Conjunctivitis
February 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under General Health
Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is a thin layer of membrane covering the eye, and the inner part of the eyelid. It is often characterized by the redness or pinkness of the eye, which is why it is more commonly called the Pinkeye. It is caused by any of a number of reasons. Usually, it could be viral, bacterial, or allergic, but there are also a number of other causes.
The most common symptoms of conjunctivitis are the redness and itchiness of the eye. Other symptoms that may or may not be common to all types of conjunctivitis include watery eyes, a yellow discharge, burning eyes, blurry vision and photophobia or sensitivity to light.
Some people are allergic to specific types of food, drugs, or other allergens. When these allergens are taken by or applied to the body, they can cause allergic reactions. Allergic conjunctivitis is the most common symptom of mild allergies like hay fever. Aside from the redness of the eye, it also causes severe itchiness, edema or watery discharge, light sensitivity and a sensation of a foreign body in the eye. These symptoms are caused by the release of histamines. Histamine is a substance secreted by either basophil granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) or mast cells, which triggers inflammatory responses. An antihistamine drug is a good remedy for this condition.
Viral conjunctivitis is often caused by adenovirus, a virus that is also responsible for the common cold and sore throat. It is often associated with a watery discharge and itchiness. It usually starts with one eye, and can rapidly spread to the other eye. It is highly contagious which is why patients with this ailment are often advised not to come in physical contact with other people and things other people use. This type of pinkeye resolves on its own without any treatment most of the time.
Pus-producing or pyogenic bacteria responsible for sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia can also cause conjunctivitis. Eyes infected with bacterial conjunctivitis severely secrete the mucus substance commonly called the rheum. This is oftentimes cumbersome after sleep because it makes the eyelids stick together when it dries up. This can also easily transmit from one eye to the other. No treatment has been proven to be significantly effective to this type of infection although antibiotics can hasten the recovery. It basically just goes away after a few days.
Normally, the eye becomes irritated when a chemical substance gets into it. This can produce redness and pain. Mild chemical conjunctivitis can be simply relieved through washing the eyes with water. A physicians help is necessary when a strong substance is involved.
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