Causes of conjunctivitis
La conjunctivitis It is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner part of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis can be caused by various factors such as allergens, virus like rubella or bacteria.
Determining the causes of conjunctivitis is very important to establish the treatment indicated and thus be able to alleviate the annoying symptom What causes.
Causes of conjunctivitis
La conjunctivitis It is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner part of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis can be caused by various factors such as allergens, virus like rubella or bacteria.
Determining the causes of conjunctivitis is very important to establish the treatment indicated and thus be able to alleviate the annoying symptom What causes.
What causes conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis can be caused by different factors, but the most common are:
- Virus.
- Bacteria
- Allergens.
Other causes of conjunctivitis are:
- Chemical substances.
- Use of contact lenses.
- Foreign body inside the eye.
- Pollution caused by gases, smoke, dust and chemical vapors.
- Mushrooms.
- Amoebas or parasites.
Causes of conjunctivitis by type
different types of conjunctivitis and each one of them is caused by different causes, See:
Causes of viral conjunctivitis
This type of conjunctivitis is caused by different viruses that can be in the environment and they are highly contagious. This conjunctivitis usually lasts longer than the others and in most cases it heals on its own with the passage of days. Sometimes, depending on the virus that caused the infection, the viral conjunctivitis can cause large breakouts.
Causes of bacterial conjunctivitis
La bacterial conjunctivitis it happens when the eye comes into contact with bacteria that grow in the conjunctiva and they trigger an infection. Like viral conjunctivitis, this type of condition is highly contagious and often be treated with antibiotic eye drops.
This type of conjunctivitis is the one that most affects children y Babies y may be accompanied by other typical symptoms of the common cold such as sore throat, rhinitis, sneezing and respiratory infection. If you suspect that your child has conjunctivitis, it is very important that he does not go to school.
What bacteria can cause bacterial conjunctivitis? The more frequent They are: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis.
Causes of allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when the eye comes into contact with an allergenic factor like dust, pollen, fungus, etc. When this happens, the immune system overreacts and releases a substance called histamine. This type of conjunctivitis can be accompanied by other conditions such as urticaria and rhinitis, and must be treated with antihistamine eye drops.
This conjunctivitis can occur at any time of the year, although it is especially present in the spring and summer months (vernal conjunctivitis), when there is an abundance of pollen in the environment. Some people suffer from allergic conjunctivitis due to the consumption of certain medications.
Causes of irritative conjunctivitis
This conjunctivitis can be caused by irritation caused by a foreign body inside the eye or exposure to toxic substances such as tobacco smoke or chemical gases. This condition is not contagious and can affect people who wear contact lenses for a long time.
In most cases of irritative conjunctivitis, the discomfort is temporary and we can alleviate the symptoms by rinsing our eyes with distilled water. If after doing so the discomfort continues, it is important to visit the ophthalmologist to establish a treatment.
Other risk factors
Although they are not considered a cause of conjunctivitis, these risk factors can increase the chance of getting pink eye:
- Being in contact with a person with conjunctivitis.
- Wearing the glasses or contact lenses of a person with conjunctivitis.
- Wearing someone else's borrowed eye makeup.
- Touching eyes with dirty hands.
- Use borrowed towels or pillows.
How to prevent conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is quite an annoying disease that It can be prevented if we implement the following measures:
- Wash your hands frequently using antibacterial soap and for a time not less than 30 seconds. You can also use alcohol to disinfect your hands or soaps that contain at least 60% alcohol in their composition.
- Use a clean towel each day.
- Do not touch your eyes with dirty hands.
- Visit an allergist to control your allergies.
- Avoid close contact with people with conjunctivitis.
- Not wearing contact lenses for many hours in a row and renew them.
- Properly wash lenses contact and its case.
- Do not use other people's eye drops or artificial tears.
- Don't wear borrowed makeup.
- Do not share towels and pillows.
- Change the pillowcase often.
Conjunctivitis it is even more contagious than the flu virusHence the importance of complying with the letter of prevention and hygiene measures. Treating conjunctivitis in time is essential to prevent it from becoming a chronic disease. Therefore, from Área Oftalmológica Avanzada We urge all people to attend the ophthalmologist when the first symptoms appear.
