Can pink eye come back?

The article was professionally consulted by an eye doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is caused by an infection, allergy, or irritation, which causes the conjunctival layer covering the sclera to become inflamed. Pink eye can go away after 7-10 days without leaving complications.

Pink eye (Conjunctivitis) is a common eye disease and has a risk of outbreaks into epidemics. The conjunctiva is the mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the inside of the eyelids. Inflamed lining of the eye causes red, itchy symptoms called conjunctivitis (pink eye). Many people wonder "is keratitis pink eye?", in fact conjunctivitis (pink eye) and keratitis are two completely different diseases. Conjunctivitis is a mild disease that can be completely cured after 7-10 days and rarely causes serious complications.
Causes of pink eye include:
Pink eye caused by infection (bacteria, virus) Pink eye caused by allergies. Pink eye caused by irritation (chlorinated chemicals in swimming pool water, smoke, dust...) Viral pinkeye can spread in communities, families, schools and outbreaks into epidemics if left undiagnosed and undiagnosed. timely isolation.

Most cases of pink eye do not damage the eyeball as well as affect vision, but there are still a few complications that can occur due to not recognizing the disease in time. Therefore, you need to see an ophthalmologist immediately if your eyes appear red-eye symptoms:
Incubation period, the initial manifestation is hot eyes, feeling of burning eyes, slight swelling of eyelids, the patient may cough, fever, blurred vision... After 1-2 days, one eye is red, watery, rusty, eyelid swelling is bigger, feeling pain, lump in the eye. After 3-5 days, eye pain will spread to the other eye. Often the disease can be disproportionate between the eyes, one eye is more severe than the other. The subjective symptoms that are easily recognized when having conjunctivitis include: Red eyes, sand like in the eyes, glare, watery eyes, a lot of oozing, difficulty opening the eyes when waking up, eyelids may swell and congestive. In fact, it is difficult to determine whether pinkeye is viral or bacterial. The easiest sign is that if the cause is viral, the discharge will be thinner, if it is caused by bacteria, the discharge will be thicker. In case of pink eye caused by allergies, there will be frequent itching and watery eyes.

The Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health said that currently, there is no vaccine to prevent pink eye disease as well as specific treatment drugs, people with pink eye can get it again after a few months, infection time. Usually more than 2 months after the previous infection because the body's antibodies protect against the attack of the pathogen.
Therefore, to protect yourself from pink eye, you need to ensure personal hygiene, wash your hands with soap, use a separate towel, pillow, basin .., especially do not rub your eyes with your hands, do not use sharing furniture with people with eye pain, washing eyes with physiological saline 0.9% 3 times a day,
The Ministry of Health recommends that to prevent pinkeye outbreaks in the community, people need to take measures The following measures:
Limit contact with people with eye pain, limit going to public places with many pathogens such as swimming pools, hospitals... Limit the use of polluted water sources. Put on eyeglasses, protect your eyes from dust and smoke, wipe your eyes with a damp tissue, then dispose of them and do not use them again. Patients with pink eye should be isolated, rested, and taken medication according to the doctor's instructions. Absolutely do not arbitrarily buy eye drops, use other people's medicine or do not use folk remedies such as applying betel leaves, mulberry leaves... Children with red eyes should stay out of school during the illness. Family members need to take care to avoid the healthy eye being infected by the diseased eye. Avoid hugging, sharing objects with sick children, letting them sleep separately. Before and after eye drops, clean eyes, need to wash hands with soap or antiseptic solution. Usually, pink eye (conjunctivitis) will progress to a benign course. However, the disease can also have serious complications that cause damage to the cornea, then the treatment becomes difficult. Therefore, in case pinkeye does not improve when treated at home, it is necessary to go to a medical facility for timely and proper examination and treatment.