How Is A Pink Eye In A Teenager Treated?
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different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Conjunctivitis/pink eye can be due to viral or bacterial infection or due to an allergy.
Allergic conjunctivitis tends to affect both eyes.
Viral infection is more common than bacterial and it is very contagious, spreading rapidly if proper eye hygiene is not employed. The discharge maybe watery
Bacterial infection tends to have a more purulent-thicker, may be white/yellow
The difference is important because the treatment differs.
For an allergy- allergy drops eg olopatadine , can be used
For an infection, there are general eye hygiene measures plus antibiotic drops for a bacterial infection.
For a viral infection- eye hygiene only
Eye hygiene consists of (1) washing hands often particularly after cleaning any discharge from the eye or applying drops
(2)The discharge should be cleaned off regularly with eye wipes, cotton balls that are discarded after, clean washcloth
(3)avoid touching the eyes as much as possible
(4)no contacts till the infection clears
(5)wash pillow cases, sheets, washclothes etc in hot water
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis usually resolves within a week but as mentioned if it is bacterial, she will need eyedrops
If it is not clear which is present and very often it isn't, she should be seen
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
would definitely need drops if due to a bacterial infection
Detailed Answer:
HI
Yes, you can definitely consider having her seen by her doctor to get a prescription for antibiotic drops, if it is due to a bacterial infection