Pink Eye

Pink eye, also spelled pinkeye and known as conjunctivitis, is a medical condition of the eye that can either be an infection due to bacteria or viruses or it be due to a reaction in the eye to allergens or other irritating substances or objects that come into contact with the eye. Sometimes dryness of the eye due to lack of tear formation is the cause. Infection or inflammation occurs on the conjunctiva of the eye, a transparent membrane of the inner eyelid and part of the eyeball, causing the dilation of capillary blood vessels that are found there. http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pink-eye/DS00258/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pinkeye.html

Infectious forms of pink eye can easily spread from person to person. The most common form is caused by a virus. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/conjunctivitis-000040.htm Bacterial pink eye can be treated with antibiotics that come as creams or eyedrops. Since most cases are viruses, they go away naturally with 7-10 days of initial occurrence. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/pinkeye-topic-overview However, if you have either allergic or viral conjunctivitis, the symptoms can be reduced by taking antihistamines and/or anti-inflammatory agents. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/conjunctivitis-000040.htm

'Preventive measures to stop the spread of infectious conjunctivitis: These are basic sanitation procedures that can work for helping to prevent the spread of many communicable diseases. The focus of this list is primarily on limiting the spread of pink eye in children.

1. Have children wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water.
2. Children should not share tissues, eye medications, washcloths, towels or pillow cases.
3. Parents or teachers who work with children should wash their hands often.
4. Throw away cotton balls or tissues after they have been used.
5. Wash items that the child has used separately in hot water.
6. To reduce allergens for allergic conjunctivitis, shutting windows during pollen season can help, as well as frequent dusting and HEPA air filters. http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=179&q=245969

Symptoms of pink eye can vary, with the range of symptoms including:http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/conjunctivitis.html# http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/conjunctivitis-000040.htm http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/pinkeye-topic-overview

1. Itching - especially if it is caused by allergens.
2. Eye may feel gritty
3. Swollen tear duct glands and eyelids
4. Redness
5. Excessive tear production
6. Eye discharges
7. Light sensitivity
8. Crust may form when sleeping

• Mortality per million: 0.0034 http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_con_percap-mortality-conjunctivitis-per-capita

• Incidence of neonatal infectious conjuctivitis: 1-2% http://www.provisu.ch/PROVISU/Structure/C01.252.354.225.625_en.html