What are the symptoms of pink eye? How can I relieve it?

Conjunctivitis is a rather annoying infectious disease. The patient's eyes are red and not only painful but also itchy, as if sand is in the eyes. Some patients with conjunctivitis cannot see strong light and may even shed tears. The eyes will also feel hot and stinging. It is recommended not to rub the eyes to avoid affecting recovery. Let's take a look at the symptoms of conjunctivitis. How can I relieve it?

1. Symptoms of pink eye

1. Generally, after being infected with pathogenic bacteria, there is an incubation period of one to three days, and both eyes often become ill at the same time or with an interval of one or two days. The course of the disease lasts for one to two weeks, which is related to the individual's physical constitution. The condition is usually most severe on the third or fourth day after onset, and will gradually improve thereafter.

2. The patient's eyes are obviously red when looking in the mirror or being seen by others, and the patient feels a burning sensation. Some people cannot see in bright light, are afraid of light, or often shed tears unconsciously.

3. People with conjunctivitis often produce many times or even dozens of times more secretions than normal people, and most of the secretions are sticky or purulent. When getting up in the morning, the patient will find it very difficult to open his eyes because the secretions will stick the upper and lower eyelids together. He must use clean water or eye drops and a cotton swab to wipe off the secretions before he can open his eyes.

4. Although the conjunctiva appears red, the patient's vision will not be reduced. If the surface of the cornea is attached to secretions, blurred vision may occur. Simply rinse the secretions with eye drops and the vision will be restored.

5. For patients with poor immunity, in addition to the obvious eye symptoms, they may also experience symptoms of bacterial infection such as fever.

2. How to relieve

1. Don’t rub your eyes with dirty hands

Make it a habit not to rub your eyes with dirty hands and avoid using public towels and washbasins to prevent infection. Be sure to wash your hands with soap before touching your eyes after swimming. It is best to apply some antiviral eye drops (such as the broad-spectrum antiviral eye drops "Phthalocyanine") before and after swimming. Young children have weak immunity and should try to avoid playing in crowded places and keep their hands and eyes clean.

2. Strictly disinfect and isolate patients

"Pink eye" is highly contagious, so you should avoid sleeping in the same bed with family members who have conjunctivitis, and wash and disinfect your hands immediately after contact with the patient. Towels, handkerchiefs, washbasins, stationery, toys, tools, tableware, etc. used by patients may become media of infection. Therefore, the patients' utensils should be used separately from those of healthy people and must be boiled in boiling water for 10 minutes for disinfection after use. Young children should wash their hands and cut their nails frequently, and be taught not to rub their eyes with their hands to prevent recurrent infections. If a family member or colleague suffers from pink eye, other people can use eye drops as a preventive measure.

3. Cold compress can be used for initial redness, swelling, heat and pain

When patients experience discomfort such as red and swollen eyes, photophobia, etc., they should not bandage their eyes with gauze on their own, as this will encourage the growth of bacteria. They should receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a doctor. Try to wear sunglasses when going out to avoid the stimulation of sunlight and wind and sand. If you experience obvious systemic symptoms such as headache and fever, you should go to the hospital immediately to avoid delaying treatment.

4. Choose effective drug treatment

Conjunctivitis should be treated actively. Viral conjunctivitis and trachoma can be treated with "phthalamide" eye drops, which can inhibit and kill a variety of viruses and has few side effects. It is the first choice for red and itchy eyes. For conjunctivitis with mixed bacterial infection, antibacterial eye drops (such as "chloramphenicol" eye drops, etc.) can be added.

3. Notes

Pay attention to rest and reduce stimulation during treatment. During the treatment of "pink eye", you should pay attention to rest, stay up late less and use your eyes less, avoid eating spicy and irritating foods such as onions, garlic, leeks, peppers, lamb, dog meat, etc. Eat more wolfberry, bitter gourd, watermelon, winter melon, wild rice stem, mung bean, water chestnut, banana and other foods, which can play an auxiliary therapeutic role such as clearing heat and detoxifying.