Conjunctivitis or Pink Eyes
What is Conjunctivitis, what symptoms,what causes?
Conjunctivitis also known as Pink Eyes is an inflammation of the the membrane surrounding of the eyeball. The cause of conjunctivitis can be infectious, allergic or toxic.
Causes of Pink Eyes
The conjunctiva is a mucous membrane, whose main function is to protect the eye from the environment, which explains the fact respond to any type of external aggression with a defensive inflammatory reaction. Possible causes of conjunctivitis are very varied.
The most common source of conjunctivitis consists of an infection caused by various types of pathogens, especially bacterias but also viruses and, less often, fungus. Infection can be caused by direct contact or mediated by any element contaminated, such as towels or handkerchiefs. Furthermore, taking into account that in some cases, the patient to transmit the infection primarily affected eye to the other, is very common that both are affected.
There are certain allergies can also cause inflammation of the conjunctiva. In this case, it is an abnormal response of the immune system in persons particularly sensitive after contact with substances which are actually harmless: pollen, house dust particles suspended in cosmetics, etc.. The pollen allergy causing often an inflammation of the conjunctiva and simultaneously the nose called rhino conjunctivitis or hay fever.
The chemical and physical agents that can cause conjunctivitis are very different: foreign bodies, smoke, irritating fumes, ultraviolet rays, heat, caustics, etc.. In addition, there are some visual defects such as near sightedness or far sightedness, which may cause, if not properly treated, a strain of the eye and thus cause an inflammation of the conjunctiva.
Manifestations of Pink EyesConjunctivitis is usually have an acute evolution and although this differs depending on the cause, almost always causes the same kind of signs and symptoms.
The most obvious sign corresponds to redness in the white part of the eye caused by dilation of blood vessels of the conjunctiva and sometimes accompanied by swelling which often surrounds the cornea (chemosis). The lids also tend to become red and swollen in both its internal face and extremities.
In addition, often uncomfortable sensations arise from diverse intensity, such as the impression of having sand in your eyes or itching and even pain.
It's very common production of secretions, whose characteristics vary by cause of the problem: in case of allergic conjunctivitis, comes a watery and transparent, whereas in bacterial conjunctivitis is mucous purulent secretion, yellowish and thick as it takes so with lids that their separation is sometimes very difficult.
If the inflammation is severe, often cause photo phobia, or intolerance or discomfort due to light, sometimes accompanied by a spasm of the muscles of the eyelids, which makes eye opening.
Finally, it also tends to cause some tearing, especially in allergic conjunctivitis.
Evolution and treatment
The bacterial conjunctivitis shows a few hours after infection, and usually affect both eyes. Inflammation is particularly strong after three to six days and their curing typically takes between ten days to two weeks.
The viral conjunctivitis has a specific development according to the causative microorganism. Sometimes the inflammation of the conjunctiva is merely a manifestation of a viral infection generally as influenza, rubella or measles, in which case the evolution of conjunctivitis monitors the trigger condition. In other cases the inflammation is caused by viruses that attack the eye in a specific manner causing epidemic conjunctivitis, usually short and evolution of benign. The treatment is based on the use of antivirals efficacy shifting, sometimes accompanied by antibiotics to prevent possible bacterial infection.
Allergic conjunctivitis usually manifests itself especially during the season of pollination of the plant responsible. The treatment consists in prescribing antihistamines and sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids, since previously it has already eliminated a possible infection, otherwise it could get worse.
Given that conjunctivitis caused by chemical or physical agents usually develop favourably and heal spontaneously after a few days, requires no treatment, unless complications arise.
