Saturday, October 10, 2009
Dr. Robert Graw Jr M.D., founder of Righttime Medical Care, discusses pink eye symptoms, causes, treatment and homecare options, prevention, and when you should see your doctor. Check back regularly for apple per day videos.
Pink Eye is a common name for conjunctivitis. The symptoms and signs of pink eye are redness, itching, burning, sensitivity to light, and often a pussy drainage from the corner of the eye. Any of these symptoms should direct you to your provider if you don’t respond easily to cool compresses or flushing of the eye.
Pink Eye is named for its appearance. We all have seen patients or friends who have a red/pink swollen appearance to their eye. Some people are confused by what pink eye really represents. Pink eye refers to viral conjunctivitis. A virus is a non-bacterial infection that does not respond to antibiotics, such as those used for strep and pneumonia. Viral conjunctivitis is the kind of infection that spreads rapidly in school and work. Is conjunctivitis contagious? Yes it is. How do you prevent it? You prevent it by not exposing yourself and your saliva to others.
Many patients who have pink eye will also have a clear runny nose and be sniffing. This usually indicates that allergens from the air have entered through the nasal passage and the conjunctiva of the eye to cause itchiness and be irritation. This is cause allergic pink eye and there is no specific treatment or worry when you have this type of pink eye.
If your pink eye does not clear up in a day or two, your physician may prescribe eye drops for the itching. They may also may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent secondary infection when you have viral conjunctivitis.
Most schools have a policy that students can not return to school until they have seen a doctor and have received medication to treat the pink eye. As we’ve discussed, viral and allergic conjunctivitis do not require special treatment. As long as the conjunctivitis is not contagious, the student should be able to return to school.
Pink eye is no more contagious that a runny nose or a cough. Its important that you don’t touch your face and then touch others. When you have a cold or cough, you should cover your mouth by coughing into your elbow so you don’t get germs all over your hands. Pink eye is similar. Once you have pink eye, you are just as contagious as you would be with a viral upper-respiratory infection. The use of antibiotics does not make you any less contagious.
In the workplace, you should be able to return to work with pink eye as long as you use good hygiene, don’t touch your face and touch others, wash your hands well between contacting things like keyboards, calculators, phone, etc.
It is safe to go to work when you have pink eye. Pink eye usually lasts 3-7 days and if there are no complications, it usually resolves itself without intervention and/or medication.
If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, reach out for your primary care provider. If you can not reach your provider, reach out for Righttime Medical Care at www.MyRighttime.com
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