Pink Eye Causes - What are the Causes of Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink Eye Causes 

What is  pink eye ? Pink eye is a common eye infection that causes redness and inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent layer of tissue that that covers the front of the eye. Pink eye causes can come from a variety of sources and the severity of the condition is often dependent on how it is caused. The most common cause of pink eye is an allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact the eye. Common conjunctivitis symptoms are due to release of histamine and other active substances by mast cells, which causes most blood vessels to dilate, become leaky, which can cause tissues to swell, irritate nerve endings, and increase secretion of tears.

What are the Causes of Pink Eye - Conjunctivitis Causes

How do you get pink eye ? Conjunctivitis can have several causes. Pink eye is most often caused by bacterial or viral infections. Allergic reactions or exposure to irritants can also cause pink eye. An allergic reaction to a substance such as pollen or dust mites – this is known as allergic conjunctivitis. While there is no permanent cure for seasonal conjunctivitis allergic symptoms, there are many ways to reduce the problem of allergic pink eye and deal with the resulting symptoms.

Prevention is obviously the most effective option. Many users are able to stop conjunctivitis allergic from happening by simply avoiding the specific allergen that causes the allergic pink eye symptoms. If the allergen is encountered and the symptoms are mild, a cold compress can be used to provide relief.

The viral version is usually related to another bodily infection, such as the common cold or an upper respiratory tract infection. This cause of conjunctivitis is responsible for the common condition known as pink eye.

Bacterial pink eye is affects all age groups and it is more common in children. Mild bacterial pink eye may get better without antibiotic treatment and without causing any complications. Bacterial conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can occur along with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore throat.

What causes conjunctivitis is not limited to the previously mentioned concerns. External factors, such as ultraviolet light, exposure to certain chemicals. Chemical conjunctivitis is caused by an irritant to the conjunctivae such as noxious chemicals or chlorine in a swimming pool. Pollutants in the air also may cause chemical conjunctivitis. Chemical pink eye is often characterized by its absence of a discharge and the presence of very severe pain. Allergic, bacterial and viral types of pink eye can all result in swollen eyelids.

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Is pink eye contagious? Yes pink eye is highly contagious so it's imperative that proper precautions are taken to avoid different versions of conjunctivitis. With any type, care should be taken to avoid contact with a person who has conjunctivitis. This eye infection is highly contagious in most cases and will spread with little contact. When dealing with dangerous chemicals, a person should wear safety glasses at all times to prevent accidental conjunctivitis. In allergic cases, a person can have tests done to identify the allergens that cause the specific problems and then avoid those specific allergens. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis may be slightly more difficult to avoid as these infections can stay dormant for 2-3 days before the appearance of conjunctivitis symptoms.

How long does pink eye last ? Symptoms of conjunctivitis may remain after the chemical has been removed. Treatment of pink eye causes will also depend on what type of conjunctivitis has been encountered. In chemical cases, the offending chemical will need to be thoroughly washed from the eyes. In bacterial conjunctivitis, an antibiotic will need to be administered to treat the condition if it does not go away within a few days. The specific strain of bacteria that caused the infection will determine which antibiotic needs to be used. Allergic, viral, and bacterial problems may require specific medications to treat the condition, antihistamines, antiviral drugs, and antibiotics respectively.

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How To Get Rid Of Pink Eye

There are lots of pink eye home remedies which are often suggested as well which will help ease the disorder. Typically the allergic type of conjunctivitis in most cases resolve on its own within a week, but antihistamines may be essential if the issue persists above this time period.With regard to allergic conjunctivitis symptoms, a cold compress may be used to provide relief. On the other hand, viral and bacterial infections are better treated by a warm compress. One of the best pink eye remedies used by many people is the application of honey. This can either be done directly upon the affected eye or diluted with water. Although it can be somewhat irritating, the honey will speed the healing process and will help to kill the infection in the case of a bacterial source.

For all conjunctivitis causes, it is advised to avoid excessive contact with the affected eye as contact can spread the condition to the other eye as well as to other people.For a more serious pink eye case, a patient may need to visit a local doctor to seek stronger forms of antihistamines or other medical treatment options.