The term ‘Pink Eye’ is commonly used to refer to conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation of the eye membrane (conjunctiva) which covers the white part of the eye, the causes of the inflammation are usually bacterial or viral infections.

The name pink eye alludes to the pinkness or redness of the conjunctiva which is the main sign of the disease.

There are several different kinds of conjunctivitis.

Types of Pink Eye- Conjunctivitis.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis. This kind is a very common type of pink eye, the eye having become infected from any of a variety of sources.

n  Through direct contact with an infected person.

n  From a sinus or ear infection.

n  Exposure to contaminated surfaces where the common germs streptococcus.or staphylococcus have been transferred to the person.

The infection produces a thick pus discharge, which can sometimes cause the eyelids to stick together and make it difficult to open the eyes until the pus is washed away with warm water, Treatment is given using antibiotic eye drops and can take up to two weeks to completely heal.

Viral Conjunctivitis.

Pink eye caused by a virus are highly contagious, and can readily be spread by sneezing and coughing. It can also show if the person is affected by other respiratory illness like the flu, or common cold.

The infection will start in one eye, then rapidly spread to the other and produces a watery discharge. For treatment, antibiotics are of little use, and  eye drops or creams seem to have no effect on the inflammation. The condition has its own limits, and usually disappears of its own accord within a short time. Although the application of vasoconstrictors help reduce the pinkness, decongestants and antihistamines reduce surface swelling and itchiness.

Chlamydial Conjunctivitis

This is another form of the bacterial form of conjunctivitis, and it is usually passed as a sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydial Trachoma, is the infection passed on to a new born baby by its affected mother, when passing through the birth canal. In fact Neonatal Conjunctivitis can cause blindness in babies, unless it is recognized and treated at birth.

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