Eyes are the most precious and delicate organ of our body. A little affliction in the eye can cause great distress for anyone. We are writing this article to explain one such affliction, i.e. Conjunctivitis Virus. Conjunctivitis is also known as pink eye. It is an inflammation in the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin clear lining at the white part of your eyeball and lies inside the eyelid. In this article, we are going to explain the conjunctivitis virus along with its symptoms, diagnosis, causes, and treatment. However, first, let’s learn some basic information regarding this virus.
Conjunctivitis is of great concern in children, especially between 5-12 years of age. It’s because this virus is highly contagious and can quickly spread in schools and colleges. Although Conjunctivitis causes much irritation and pain, it isn’t as dangerous as most people believe. It can rarely damage your vision, especially if you diagnose it and start treating it in the early stages. Here, we would like to mention one more thing. Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious disease. If you have this viral infection, you should take care to prevent its spread, by doing everything your doctor advises. The most common and hallmark symptom of Conjunctivitis is swelling in the eyes and secretion of white fluid in profusion. We believe that’s enough of the surface knowledge for now. So, without any further delay, let’s start discussing the topic in detail. We’ll start the discussion by mentioning the symptoms of Conjunctivitis.
Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis:
The most common symptoms of Conjunctivitis include:
- Redness in the white area of the eyeball.
- Swollen eyelids.
- Tears flowing continuously (more than usual).
- A thick yellow precipitate of discharge that sticks to your eyelashes.
- Greenish or whitish discharge from the eyes.
- Itch or discomfort in the eyes.
- Blurry vision.
- Continuously burning eyes.
- More sensitivity towards light and heat.
- Swelling in lymph nodes (In very rare cases).
Of all these symptoms, the most common and conforming ones are; discharge from eyes, precipitation on the eyelids, and itchy eyes. If you are feeling any of the symptoms, you should definitely see your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. So, this was all about the symptoms of Conjunctivitis, now, let’s have a look at the causes of Conjunctivitis.
Causes Of Conjunctivitis:
We have already discussed that Conjunctivitis is a contagious disease, and it spreads from person to person. But, this may not be the only way of its spreading. There are also a few other ways in which it spreads, which include:
- Viral infection.
- A bacterial infection.
- Irritants in the eyes, like shampoo, dirt, smoke, or pool chlorine.
- The side-effect of a particular eye-drop.
- Allergy to the contact lens.
- Fungi, amoebas, and parasites.
In addition, this infection often spreads from Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). However, this is not of very serious concern. Now, you know what actually causes Conjunctivitis. So, without delaying any further, let’s move towards the diagnosis of Conjunctivitis.
Diagnosis Of Conjunctivitis:
First of all, the main thing that everyone should keep in mind is that not every red, irritated, or swollen eye is Conjunctivitis. These symptoms may also appear due to the dust or any other allergic reaction inside the eye. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, wash your eyes thoroughly with cold water. You only need to see the doctor for the diagnosis of Conjunctivitis if these symptoms don’t go on their own within 24 hours.
When you see a doctor, your doctor may ask you about the symptoms and conduct an eye exam. After this, the doctor may take some fluid from your eye on a cotton swab, which he will later send to the lab for a diagnosis. Lab staff conducts the pathogen-culture on the swab, which then confirms, whether this is Conjunctivitis or not. Once the doctor gains enough information, he can easily prescribe the best medicines for the treatment of Conjunctivitis. Now, let’s have a look at the treatment methods of Conjunctivitis!
Treatment Of Conjunctivitis:
The treatment of Conjunctivitis depends mainly on the cause of the infection. We’ll mention all the causes of Conjunctivitis and their treatment method. So, let’s dive into it!
Viral Infection:
Conjunctivitis is often caused by the same virus that causes the common cold. Just like the common cold, it completes its due period before going away. Typically, it takes 4-9 days before vanishing completely. As we know, viruses don’t respond to the antibiotics, so leaving it on its own is the best practice. You should always remember that Conjunctivitis is highly contagious. So, you should do everything possible to prevent its spread. Till now, this is the only known treatment of Conjunctivitis caused by a viral infection.
Bacterial Infection:
If the Conjunctivitis is due to a bacterial infection, you can use antibiotics in the form of eye-drops or pills. By the way, the bacteria that cause STDs is also responsible for Conjunctivitis. You may need to apply ointments or eye-drops every few hours, inside your eyelids. The infection usually goes away after a week. However, you should continue using the medicine as advised by the doctor.
Irritants:
If Conjunctivitis is caused by irritants, you should wash your eyes to remove the irritant substance. After a thorough rinse, your eyes must start to get normal within 4 hours. But, if the symptoms are not going even after 4 hours have passed, you should call your doctor, as it can be an indication of some complication.
Allergies:
Allergies can also lead to Conjunctivitis in some cases. If you think that an allergy is causing you this infection, you should see a doctor immediately. The doctor may prescribe a medicine to see whether your infection responds to it or not.
Prevention Of Conjunctivitis:
In addition to medical treatments, you also have to take some precautionary measures at home to treat and contain this infection. These measures include:
Keep Your Eyes Clean:
Wash the discharge from your eyes after small intervals. You can use a piece of wet tissue or cotton swab for this purpose. Moreover, you should rinse your eyes with cold water every 15-20 minutes and then wash your hands with soap.
Change Pillow Covers Daily:
Pillowcases are a massive carrier of this virus. Until your infection doesn’t go away, don’t share your bed or beddings with anyone, including your friends and family. In addition, wash your bedding daily with lukewarm water and disinfecting soaps.
Protect your eyes
You should protect your eyes against dirt and pollutants as they can cause irritation in the eyes and may worsen the symptoms. For this purpose, use sun-shades while going outside. Also, DON’T use the same bottle of eye-drops for both your eyes.
Conclusion
As discussed in the above paragraph that Conjunctivitis is a viral infection and can have various causes. We have already discussed the main causes and symptoms of conjunctivitis virus along with its diagnosis and treatment. Luckily, Conjunctivitis is not very much harmful to the eyes. It can’t take your vision away. But still, it causes great pain and discomfort. To keep this irritating infection away, there’s one simple rule, and that is “cleanliness”. Keep your eyes clean, keep washing them, rinse them thoroughly with fresh water, and use sun-shades while outside.
God forbid, if this virus has inflicted you, there is no need to panic. Like many other viruses, it also takes its due time before going away. You just have to relieve the symptoms by using anti-inflammatory eye-drops and cotton swabs. Furthermore, if you have got this infection from somewhere, please prevent its spread by using shades and staying home. We hope this article has cleared many of the confusions regarding Conjunctivitis. Keep coming back to this website for other health, food, and nutrition articles. Goodbye!
