Conjunctivitis is one of the rising concerns in India. Due to incessant rain, flooding, and waterlogging, conjunctivitis is spreading faster than anything. Due to pink eye or the flu, many schools across the country have been closed for a few days. Children with conjunctivitis symptoms have been asked to stay at home until they get better. Conjunctivitis, or eye flu, can cause redness, itchiness, and discharge in the eyes. In some cases, individuals find it difficult to open their eyes in the morning due to crust formation over them. Conjunctivitis symptoms duration is about one to two weeks. However, in some cases, patients need to take prescribed medicines and eye drops and follow physicians’ instructions accordingly.
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What is Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye?
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an infection or swelling of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent membrane (over the inner surface of the eyelid). It covers the white part of our eyes. When we get infected, blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, and our eyes turn red or pink. Remember, all pink eye cases can be categorized as conjunctivitis, but not all conjunctivitis cases can be pink eye. Consult a doctor and get effective pink eye symptoms treatment if you are going through the same.
Pink Eye Or Conjunctivitis Symptoms
Pink eye symptoms can vary. However, it is important to consult a doctor if you start to experience any of the below symptoms:
- A gritty feeling in your eyes
- Pink or red-toned eyes
- Water or thick discharge
- Lots of tears
- Itchiness
Types and Causes of Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis
In order to treat conjunctivitis symptoms, it is important to understand the type and causes of conjunctivitis. Generally, there are three categories of pink eyes, such as:
- Infectious
- Allergic
- And chemical
Infectious Conjunctivitis
It can come in different types, including bacterial and viral. Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. Touching eyes with unclean hands, sharing makeup, or having close contact with someone who is infected can cause bacterial conjunctivitis.
On the other hand, viral pink eye is usually caused by cold viruses. If someone with an upper respiratory infection sneezes or coughs close to you, you can get affected. It can also occur if you have a cold virus or blow your nose too hard. In this way, you may push the infection from your respiratory system to your eyes.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
People with seasonal allergies often suffer from pink eye symptoms. They might develop pink eye if they come into contact with things they are allergic to. Often, wearing hard contact lenses or soft ones that aren’t replaced promptly can cause giant papillary conjunctivitis.
Chemical Conjunctivitis
You can get conjunctivitis from irritants such as:
- Air pollution
- Chlorine in pools
- Exposure or other chemicals
Can You Get the Eye Flu by Looking into Someone’s Eye?
There is a common myth that one can develop conjunctivitis or pink eye just by looking into the eyes of someone who is suffering from conjunctivitis. It is not true. Due to the direct contact, it can spread and affect other people in the room. Simply looking into someone’s eyes won’t cause conjunctivitis unless you come into close contact with the infected person.
Can Eye Flu Spread Via Air?
According to recent research, eye flu can spread via airborne particles. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, secretions or respiratory droplets containing the virus may come into other people’s eyes and cause infection. However, direct airborne transmission is not the primary spread mode. It is important to maintain respiratory hygiene by wearing masks.
Why Is Eye Flu So Contagious?
Its ability to survive on surfaces and transmission via direct or indirect contact with infected people’s eye secretions make it highly contagious. The virus can live on surfaces like doorknobs, tissues, or towels and spread the infection. Apart from this, crowded environments and close contact with infected individuals can be other reasons behind the rapid transmission of the virus.
The First Signs of Conjunctivitis and the Most Concerning Signs of Pink Eye
The initial signs of conjunctivitis include redness, itching, a gritty sensation, and lots of tears. If the infection increases, the patient might feel sensitive to light, and the eyes might start to discharge. If a patient starts experiencing eye pain, increased redness, or a drop in vision, he/she should immediately consult with an expert eye specialist or a qualified physician.
10 Tips to Prevent Conjunctivitis
In order to prevent conjunctivitis and its spread, there are certain things that you should maintain. Inform your friends and family about the disease and help them prevent it.
- Avoid close contact with others if you have developed pink eye symptoms.
- Wash your hands with soap for at least 15–20 seconds.
- Refrain from touching your eyes every now and then.
- Do not use other people’s eye makeup products.
- Do not share personal items like towels, pillows, contact lenses, etc.
- Keep your contact lenses clean.
- If someone in your family is infected, stop wearing lenses for a while and use glasses until everything turns out to be okay.
- You can wear a mask in crowded places to protect against airborne transmission.
- If your symptoms are prominent and you are feeling much discomfort, get yourself diagnosed immediately.
- You can use tear drops available in medicine shops and a warm compress to soothe the discomfort.
Conclusion
If you notice conjunctivitis symptoms, don’t go to work or school for a few days. Inform your family and ask them to take the right precautions. With the right treatment, you can easily get over it and resume your normal life activities. If you feel tired or conjunctivitis causes a fever, you should consult with a doctor without delay. Not only in the monsoon, you should maintain proper eye hygiene and care in all seasons. The eye is a sensitive and vital organ, and you should take the best care of it. If you find this blog helpful, kindly share it with your friends and family for awareness and leave your opinion in our comment box.
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