Conjunctivitis spread
La conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, transparent tissue that lines the entire white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids.When conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial, a highly contagious disease. So much so, that an infected person can infect another even weeks after the symptoms appear. symptoms of conjunctivitis.
How is conjunctivitis spread? Getting conjunctivitis is very easy, just have close contact with an infected person or touching a contaminated surface. Once conjunctivitis has been contracted, symptoms appear shortly, usually within a day or two, and the patient begins to present with excessive tearing, eye discharge, and redness of the conjunctiva.
Conjunctivitis spread
La conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin and transparent tissue that covers the entire white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids.When conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial, it is a highly contagious disease. So much so, that an infected person can infect another even weeks after the symptoms appear. symptoms of conjunctivitis.
How is conjunctivitis spread? Getting conjunctivitis is very easy, just have close contact with an infected person or touching a contaminated surface. Once conjunctivitis has been contracted, symptoms appear shortly, usually within a day or two, and the patient begins to present with excessive tearing, eye discharge, and redness of the conjunctiva.
Types of conjunctivitis and their contagion
Several types of conjunctivitis and are classified depending on their cause. Although this condition is very famous for spread easily, Only 2 of the three types of conjunctivitis are contagious, See:
Bacterial conjunctivitis
La bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by bacterial infection of the eye like staph or strep, it is usually spread very easily and usually affects both eyes. The symptoms of this condition are milder than those of the other conjunctivitis and usually the person recovers in a few days or a week.
Viral conjunctivitis
La viral conjunctivitis is a type of conjunctivitis that is caused by a virus that has infected the eye. Discomfort it usually starts in one eye and as days go by spreads to the other. This condition is associated with respiratory infections, flu and colds, it spreads more easily that bacterial conjunctivitis and it can last up to 14 days.
Allergic conjunctivitis
It occurs due to a allergic reaction to pollen, dust mites, cosmetics, or mold. This type of conjunctivitis is usually affect people with a history of allergic pictures, attacks Both eyes and improves with antihistamine use. The allergic conjunctivitis It is not contagious.
How is conjunctivitis spread?
La conjunctivitis is a very contagious condition which can be contracted through the direct or indirect contact with the eye secretions and of the respiratory tract.
By indirect contact
The viruses and bacteria that cause this disease have the property of being able to survive for a long time in towels, sheets, pillows and products intended for the care of the eyes, such as eye drops. Use may be made by each infected product or objector represents a high risk of contracting conjunctivitis indirectly.
By direct contact
El direct contagion occurs if, for example, we touch the hands of a person with conjunctivitis after it has passed through your infected eyes.
Likewise, Any drop of saliva or mucus from a sneeze can be a direct route of conjunctivitis.. It's important to put attention on contagion can occur even chen the infected person has just overcome the disease.
Conjunctivitis transmission
There are various viruses and bacteria that can cause conjunctivitis. When conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial, not the allergic or vernal, it is very contagious and can be easily transmitted in the following ways:
- Close contact with an infected person, such as shaking hands, hugging or kissing on the cheeks.
- Through some Virus and bacteria that are present in the air.
- Droplets of saliva and fluid from sneezing they are the most common vehicle for contagion.
- Touch objects or surfaces contaminated with microbes.
- Touching eyes with dirty hands.
- Wear glasses or contact lenses of a person with conjunctivitis.
You can also get conjunctivitis from coming into contact with some adenoviruses that live in non-chlorinated water or dirty swimming pools. The risk of contagion can remain even when the disease has already been cured. That is why it is important to discard the mascara and any eye makeup if you have had conjunctivitis.
Determining the contagion time of conjunctivitis is very complicated, since that depends on the type of bacteria or virus that caused it.
Preventive measures
Reducing the risk of contracting conjunctivitis is possible if the following are practiced preventive measures:
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water frequently. It is important to wash your hands for at least 30 seconds, otherwise we will not be able to eliminate viruses and bacteria correctly. Antibacterial disinfectants that have at least 60% alcohol in their composition can also be used.
- If we have been in contact with a person with conjunctivitis it is important wash hands and disinfect any surfaces and objects that person has touched.
- It is very important do not touch your eyes with dirty hands.
- Not to be used any clothing, makeup, or sanitary items, such as wipes, from a person who has or has had conjunctivitis Recently.
- La household cleaning and disinfection it is important to eliminate the virus or bacteria that may be on surfaces and objects.
If you have conjunctivitis, you can also help prevent the spread of this disease by putting into practice the following tips:
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap frequently, especially before and after cleaning your eyes and/or applying prescription medications.
- Not rubbing eyes. This, in addition to worsening symptoms, causes bacteria or viruses to spread to your hands.
- Not lend your glasses, contact lenses, case of your lenses, towels, pillows, sheets or any other item that may be contaminated.
- Wash sheets daily, towels and clothing that you use while you have conjunctivitis.
- Replace contact lenses.
- Disinfect your glasses with alcohol.
- It is not recommended to go to the beach or the pool.
After you have had conjunctivitis it is important to practice certain care not to contract it again again:
- Discard any objects and items that have come into contact with your eyes, such as artificial tears, eye drops, makeup, contact lenses, contact lens cases, hygiene products for the face, etc.
- Throw away all the solutions you used for your contact lenses.
- Clean and disinfect your glasses and its case.
Tips to avoid the contagion of conjunctivitis
Now that you know how conjunctivitis is spread, it is clear that its propagation power is important. So it is necessary to know what actions we can carry out to prevent the spread of conjunctivitis:
- El use of eye products as eye drops, drugs, eyelash mask y lenses must be exclusive. Under no circumstances should such products be loaned to any person.
- If you use contact lensesit's It is important that you clean both the contact lens and the case daily, this way you make sure that they are free of bacteria.
- Don't touch your eyes with dirty hands. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before applying makeup, putting on contact lenses, or using an eye medication.
- Tamphollow you must share makeup, even when it is not strictly for the eyes. Pressed powder can get the same bacteria as eyeliner, shadow, or mascara.
- The towels are for individual use, do not share yours or use other people's. Towels are one of the main sources of transmission of bacteria.
- If you are coexisting and with a person with conjunctivitis do not sleep in the same bed, wash sheets, towels and pillows and do not use their clothes or share yours. Conjunctivitis bacteria spread easily through textiles.
The symptoms of conjunctivitis comprise redness and inflammation of the white part of the eye, tearing, irritation and burning, sensation of have a foreign body in the eye, legañas on eyelids and eyelashes, yellowish discharge. Before the presence of these symptom it is important go to an ophthalmologist.
When to go back to work or school?
When you are infected with conjunctivitis, the ideal is staying home until symptoms go away and the disease is completely overcome. It is important to respect rest to avoid being carriers of the disease and infecting more people.
Ideally, wait at least 15 days after symptoms started to resume the routine and return to work or school. In case the discomfort has disappeared in the first 5 days and you feel fine, it is best to consult your ophthalmologist if it is safe to resume your activities as soon as possible.
It is recommended return to school or work when eye discharge has stopped, there are no crusts or residues on the eyelashes, the tearing has stopped and the eyes no longer look red.
