Conjunctivitis

Posted by Ann Brown | December 17th, 2009 in Conjunctivitis, Eye Diseases, Eye Health Care | 1 Comment »

conjunctivitisIt is an inflammation of the conjunctiva that may be due to several causes. Always redness and some discomfort, and treatment depends on its origin.

1. What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The most common causes are viral or bacterial infection of the conjunctiva or allergic disease. It may also be due to irritation of the conjunctiva by smoke, creams, etc..

2. What are the symptoms?
It usually appears as redness of the edges of the eyes accompanied by an increased secretion (what is commonly known as eye glued).

Sometimes it can cause discomfort but are usually quite mild. In contrast, in allergic conjunctivitis most striking symptom is itchy eyes and conjunctiva is red and swollen. If a virus or bacteria is a highly infectious disease which can spread easily by touching the eyelids or eyelashes.

How to Prevent … The only way to prevent it is touching your eyes with dirty hands and wash their hands after touching the eye with conjunctivitis to avoid contagion.

Also be careful with some warning signs like severe pain, inability to open the eye, photophobia, swelling of the eyelids or surrounding tissues and fever that should make us see a doctor immediately.

3. What is your treatment?
Initial treatment of conjunctivitis is bacterial or viral, is to clean the eyes with water or saline.

On the occasions that this is bacterial conjunctivitis antibiotics are given as drops or ointment, but for them to be effective you must first remove all the accumulated secretions. Allergic conjunctivitis are treated with a base shaped eyedrop antihistamines.

If symptoms are very severe it may be accompanied with an oral antihistamine or corticosteroid treatment in eye drops.


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