how do you know the difference between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis?
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There are several types of pink eye, including viral and bacterial: Viral pink eye is caused by viruses like adenovirus and herpes virus. It usually clears up without treatment in 7 to 14 days. Bacterial pink eye is caused by an infection with bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumonia.
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Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they're more visible. This is what causes the whites of your eyes to appear reddish or pink.
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Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, while viral infections are caused by viruses. That's the easy part. Differentiating between the two requires medical intervention since both may cause fever and irritability. And the treatments vary significantly.
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Answer From James M. Steckelberg, M.D. As you might think, bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, and viral infections are caused by viruses. Perhaps the most important distinction between bacteria and viruses is that antibiotic drugs usually kill bacteria, but they aren't effective against viruses.
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The first step in determining what kind of eye infection you have is by evaluating your symptoms. The main difference between a stye and pink eye is that a stye is characterized by a hard lump on the surface of your eyelid. Pink eye doesn't typically cause lumps, pimples, or boils around your eye area.
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The incubation period (the time between becoming infected and symptoms appearing) for viral or bacterial conjunctivitis is about 24 to 72 hours. If you touch something with the virus or bacteria on it, and then touch your eyes, you can develop pink eye.
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allergies. It can be difficult to tell whether you have the bacterial or viral pink eye or the kind caused by allergies or other irritants. But it's an important distinction to make because bacterial and viral pink eye is highly contagious, while allergic pink eye is not.
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Conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the clear lining of the surface of the eye, called the conjunctiva. Allergic, bacterial and viral types of pink eye all can cause swollen eyelids, among other symptoms such as watery, red and itchy eyes.
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Eye discharge from bacterial conjunctivitis usually is thicker and more purulent (pus-like) than viral pink eye, and is commonly yellow, green or even gray in color. Often, the sticky mattering will cause your eyelids to feel completely glued shut upon waking in the morning.
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Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) are very contagious. They can spread easily from person to person. You can greatly reduce the risk of getting conjunctivitis or spreading it to someone else by following some simple steps for good hygiene.
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Bacterial vs viral infection Examples of bacterial infections include whooping cough, strep throat, ear infection and urinary tract infection (UTI). Viral infections include the common cold, flu, most coughs and bronchitis, chickenpox and HIV/AIDS.
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An optometrist can diagnose the form of conjunctivitis and recommend appropriate treatment. Bacterial infectious conjunctivitis is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and/or antibiotic ointment. Viral forms of infectious conjunctivitis are fought off by your body's immune system.
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Incubation period of acute bacterial conjunctivitis The incubation period is usually 24–72 hours.
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Bacterial pink eye: After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment. Viral pink eye: After 2 days to about a week.
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The most common eye symptoms of viral conjunctivitis are pink, tired, watery, itchy, or sticky eyes along with head, eye, or body aches, and light sensitivity. Bacterial Conjunctivitis is one of the most common causes of pink eye in contact lens wearers and in children.
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Pink eye can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or it may be caused by an allergic reaction. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are both highly contagious, and you may be contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms first appear.
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While red eye is a very general, non-clinical term, pink eye is the medical term for inflammation of the lining covering the eyeball and eyelid. Pink eye can be caused by: A virus – The same virus that causes many colds and flus can also cause pink eye. This form is contagious and the most common type of pink eye.