating condition. But it's usually harmless to sight and typically does not require extensive or emergency treatment. Yet because conjunctivitis can be highly contagious, it's important to seek diagnosis and treatment early. Children with conjunctivitis may be excluded from child care or school until after they start treatment. Occasionally conjunctivitis can cause corneal complications in adults and children, making early treatment even more important.
If you have any of the symptoms of conjunctivitis, check with your doctor immediately. He or she may take a sample of eye secretions from the conjunctiva for laboratory analysis to determine which form of infection you have and how to best treat it.
Treatment
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye-drops if the infection is bacterial. Viral conjunctivitis typically disappears on its own - usually within a week.
If the irritation is allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe one of many different types of eye-drops. These may include antihistamines, decongestants, mast cell stabilizers, steroids or anti-inflammatory drops
Prevention
Practicing good hygiene is the best way to control the spread of conjunctivitis. Once the infection has been diagnosed, follow these steps:
Keep your hands away from your eyes.
Wash your hands frequently.
Change your towel and washcloth daily.
Change your pillowcase each night.
Discard eye cosmetics, particularly mascara, after a few months.
Don't use other people's eye cosmetics or other personal items that may come in contact with your eyes.
Don't share towels or handkerchiefs with others.
If your child has an infection or there is an outbreak of conjunctivitis at his or her school or child-care center, try to avoid putting him or her in close contact with other children. Many schools will send children with conjunctivitis home.
Self-Care
You can soothe the discomfort of conjunctivitis by applying warm compresses to your affected eye or eyes. To make a compress, soak a clean, lint-free cloth in warm water and wring it out before applying it gently over your closed eyelid.
For allergic conjunctivitis, avoid rubbing your eyes so that you don't release more histamines. Instead, use cool compresses to soothe your eyes. You might also try specially formulated over-the-counter eyedrops such as Naphcon-A or Opcon-A, which contain an antihistamine and an agent that constricts blood vessels.
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