Conjunctivitis: symptoms and treatment
Red eyes: a typical sign of conjunctivitis. But not all conjunctivitis is the same. Under certain circumstances, it can be contagious and, in the worst case, damage your eye if it is not treated specifically. In the following article you can find out which forms and treatment methods of conjunctivitis are available.
Conjunctivitis, also known as conjunctivitis, is one of the most common eye diseases. Inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva, i.e. the protective mucous membrane that covers the eyeball, leads to the typical symptoms such as reddened eyes, a foreign body sensation in the eye or burning and itching. But not all conjunctivitis is the same. There are the following forms of conjunctivitis:
Bacterial conjunctivitis
causes and symptoms
If a purulent secretion is secreted from the eye that mainly sticks to the eyes overnight, this is a sign of bacterial conjunctivitis. Bacteria such as gonococci or pneumococci are often responsible for this. Gonococci are particularly dangerous for newborns because they can be transmitted at birth. To prevent bacterial conjunctivitis, newborns are usually given special eye drops.
Older children are also more likely to get conjunctivitis than adults. This is due, among other things, to the fact that they rub mucus from their nose into their eyes, for example when they have a cold , and in this way the pathogens also spread to the mucous membrane of the eyes.
treatment
Bacterial conjunctivitis can usually be treated well with eye drops containing active ingredients such as calendula or euphrasia. They are also suitable for children and have an anti-inflammatory effect. In particularly severe cases, antibiotics in the form of eye drops can also be prescribed. The symptoms should subside after four to five days.
Special hygiene
Bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious. In order to protect your fellow human beings, you should wash your hands thoroughly on a regular basis and then stop touching your eyes. Use washcloths, towels or cotton pads only once and wash the corresponding textiles in the boil wash cycle. You should also use disinfectants.
Viral conjunctivitis
causes and symptoms
Viral conjunctivitis should not be underestimated. It is highly contagious and can cause permanent eye damage. It is therefore also notifiable, i.e. your treating doctor must inform the health department about the existence. Adenoviruses, which can occur in connection with a feverish cold, can trigger such a form. Herpes viruses can also be triggers.
Viral conjunctivitis often first affects one eye before the typical, extreme redness and the formation of a watery secretion spread to the other eye. In this form, the cornea can also be affected. This not only leads to pain and sensitivity to light, but can also significantly reduce vision if detected too late or left untreated.
treatment
In addition to taking antibiotics, artificial tears and cold compresses help to fight the inflammation. In the case of viral conjunctivitis, isolation for about two weeks is necessary because of the high risk of infection.
Allergic conjunctivitis
causes and symptoms
Allergies , such as hay fever , can contribute to the development of conjunctivitis. In addition to the typical redness and itching, there is often swollen eyelids and a glazed look.
treatment
If you suffer from allergic conjunctivitis, it is fundamentally important to determine the trigger of the allergy and to get the allergy under control as a whole . This form is usually treated with antiallergic drugs, so-called antihistamines, or special eye drops. In addition, artificial tears or cold compresses can help to relieve the symptoms.
Special hygiene
In addition to isolating yourself from other people, you should follow the hygiene measures already described in the case of a virus-related conjunctivitis particularly conscientiously.
Conjunctivitis caused by external stimuli
causes and symptoms
Conjunctivitis can also be triggered by external stimuli such as wind, dust, smoke, cosmetics or foreign bodies. This form is usually harmless and not contagious.
treatment
If it is triggered by external stimuli, artificial tears and cold compresses often help. Foreign bodies such as insect stingers may need to be surgically removed.
Other diseases, such as rheumatism or psoriasis , can also lead to chronic, i.e. recurring conjunctivitis. In most cases, these are treated with appropriate eye drops. Allergies can also lead to chronic conjunctivitis if the allergy trigger cannot be sufficiently avoided.
Prevent conjunctivitis
The best way to prevent allergic conjunctivitis is to simply avoid the allergy trigger. Otherwise, there is not much you can do other than protect your eyes in certain situations, for example by wearing glasses in strong drafts or dust.
In most cases, conjunctivitis is fortunately mild and heals within a few days. In order to treat it successfully, however, it is important to identify the exact cause in good time and to counteract it in a targeted manner. Therefore, you should definitely go to the doctor as soon as possible if you notice typical signs.