Viral pink eye is also known as viral conjunctivitis. It is an infection of the conjunctiva caused by viruses. Viral pink eye type is generally associated with an infection involving the upper respiratory tract, a sore throat, or just a common cold. Viral pink eye also shows a pinkish discoloration of the conjunctiva that can easily be mistaken as a ciliary infection of the iris. Viral pink eye is also characterized to have a watery discharge and an erratic itch. It also begins with only one eye involved but can easily affect the other eye. The discharge seen in the viral pink eye causes the eyelashes to stick together upon waking up. This article will discuss these types and give you some helpful information about different types of pink eye.
Viral pink eye is self-limiting and does not usually need any medication. In some instances when the infection worsens, it is advisable to seek immediate treatment in order to prevent any further complications. Ointments are often used to relieve the discomfort felt in the eyes. Sometimes you just have to wait until the disease process is over or you can use some home remedies such as:
- Take a lot of rest and avoid contact or sharing your personal things with other people to prevent its transmission
- Cold compress also helps relieve the discomfort on the affected areas. Viral pink eye is also associated with flu like symptoms or fever. Taking paracetamol or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs might help.
- It is also best to avoid rubbing or touching the eye to prevent the infection from spreading to the other eye if only one eye is affected.
Different Types of Pink Eye
Pink eye is a common condition, especially for school-age children. It is also known as conjunctivitis or the infection of the conjunctiva, the outer covering of the eyes. Another name for it is the madras eye.
For parents, it is very essential to know the types of pink eye in order for you to get the proper treatment for it.
There are three different types of a pink eye according to their causes. However, it’s not really easy to determine which type your child might have. Most likely, you will need to go to a clinic for a consultation by your kid’s paediatrician.
Viral Conjunctivitis
Most of the time, this type does not need any medical intervention. A viral infection passes when the virus disappears. The presenting symptoms of this type include watery or teary eyes and itchiness. It usually affects one or both eyes.
But you always have to remember that even if your child has a viral infection like a cold or influenza, it doesn’t automatically mean that your child has viral conjunctivitis. Let the doctor do his work in diagnosing the condition. The doctor will recommend eye drops to soothe the itchiness.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
By its name, obviously, the causative agent of this type is bacteria. Typically, the infection starts only with one eye and eventually spreads to the other eye. The color of the discharge coming out from the eye is actually the basis of the doctor’s how to identify the types of a pink eye your child has.
So, therefore, it is important that you inform the doctor of the discharge color of your child’s eye. Greenish to yellowish is the usual discharge color of bacterial conjunctivitis. This type can be treated with antibiotic drops.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
This is more common in both children and adults who have allergies. The discharge in this infection is not colored and the affected eye is just watery. However, take time to see a doctor in order for your child to be diagnosed accordingly. This is not contagious, though. It is treated with allergic drops and other anti-allergy medications.
Knowing these types will help the doctor widen his assessment of your child’s condition. As this article has repeatedly stated, never assume what type of pink eye your child has. Always ask for the physician’s opinion. And also, make sure to follow the doctor’s prescription to avoid complications of pink eye.
Be aware of how to prevent spreading pink eye because even you can acquire it when you don’t practice proper methods in taking care of the infected eye and don’t practice proper hygiene.
Remember that out of the three different types of pink eye, only two are considered contagious: viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. So make sure to practice the necessary precautions after knowing what type of pink eye your child has acquired.
Symptoms of Pink Eye
Conjunctivitis is also referred to as sore eyes or pink eye. Symptoms of the pink eye need to be identified immediately to be able to administer remedies and prevent their spread. Pink eye symptoms are often misinterpreted as symptoms of other diseases.
The earliest to appear is the irritating feeling that something is in your eye. Without knowing it, you are already rubbing your eyes to try and remove that something which will now cause more irritation.
Symptoms of pink eye also differ according to their cause, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or chemicals. Pink eye symptoms caused by viruses include a watery discharge in the eye and an itchy feeling. Pink eye symptoms for viral infection usually start from one eye and then spread to the other.
The most common pink eye symptoms for bacterial causes include mucopurulent discharge which is commonly due to pus-producing bacteria. Other pink eye symptoms include severe crusting of the affected eye, redness of the eye, and local itchiness.
Symptoms for chemical injury usually have marked redness and are usually present in the lower conjunctival sac. There can also be necrosis of the conjunctiva which is commonly caused by sodium hydroxide.
During the disease process, pink eye symptom changes. It can start from a pinkish to a reddish appearance until your eye produces excessive tearing. Other symptoms also include blurring of vision due to the pus coming out of the eye. There is also pain when you apply pressure on your body.
Symptoms of pink eye are generally the same regarding its cause. It is however important to determine specific symptoms which will aid in the administration of treatment and can prevent its spread or future complications. Pink eye symptoms usually start to disappear in 2 or 3 days if proper treatment has been taken and no further complication develops.
Cause of Pink Eye
The most common question about pink eye is what bacteria cause pink eye? – the pink eye is a viral infection but it can also be bacterial in origin, allergens, or other substances that cause irritation to the eyes. The bacterial and viral cause of pink eye is most of the time contagious. It is advisable to avoid sharing personal belongings, especially the ones used in the eyes or the face.
The most common cause of pink eye due to the virus is adenoviruses. It can also be caused by the Herpes simplex virus often causes a type of viral pink eye known as herpetic keratoconjunctivitis which is a serious condition that needs treatment of acyclovir.
Another cause of pink eye is enteroviruses like the Coxsackievirus A24 and Enterovirus 70. Both of these viruses that cause pink eye are highly contagious and should be treated immediately.
The bacterial cause of pink eye is often associated with Staphyloccocus or Streptococcus bacteria. The most common symptom of the bacterial pink eye is swelling of the eye, eye pain, redness, itching, swelling of the lymph node in the ears, and a moderate eye discharge that is usually thick and yellowish in color.
Chlamydia is also one of the causes of pink eye in the United States. It is also very common in Eastern countries and Africa. Chlamydia causes pink eye in neonates and also in adults. It is usually treated with Erythromycin or Tetracycline. It is however not given to children less than 8 years old since it causes discoloration of the teeth.
Another cause of pink eye is an allergen or a chemical substance that irritates the membranes of the eye which causes the pinkish-to-reddish discoloration of the eye. It is advisable to seek immediate treatment when the cause of pink eye is a chemical substance to prevent further damage to the eyes. Allergens that cause pink eye should be avoided.
How Long Does Pink Eye Last
Pink eye is the layman’s term for the medical condition conjunctivitis, an infection of the outer protective layer of the eye. The characteristic symptoms of pink eye or conjunctivitis are redness of the affected eye, itchiness, tearing, and greenish-to-yellowish discharge (in the case of bacterial conjunctivitis).
Eye Drops for Pink Eye
Although pink eye or conjunctivitis is common in one’s life experience, it can still greatly affect our daily activities because of the symptoms one feels and its contagiousness. We always look for medications that can ease or soothe our symptoms like in the form of eye drops. However, its contagiousness cannot be prevented because it must follow the disease course but the pink eye can be treated at home.
The eye drops that can be used as a treatment of the pink eye. It should depend on the type and the presenting symptoms you want to manage. Each eye drop has a different effect than the other but the goal is the same and that is to manage and cure the infection.
However, in the case of a viral infection, one cannot really cure it using the medication as it usually disappears when the virus is gone. The treatment focuses only on easing the symptoms of viral infection.
Generally, the viral pink eye does not require medication unless the affected are small children. Supportive treatment like eye drops soothes the symptoms. Never use eye drops that can cause vasoconstriction in treating pink eye. Yes, they are able to get the redness but they can also delay the healing process and in some cases, they can cause eye damage.
Choose eye drops that are saline-based and gentle to the eyes such as Similasan’s Pink Eye Relief which is better recommended for viral pink eye. This can be bought over the counter. You may also need over-the-counter lubricating eye drops to make you feel better.
Bacterial pink eye really makes the eye red and sore and is characterized by a thick greenish to a yellowish discharge. It should be treated with antibiotic eye drops which can be prescribed by an eye doctor. You need a doctor’s order to buy the antibiotic eye drops.
For allergic pink eye, you may use over-the-counter lubricating and antihistamine drops to soothe your eyes. You may also need to take some oral tablets (antihistamine) to alleviate the allergic reaction.
When applying eye drops, make sure to wash your hands first thoroughly and dry them using a clean towel. Check for chips or cracks in the eyedropper. Never touch the tip of the eye dropper with your fingers or hands. Tilt the affected person’s head back and with the use of your index finger, carefully pull down the lower portion of the eyelid.
Using the other hand, hold the dropper tip downward close to the affected eye. Be careful not to touch the dropper tip directly to the eye. Gently squeeze the dropper head the prescribed number of times. Close the affected eye for two to three minutes with a head-tipped-downward position.
If there’s any excess eye drop solution from the face, wipe it. Put back the eye drop lid and keep the medication in a safe place.
These eye drops are over the counter (aside from antibiotic eye drops) and accessible in any drugstore. However, when symptoms persist based on the type of pink eye, it is important that you ask for a doctor’s advice.
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