Pinkeyeby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 09 Nov 2006 01:43 PM I had too many encounters with pinkeye when I was younger. Some of it was caused by allergies; some of it came from friends at school. The worst part for me was waking up and being unable to open my eyes -- because the discharge had crusted my eyes shut. Pinkeye is also known as conjunctivitis. This is a redness and swelling of the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and eye surface. Normally, this lining is clear. When the lining becomes irritated or infected, the lining becomes red and swollen. Most cases of pinkeye are caused by infection, chemical fumes or smoke, and allergies. Irritation and dryness can lead to a case of conjunctivitis, too! The most common symptoms of pinkeye are:
Viral and bacterial pinkeye spreads very quickly and is highly contagious. Poor hygiene (especially hand washing) is the main reason pinkeye spreads. If you have pinkeye, avoid sharing objects that touch your hands or face. You may need to discard makeup that could reinfect your eyes if it has been exposed to the bacteria or virus. Don't share contact lens equipment and containers. You should not go to school or work until your symptoms improve! Without medical treatment, pinkeye goes away within seven to ten days. If a virus or bacteria is to blame for your pinkeye, you can return to school or work within a few days. For viral conjunctivitis, you can go back to your normal activities after symptoms begin to improve. For bacterial conjunctivitis, you can go back to your normal activities twenty-four hours after starting an antibiotic to fight the infection. Things you can do to treat pinkeye at home:
Learn more about Aimee Amodio  Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover... Relevanthealth tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags allergies, allergic conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis, pinkeye Discuss this article
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