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- Only children get pink eye. Fact: Pink eye affects both children and adults. There are three types of pink eye (bacterial, viral and allergic) and they can affect people of all ages.
- Pink eye is transmitted by direct contact. Fact: Pink eye that is caused by bacteria or virus is highly contagious. It can spread from person to person both by direct contact with an infected eye and by touching surfaces contaminated with someone's pink eye germs.
- Pink eye is highly contagious. Fact: Not all types of pink eye are contagious. Allergic pink eye is not contagious at all. Bacterial pink eye can be spread to another person from the time you develop symptoms until about 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
- Pink eye always requires antibiotic treatment. Fact: If bacteria is causing your pink eye, your doctor can give you a prescription for antibiotics to help shorten the course of infection.
Sep 11, 2023 · Conjunctivitis is generally spread by direct contact. Simply stated, you must touch someone or something to become infected. For example, someone who has conjunctivitis rubs their eye and touches a doorknob which is later touched by someone who then rubs their own eye. Adenoviruses frequently cause upper respiratory infections and can be spread ...
People also ask
Can I Touch my Eyes with my hands if I have pink eye?
Can you get pink eye if you touch a virus?
Can a pink eye infection be passed to someone else?
- Overview
- Is pink eye contagious?
- How is it spread?
- How long should you stay home from school or work?
- What are the symptoms of pink eye?
- How is pink eye diagnosed?
- How is pink eye treated?
- How to prevent pink eye
- The bottom line
Whether or not pink eye is contagious depends on its cause. It can result from a virus, bacterial infection, or an allergy.
When the white part of your eye turns reddish or pink and becomes itchy, you may have a condition called pink eye. Pink eye is also known as conjunctivitis. Pink eye can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or it may be caused by an allergic reaction.
Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are both highly contagious, and you may be contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms first appear. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
A pink eye infection can be passed to someone else in the same ways other viral and bacterial infections can be spread. The incubation period (the time between becoming infected and symptoms appearing) for viral or bacterial conjunctivitis is about 24 to 72 hours.
If you touch something with the virus or bacteria on it, and then touch your eyes, you can develop pink eye. Most bacteria can survive on a surface for up to eight hours, though some can live for a few days. Most viruses can survive for a couple days, with some lasting for two months on a surface.
The infection can also be spread to others through close contact, such as a handshake, hug, or kiss. Coughing and sneezing can also spread the infection.
You’re at increased risk for pink eye if you wear contact lenses, especially if they’re extended-wear lenses. That’s because bacteria can live and grow on the lenses.
Pink eye is contagious once symptoms appear, and the condition remains contagious as long as there is tearing and discharge. If your child has pink eye, it’s best to keep them home from school or daycare until symptoms disappear. Most cases are mild, with symptoms often clearing up within a few days.
If you have pink eye, you can return to work any time, but you will need to take precautions, such as washing your hands thoroughly after touching your eyes.
The first sign of pink eye is a change in color of the white part of your eye, called the sclera. It’s the tough outer layer that protects the iris and the rest of the eye.
Covering the sclera is the conjunctiva, a thin, transparent membrane that becomes inflamed when you get pink eye. The reason your eye looks red or pink is because the blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, making them more visible.
Inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva doesn’t always mean pink eye. In infants, a closed tear duct can irritate the eye. Swimming in a pool with a lot of chlorine can redden your eyes, too.
Actual conjunctivitis tends to have other symptoms, including:
•itchiness
•gooey discharge that may form crust around your eyelids while you sleep
See a doctor if you notice conjunctivitis symptoms in your eyes or those of your child. An early diagnosis can help reduce symptoms and lower the odds of spreading the infection to other people.
If your symptoms are mild and there are no signs of other health problems, such as a respiratory infection, earache, sore throat, or fever, you may be able to wait a day or two before seeing a doctor. If your symptoms subside, your symptoms may be caused by an irritation to the eye as opposed to an infection.
If your child develops pink eye symptoms, take them to a pediatrician promptly instead of waiting for symptoms to improve on their own.
During the appointment, your doctor will do a physical examination of the eyes and review your symptoms, as well as your medical history.
Bacterial pink eye tends to occur in one eye and may coincide with an ear infection. Viral pink eye usually appears in both eyes, and may develop along with a cold or respiratory infection.
Only in rare cases are tests needed to confirm a diagnosis of pink eye.
Mild cases of pink eye don’t always require treatment. You may use artificial tears to help with dry eyes and cold packs to relieve the discomfort of eye inflammation.
Viral conjunctivitis may not require treatment, though if the condition was caused by the herpes simplex virus or the varicella-zoster virus (shingles), anti-viral medications may be prescribed.
In general, you shouldn’t touch your eyes with your hands, especially if you haven’t washed your hands recently. Protecting your eyes in this way should help prevent pink eye.
Other ways to help prevent pink eye include:
•using clean towels and washcloths daily
•avoiding sharing towels and washcloths
•changing pillowcases frequently
•not sharing eye cosmetics
Viral and bacterial pink eye are both contagious while symptoms are present. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
By taking preventive steps and keeping your child home as much as possible while symptoms are present, you can help reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
Mar 29, 2024 · Risk factors for pink eye include: Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis. Exposure to something you're allergic to, for allergic conjunctivitis. Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses. Complications. In both children and adults, pink eye can cause inflammation in the cornea that can ...
Nov 15, 2023 · Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, causes swelling and redness in the inside of your eyelid and the white part of your eye. Your eye may also feel itchy and painful. Pink eye is common, and some types of pink eye spread very easily. You can keep from spreading it to other people by washing your hands often and not sharing items like pillowcases ...
May 1, 2024 · Unfortunately, pink eye is quite contagious, just like many other infectious diseases such as colds and influenza. Patients can be at risk of catching pink eye if they touch someone who is infected and then rub their eyes or face. For this reason, it is important to be consistent with hand hygiene and hand-washing, and avoid touching other ...
Feb 17, 2022 · You can get pink eye from irritants such as: ... if someone with viral pink eye touches their eye and then touches your hand, and you touch your eyes, there’s a chance you could get pink eye as ...
