What is Conjunctivitis (Pink eye)?

The conjunctiva of the eye includes the bulbar conjunctiva (a thin transparent membrane on the white surface) and the palpebral conjunctiva (the mucosa lining the inside of the upper and lower eyelids).

When this mucosal layer becomes inflamed due to agents, it is called disease Conjunctivitis (Pink eye).

Cause: 

• Causes of the disease can be viruses (most common), bacteria, and allergens.
• There is no vaccine to prevent the disease, no specific treatment, and people who have had pink eye can still get infected again after only a few months of recovery.

The situation of pink eye in Ho Chi Minh City

• From the beginning of 2023 to August 31, the total number of conjunctivitis (pink eye) cases recorded at hospitals in the City is 63,309 cases, an increase of 15.38% over the same period in 2022, which is 53,573 cases.
• Of the total 63,039 cases, 1,001 cases had complications, accounting for 1.59% (in the same period in 2022, there were 873 cases of complications, accounting for 1.63% of the total number of cases). Common complications of conjunctivitis include keratitis, corneal ulcers, corneal scars, superinfection, impaired vision, etc.
• Adenovirus is a common cause.

Common symptoms

• Pink eye
• Itchy, watery eyes (appear often when the cause is an allergic agent)
• Pseudomembranous, sticky discharge in the eye (yellow or green discharge may suggest the presence of bacteria)
• Eyelid swelling
• Appears on one or both sides (usually due to bacteria and viruses) and on both sides (due to allergic agents)
• There may be accompanying symptoms depending on the cause
  • Cough, sneezing, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (due to virus)
  • Allergic rhinitis (due to allergens)

Is pink eye contagious?

• Pink eye can be transmitted in many ways, including direct contact with an infected person such as talking, hugging, kissing, or shaking hands, etc.
• In addition, the disease can be spread through objects contaminated with pathogens such as towels, pillows, door handles, stair buttons, phones, and toys,...
• Using water sources contaminated with pathogens such as ponds, lakes, or swimming pools can also be a source of disease transmission. Furthermore, the habit of touching your eyes or putting your hands in your nose or mouth increases the risk of infection

• Pink eye is very easy to catch, easily spread in the community, and causes epidemics.

How to treat pink eyes?

Depending on the pathogen:

1. Viral conjunctivitis: The disease can go away without treatment. Treatment is mainly symptomatic treatment including applying cool compresses, washing eyes with clean water, and avoiding dry eyes by using artificial tears along with antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection.
2. Bacterial conjunctivitis: Treat the cause of the disease with antibiotic eye drops or eye drops.
3. Allergic conjunctivitis: Try to find the allergen and avoid the allergen, treat it with anti-allergic drugs, and drop artificial tears to reduce discomfort.

What to do when you have pink eyes?

• Wash your eyes and keep them clean: you can use physiological saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) or distilled water to wash your eyes.
• Apply a cold compress by applying a cool, wet towel to your eyes in cases of red, swollen, swollen eyes.
• Dark-tinted goggles can be used to help reduce photophobia and prevent frequent eye touching.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes, nose, and mouth. If your eyes have a lot of tears or eye discharge, use paper towels or medical cotton swabs (used once) to clean them, then put them in a covered trash can to avoid creating a source of infection for your family and people around you, disinfect your hands after cleaning your eyes.
• If someone in the family has pink eye, they should be isolated in a separate room to limit transmission to family members.
• Wear a mask when you have symptoms of coughing or sneezing.
• Clean tables, chairs, and living spaces with surface disinfectant solutions.

Things not to do

• Do not arbitrarily use drops containing corticosteroids or drugs of unknown composition into the eyes. This is not only ineffective but also makes the damage worse, prolongs the duration of the disease and spread of the disease, and increases the risk of infection.
• Do not contact in crowded places.

When do you need to see a doctor?

• When you feel pain in your eyes or have trouble seeing.
• When you feel sensitive to light (feel uncomfortable when looking at a strong light source).
• When symptoms last a week or more, or symptoms do not get better but get worse.
• When the eye discharges a lot of pus or gunk.
•  When you have other symptoms of infection such as fever or aches.

How to prevent pink eyes?

1. Regularly wash your hands with soap and clean water.
2. Do not raise your hands to rub your eyes, nose, and mouth.
3. Do not share personal items such as eye drop bottles, towels, eyeglasses, masks...
4. Clean your eyes, nose, and throat daily with physiological saline and regular eye drops and nose drops.
5. Use soap or regular antiseptics to disinfect the patient's utensils and belongings.
6. Limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of having pink eye.
7. Patients and people suspected of having pink eye should limit contact with others.
8. People with signs of pink eye need to go to a medical facility for timely examination, consultation, and treatment. Do not arbitrarily treat without a doctor's instructions to avoid serious complications.