When is conjunctivitis serious

Conjunctivitis that produces sticky pus is contagious. Credit: DR P. If eyes are red and feel gritty, the conjunctivitis is also usually contagious. Conjunctivitis caused by allergies like hay fever makes eyes red and watery but is not contagious. Conjunctivitis in a newborn baby.

Do make sure you and your child wash your hands often with warm soapy water wash your child's hands immediately if they touch their eyes tell your child not to touch or rub their eyes wash pillows and face cloths in hot water and detergent.

Don't do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better do not share towels and pillows do not rub your eyes.

Staying away from work or school You do not need to avoid work or school unless you or your child are feeling very unwell. Treatment from a GP or pharmacist Treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the cause. Your GP might prescribe: antibiotic eye drops - if the cause is a bacterial infection antihistamine medicines - if the cause is an allergy Your pharmacist can also give you advice.

Treating conjunctivitis at home You can help ease symptoms by cleaning around your eye and removing crusts from the eyelashes. Use the following steps to remove any discharge. Boil some water and let it cool. If it's a bacterial infection, you might be prescribed antibiotics. But these will not work if it's caused by a virus viral conjunctivitis or an allergy. Some sexually transmitted infections STIs can cause conjunctivitis. This type takes longer to get better. Page last reviewed: 22 February Next review due: 22 February Bacterial Conjunctivitis.

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Testing, with special emphasis on the conjunctiva and surrounding tissues, may include: Patient history to determine the symptoms, when the symptoms began, and whether any general health or environmental conditions are contributing to the problem. Visual acuity measurements to determine whether vision has been affected. Evaluation of the conjunctiva and external eye tissue using bright light and magnification.

Evaluation of the inner structures of the eye to ensure that no other tissues are affected by the condition. Supplemental testing, which may include taking cultures or smears of conjunctival tissue. This is particularly important in cases of chronic conjunctivitis or when the condition is not responding to treatment. Treatment Treating conjunctivitis has three main goals: Increase patient comfort. Reduce or lessen the course of the infection or inflammation. Prevent the spread of the infection in contagious forms of conjunctivitis.

The appropriate treatment for conjunctivitis depends on its cause. Allergic conjunctivitis The first step is to remove or avoid the irritant, if possible. Infectious conjunctivitis This type of conjunctivitis is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments.

Chemical conjunctivitis Careful flushing of the eyes with saline is a standard treatment for chemical conjunctivitis. Once an infection has been diagnosed, follow these steps: Don't touch your eyes with your hands.

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Change your towel and washcloth daily, and don't share them with others. Discard eye cosmetics, particularly mascara. Don't use anyone else's eye cosmetics or personal eye-care items. Follow your eye doctor's instructions on proper contact lens care. Prevention With so many causes, there is no one preventive measure. Find a Doctor of Optometry. Zip Code. Advanced Search. Share This.

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