Conjunctivitis: causes, symptoms and treatment

It is important to know the symptoms of conjunctivitis in order to prevent

eye, conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a membrane that covers the white part of our eyes - the problem makes the eyes red and runny. Usually only one eye is affected, but conjunctivitis can occur in both eyes, especially when rubbing the affected eye and then putting in the healthy hand.

The three types of conjunctivitis

viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and is caused by a microorganism that infects the membrane that lines the eye, causing pain, redness and discharge.

bacterial conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious and its symptoms are more intense; the secretion is thicker, similar to pus.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is non-communicable and affects people who are prone to allergies, such as people who suffer from rhinitis and bronchitis. It usually occurs in the fall or spring, when there is a lot of pollen in the air. Allergic conjunctivitis can also be caused by the adverse effects of some medications.

Other causes for conjunctivitis can be pollution, smoke, pool chlorine, cleaning products, makeup or shared objects.

Main symptoms of conjunctivitis

Symptoms of conjunctivitis vary according to the type of disease.

Conjunctivitis caused by viruses or bacteria:

  • Sensation of dust in the eye;
  • Burning in the eye;
  • Redness;
  • Eyelashes, especially when waking up;
  • Ingua in the region around the ear;
  • Purulent or whitish secretion.

Allergic conjunctivitis:

  • Redness in the eye;
  • Intense itching;
  • Dry and sore eyelids;
  • Sneezing, runny nose or stuffy nose.

Prevention

There are some measures that can be taken to prevent you from getting conjunctivitis, check it out:
  • Don't use other people's makeup and don't lend yours;
  • Avoid sharing washcloths;
  • Do not use medications (ointments and eye drops) without a doctor's prescription;
  • Wash your hands often and do not put them in your eyes;
  • Wear diving goggles for swimming;
  • Avoid swimming in unsuitable beaches for bathing and swimming pools that are not properly treated;
  • Do not wear contact lenses while you have conjunctivitis, even if you are using eye drops or ointments;
  • Avoid exposure to smoke or pollen;
  • Avoid scratching your eyes to reduce irritation;
  • Wash your hand before and after using eye drops and ointments. Do not hold the bottle of eye drops or ointment against your eye.

How to treat conjunctivitis

For each type of conjunctivitis there is a specific treatment. In the case of bacterial conjunctivitis, treatment includes the use of antibiotics and eye drops prescribed by a doctor. Discharges of pus should be removed daily from the eyelids with cotton wool moistened with cold water, with cleaning starting from the outside to the inside of each eye. For viral conjunctivitis, there are no effective medications yet, but it can be treated by keeping the eye clean and moistened. In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, it can be treated with antihistamines - the ideal is to identify the cause of the allergy and avoid contact or exposure.

Watch out!

If you suspect that you have conjunctivitis, seek medical attention, as only a professional will be able to diagnose and apply the remedies to correctly treat the conjunctivitis. There are eye drops that, if used, can aggravate the problem even more.



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