Pink eye how can u get it

How long are you contagious with pink eye? Written by Jenna Fletcher on January 13, Types of pink eye. Share on Pinterest Grass, dust, and tree pollen may cause allergic pink eye.

Image credit: P33tr, Seven signs a person is contagious. Share on Pinterest Swelling around the eye may be a sign that a person is still contagious. How to get rid of pink eye. Share on Pinterest Washing hands before inserting or removing contacts is recommended.

Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What is allergic conjunctivitis? Pink eye is a very common eye problem, especially in children.

But with proper management, it rarely causes long-term vision damage. This type is caused by a bacterial or, more commonly, viral infection. It spreads rapidly from person to person. Staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria usually cause bacterial conjunctivitis. Infection can be spread through person-to-person contact, hand-to-eye contact, or eye contact with a contaminated object such as makeup or contact lenses. This type tends to happen in people who normally get allergies and occurs when the eyes are exposed to a trigger or allergen that causes an allergic reaction.

The most common form of allergic conjunctivitis is seasonal. A doctor or eye care professional can usually diagnose conjunctivitis — and which type you have — through an eye exam. Getting your eyes checked and being properly diagnosed is the key to getting the treatment that you need as soon as possible.

No treatment exists for the viral infection. It will have to run its course, which can take about two to three weeks.

As with any allergic reaction, removal and avoidance of allergens is the first step in treatment. Eyedrops Over-the-counter lubricant drops known as artificial tears are often used to soothe eye irritation and redness. They can also help with the dryness that can be caused by chronic conjunctivitis.

If your conjunctivitis is related to allergies, antihistamine eye drops can reduce itching or redness and relieve watery eyes. To prevent allergic or irritant pink eye, you'll need to figure out what is triggering the conjunctivitis, and either remove it or avoid it. Viral conjunctivitis accounts for up to 80 percent of all acute infectious cases of pink eye.

Bacterial conjunctivitis, however, is the most common cause in children. Allergic conjunctivitis affects up to 40 percent of the population, most frequently occurring in spring and summer months. Conjunctivitis has been associated with certain conditions, including psoriatic disease, the removal of enlarged adenoids, and sexually transmitted diseases STDs.

Though they are most commonly associated with skin and joint pain, these conditions can affect other parts of the body. When a psoriasis flare-up occurs around the eyes, the eyelids and eyelashes become red and crusty and covered in scales. Further irritation can occur when the rims of the eyelids turn down and the lashes rub against the eyeballs.

Research suggests that tonsil tonsillectomy and adenoid removal known as adenoidectomy are associated with certain allergic and infectious diseases. Adenoid glands at the back of the nasal passage help prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body through the nose.

If they become too large, they can cause sinus or breathing problems and may require removal. Learn More About an Adenoidectomy. Learn the fundamentals of pink eye from the professional medical association of ophthalmologists medical doctors who specialize in eye care. The site displays some visual examples of conjunctivitis, as well as quick home remedies. The AOA looks at the essential aspects of pink eye, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Because good hygiene is one of the best ways to control conjunctivitis, the association instructs readers on best practices to prevent this inflammation.

The College of Optometrists. The College of Optometrists highlights guidelines on the diagnosis and management on a type of conjunctivitis that occurs in newborns within the first month of life. The cause is a sexually transmitted disease in a parent. The site discusses diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

The CDC gives in-depth information about causes, treatments, and the different types of pink eye, including viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis. The site features a podcast by a pediatrician who specializes in the condition.

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NEI lays out the facts about pink eye, telling you how to recognize it, take care of it, and avoid getting it altogether.

You can also search for news, events, and latest research on the topic. The site addresses several eye-heath subjects, such as conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis is also very contagious. An infection from bacteria causes this form of pink eye. With bacterial conjunctivitis, you have sore, red eyes with a lot of sticky pus in the eye. Some bacterial infections, however, may cause little or no discharge.

Sometimes the bacteria that cause pink eye are the same that cause strep throat. Allergic conjunctivitis is a type of pink eye that comes from an allergic reaction to pollen, animals, cigarette smoke, pool chlorine, car fumes or something else in the environment.

It is not contagious. Allergic pink eye makes your eyes very itchy, red and watery, and the eyelids may get puffy. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis can be quite contagious. The most common ways to get the contagious form of pink eye include:. Children are the people most likely to get pink eye from bacteria or viruses. This is because they are in close contact with so many others in school or day care centers. Also, they don't practice good hygiene.

Other serious eye conditions can have similar symptoms, so a child who complains of severe pain, changes in eyesight, swelling around the eyes, or sensitivity to light should be examined. If you can't get an in-person visit, you might be able to do a "video visit" instead.

Telehealth — when patients and health care providers use technology for the remote diagnosis and treatment of some health conditions — is becoming more and more popular.

Ask your health care provider if his or her practice participates in telemedicine, and check with your insurance provider to see if this option is covered. Pinkeye caused by a virus usually goes away without any treatment. Pinkeye caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. It can be hard to get kids to tolerate eye drops several times a day.

If you're having trouble, put the drops on the inner corner of your child's closed eye — when your child opens the eye, the medicine will flow into it. If you still have trouble with drops, ask the doctor about antibiotic ointment, which can be placed in a thin layer where the eyelids meet, and will melt and enter the eye. If your child has allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe anti-allergy medicine, either as pills, liquid, or eye drops.

You also can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve discomfort check instructions for correct amount. Using cool or warm compresses on the eyes may make your child more comfortable. Clean the edges of the infected eye carefully with warm water and gauze or cotton balls. This can also remove the crusts of dried discharge that make the eyelids stick together in the morning.

If your child wears contact lenses, your doctor or eye doctor may recommend that the lenses not be worn until the infection is gone. Then, disinfect the lenses and their storage case at least twice before letting your child wear them again. If your child wears disposable contact lenses, throw away the current pair and use a new pair after the infection is gone.

Doctors usually recommend keeping kids with contagious conjunctivitis out of school, childcare, or summer camp for a short time.