Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, can be a nightmare to have within the family home. When you have multiple children, you might be frightened that one individual case could end up spreading to the entire family. Learning about the different types of conjunctivitis, such as by using the information provided by All About Vision, can allow you to understand the signs, as well as minimise the suffering that the individual must face. One of the first things to figure out, before opting for treatment or isolation, is whether the conjunctivitis has been caused by a virus, a bacteria, or is due to allergens within the air.
Viral Conjunctivitis
One of the more common types of conjunctivitis, at an estimated 6 million cases per year in the United States alone, is the kind caused by a virus. The virus here can be caught the same way that a person may catch any other type of illness, through the spread of bodily fluids such as coughing or sneezing. Contact with infected objects, such as sharing a facecloth, may also play a part in the transference of the virus. You can usually tell that pink eye is viral by the appearance of the eyes. Alongside watery eyes, they may be incredibly itchy and sensitive, as well as have a thin, watery discharge, which sets them apart from their bacterial counterpart.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
As with the viral kind, bacterial conjunctivitis is also incredibly contagious. Here, there may also be a burning feeling apparent, which can cause the sufferer to constantly want to rub their eyes. This can, however, make the problem worse, and even cause it to spread to the other eye. One of the other most significant factors of bacterial conjunctivitis is the appearance of any discharge. Unlike viral conjunctivitis, this will be sticky, and can even cause the eyelid to fuse shut after sleep. It can be yellow, or even take on a greenish hue, which can be worrying. You can usually find that prescription eye drops help to clear it up quicker, which can be important considering serious cases have been known to cause problems with a person’s sight.
Conjunctivitis Caused by Allergens
There is a type of conjunctivitis that can also act similarly to hay fever. Allergies, such as pollen or dust can get into the eyes, causing the same watery appearance, usually in both eyes, but can also affect the rest of the face and sinuses too. This is normally accompanied by a leaking nose, sore or scratchy throat, and puffiness. You might also feel fairly lethargic should this occur. Thankfully, this type of conjunctivitis is not contagious, and can be managed through the use of antihistamines, avoiding contact with potential allergens, and maintaining good levels of hygiene both on the body and in the home.
Figuring out the different types of conjunctivitis can be incredibly beneficial to keeping your family happy and healthy. Once you know the signs, and potential causes, you can take steps to try and prevent them from occurring in the first place.
My son’s eyes have often been affected by allergies and her also suffers with coldsores around his eyes.
