Cannonball Pulmonary Opacities Disclosing a Granulomatosis With ...
Types Of Eye Drops For Pink Eye
Different types of pink eye drops may include artificial tears, allergy eye drops, antibiotic eye drops, and antiviral eye drops. These medicines may help relieve symptoms of pink eye.
Certain eye drops may help treat all types of conjunctivitis. Antibiotic and antiviral eye drops may help treat infectious conjunctivitis, while allergy eye drops can help treat allergic conjunctivitis. Artificial tears may help ease symptoms in all cases of conjunctivitis.
This article outlines eye drops for treating different types of conjunctivitis, how to apply them, and the typical outlook for people diagnosed with the eye condition. It also discusses when to contact a doctor.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), eye drops may help treat some types of conjunctivitis.
Antibiotic eye drops may help treat bacterial conjunctivitis, and allergy eye drops may help treat allergic conjunctivitis.
Artificial tears may also help ease symptoms. Artificial tears are eye drops that help lubricate the eye.
Generally, there is no treatment for viral conjunctivitis, as it usually resolves without treatment.
Regardless of which type of conjunctivitis people have, it's important that they avoid using any red-eye-reducing drops, such as Visine. These eye drops may worsen symptoms and could feel very uncomfortable if an infection causes conjunctivitis.
Learn about the difference between bacterial and viral conjunctivitis here.
Viral conjunctivitisThere is usually no treatment for viral conjunctivitis, and the condition often resolves within 1–2 weeks.
People may use OTC artificial tears 4 times per day. People can look for preservative-free artificial tears, which they may be able to use up to 10 times per day.
If the herpes simplex virus (HSV) is causing conjunctivitis, people may use eye drops containing trifluridine (Viroptic).
Bacterial conjunctivitisPeople may be able to treat mild bacterial conjunctivitis at home using OTC artificial tears, which help lubricate the eye.
Bacterial conjunctivitis usually improves within 2–5 days without treatment, but it may take up to 2 weeks to clear completely.
Sometimes a doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to help reduce the risk of complications or transmitting the infection to others. Antibiotic eye drops may help reduce the infection's duration. Examples include:
OTC or prescription anti-allergy eye drops may help treat allergic conjunctivitis.
People may also find that artificial tears help relieve mild cases of allergic conjunctivitis. Artificial tears may help wash allergens from the eye and lessen itching or worsening of symptoms.
OTC antihistamine eye drops may help treat allergic conjunctivitis. Examples include:
A doctor may prescribe antihistamine eye drops to treat allergic conjunctivitis in more severe cases. These may include:
A doctor may also prescribe mast cell stabilizer eye drops, such as:
If people have persistent allergic conjunctivitis, they may need treatment with topical steroid eye drops, such as loteprednol etabonate (Alrex/Lotemax).
Learn more about allergic conjunctivitis here.
People may be able to treat conjunctivitis with home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. They will need to see a doctor if they have severe or worsening symptoms, such as:
Apply eye drops by following these steps:
This video from the AAO demonstrates how to apply eye drops:
Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis may improve in 3–4 days of treatment with antibiotic eye drops. People must take the full course of antibiotics to prevent the infection from returning.
Most cases of viral conjunctivitis resolve within 14–30 days. If people take antiviral eye drops for a specific virus, such as HSV, people may need to use the eye drops for up to 2 weeks.
Allergic conjunctivitis may improve quickly with antihistamine eye drops, but the effects may only last a few hours. People may need to use certain antihistamine eye drops 4 times per day to provide relief.
Mast cell stabilizers may take 3–7 days to show an improvement in allergic conjunctivitis.
People may be able to treat conjunctivitis at home with OTC eye drops, or artificial tears, which help lubricate the eye. Anti-allergy eye drops may help treat allergic conjunctivitis.
Doctors may also prescribe antibiotic, antiviral, or anti-allergy eye drops depending on what's causing the conjunctivitis.
What Is Conjunctival Chemosis?
The conjunctiva is the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Conjunctival chemosis is a swelling of the membrane. It can look like a big blister on the eyeball. The eyes may be yellowish and watery. Chemosis can get so severe that it is hard to close the eye.
Although it can be unsightly, chemosis is usually easy to treat, although sometimes takes time to totally resolve. Also, the condition is not contagious as some other eye conditions can be. The best solution is prevention. If you understand what causes chemosis, you may be able to avoid repeated episodes.
Allergies are the most common cause of conjunctival chemosis. Chemosis can develop after surgery on the eye. It can be caused by conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye, and by a few other conditions.
When allergies make the eyes red and swollen, the resulting condition is sometimes called allergic conjunctivitis. Studies suggest that around 40% of the population in developed countries may have this condition. The eye irritation can lead to chemosis.
Typical allergy symptoms include:
When chemosis is triggered by allergies, doctors may treat the cause and the symptoms. They may suggest cold compresses and artificial tears to ease the symptoms of chemosis. To attack the cause, they may use antihistamines and other medicines that tamp down allergic reactions.
Another treatment involves the use of steroids. Some doctors are using steroids earlier in the course of chemosis. They want to stop what is called an inflammatory or allergic cascade, where one reaction leads to another and then to another.
The eye infection known as conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, can lead to conjunctival chemosis. Treating the conjunctivitis should make the chemosis go away.
Some cases of pinkeye are bacterial, and some are viral. Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic eye drops. The usual course of treatment is 7 to 10 days.
Viral conjunctivitis usually requires no treatment. Usually, the eyes will be better in a week or so. Antibiotic eye drops are not effective against a virus. The antiviral eye drops used for some other eye conditions do not work on pinkeye.
It's difficult to distinguish between the two types of pinkeye, so some doctors routinely prescribe antibiotic ointments or drops. In severe cases of viral conjunctivitis, doctors may prescribe steroid drops.
Since both types are infectious, it's important to prevent them from spreading. To contain the infection, try these measures:
Chemosis can also follow eyelid surgery or other trauma to the eyelid. The most common cause is blepharoplasty – surgery to repair drooping eyelids.
Certain conditions are risk factors for this type of chemosis. For example, chemosis may be more likely if the lower lid is slack or doesn't close well. Doctors may address some of these problems before they operate.
Chemosis can develop in the middle of surgery. Doctors can use certain surgical techniques to stop the chemosis during the surgery. They may use eye drops during the surgery to manage the chemosis.
Some cases of chemosis appear after the surgery. They can be mild, moderate, or severe. Doctors treat them with drops, ointments, the use of an eye patch, and other measures. Sometimes the chemosis persists and further surgery is necessary.
Thyroid eye disease (TED) causes inflammation of the eyes and the tissues around the eyes, often resulting in chemosis. The usual cause of TED is Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own tissues. Graves' ophthalmopathy is another term for TED.
Graves' disease causes the body to produce too much thyroid hormone. Those with TED must control their thyroid levels carefully. Even when they do, they may still have eye problems.
These problems may include:
Doctors evaluate the severity of TED by looking at seven signs or symptoms. Chemosis is one of those signs.
TED is mostly treated through lifestyle interventions. It is very important that those with TED not smoke and that they practice other good health habits.
They can relieve some symptoms by wearing sunglasses and using treatments for dry eyes. They may ease swelling around the eyes by sleeping with the head elevated and by reducing sodium in the diet. Supplementing with selenium may also help.
Angioedema is an allergic reaction that usually occurs around the eyes or mouth. It causes swelling beneath the skin. When it forms around the eyes, it can trigger chemosis.
Hives – large welts on the skin – can occur with angioedema. Both angioedema and hives usually clear up on their own. Treatment with antihistamines may ease the discomfort. Occasionally, parts of the mouth or throat will swell and interfere with breathing. This is an emergency calling for immediate medical care.
Angioedema can be triggered by:
Other occasional triggers for angioedema include sunlight, tight clothing, exercise, hot water, and insect bites.
If you have a conjunctival cyst, you may be able to see it. It looks like a clear blister or bubble on the eye. You may have extra tears and feel as if you have something in your eye. Sometimes, you might not notice any symptoms at all.
People who have conjunctival cysts often go to the doctor when they notice the cyst getting larger. The cyst may also become so noticeable that it is a cosmetic issue. Rarely, the cysts may cause blurred vision or affect how well your eyeball moves.
Causes of conjunctival cysts: Chemicals, allergies, and dry air can irritate the conjunctiva, leading to conjunctival cysts.
Conjunctival cyst treatment: Sometimes, conjunctival cysts go away on their own. Doctors often advise waiting to see if this happens. To make your eye feel better in the meantime, you can use:
The simplest thing that your doctor can do is to drain the cyst. Doctors can also remove them but there is a chance they can come back. Another method for dealing with conjunctival cysts involves using plasma, an ionized gas produced by heating.
What To Know About Skin Infection Types, Causes, And Treatment
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here's our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:Was this helpful?
Various pathogens can cause skin infections, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The symptoms, treatment, and outlook will depend on the cause.
Infections can vary from mild to serious. Most skin infections are highly treatable. However, an infection can become more serious if it goes deeper into the skin or spreads across much of the body.
People with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of skin infections and complications from skin infections. This could be due to:
Over-the-counter medications and home remedies can often treat mild infections, but other infections may need medical attention.
Read on to learn more about skin infections and what to do if you have one.
Here are some pictures of some symptoms of various skin infections:
The following are four different types of skin infections:
1. Bacterial skin infectionsBacterial skin infections occur when bacteria enter the skin, either from an outside source or because they are present on the skin. They can enter the skin through a hair follicle or after a wound.
Anthrax is one type of bacterium that can enter from the environment. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are bacteria that are commonly present on the skin and only cause a problem in certain circumstances. Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection that causes skin symptoms.
Bacterial infections can be systemic or local. Systemic infections can cause symptoms throughout the whole body, such as a fever, while local infections only affect a specific area. Some bacterial infections can begin in one area and spread throughout the body.
Some bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo, can spread between people through direct skin contact or with bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, or by touching surfaces where bacteria are present. Others, such as cellulitis, are not contagious.
Different types of bacterial skin infections include:
Systemic infections that can cause skin rashes include:
Some bacterial infections are mild and easy to treat with topical antibiotics, but other infections require an oral antibiotic or other medical treatment.
2. Viral skin infectionsViruses can cause different types of infections that have skin symptoms, such as:
These viruses are often contagious, and most are systemic.
3. Fungal skin infectionsThese types of skin infections are caused by a fungus and are most likely to develop in moist areas of the body where surfaces meet, such as the feet, armpit, or where there are skin folds.
In some cases, an allergy to the fungus causes symptoms in other areas that are not directly affected. For instance, a person with a fungal infection on the foot might develop a rash on their fingers. It doesn't happen because the person touched their foot.
Different types of fungal infections:
4. Parasitic skin infectionThese types of skin infections are caused by a parasite. These infections can spread beyond the skin to the bloodstream and organs. A parasitic infection isn't life-threatening but can be uncomfortable.
Different types of parasitic skin infections include:
The symptoms of a skin infection will depend on:
Common symptoms of skin infections include:
In some cases, a person may also have other symptoms, such as a fever.
Signs of a severe infection include:
Is this rash an infection or another skin disorder?
Some types of pathogens — notably bacteria and fungi — are typically present on the skin, but if they become too numerous, the immune system can no longer manage them.
In this case, an infection can result.
The cause of a skin infection depends on the pathogen involved.
Bacterial skin infectionThese infections occur when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut or a scratch.
Not all cuts or scratches lead to a skin infection, but there is a higher risk if you:
The most common viruses come from one of three groups of viruses:
Experts still don't know how prevalent viruses are on the skin, unlike bacteria and fungi.
Fungal infectionBody chemistry and lifestyle factors can increase the risk of a fungal infection. Fungi often grow in warm, moist environments.
Some risk factors for a fungal infection are:
A break or cut in the skin may allow pathogens to get into the deeper layers of the skin.
Parasitic skin infectionTiny insects or organisms burrowing underneath your skin and laying eggs can cause a parasitic skin infection.
Examples include:
Often, doctors can identify the type of skin infection based on their appearance and location.
The doctor may:
See a doctor if you have:
Skin infections can spread beyond the skin and into tissues under the skin or the bloodstream, especially in people with a compromised immune system.
When this happens it can lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
If you need help finding a dermatologist, then check out our FindCare tool here.
Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and the severity.
Some infections will go away on their own or respond to over-the-counter creams.
If an infection is severe, the person is at risk of complications, or the infection is contagious, a doctor may prescribe medication such as:
The form of the medication will partially depend on the severity of the infection or the risk of complications. A person with a severe infection may need to spend time in the hospital.
Home care and alternative treatmentsHome care for a skin infection works to reduce symptoms.
Here are some tips:
The outlook will depend on the cause, type, and severity of the infection.
Many skin infections respond well to medication. However, some conditions, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are resistant to common antibiotics and harder to treat.
Ways of reducing the risk of a skin infection or rash include:
Skin infections can be:
This will depend on the infection, but it will usually involve inflammation and swelling.
What is the most common bacterial infection of the skin?Impetigo is a common example of a bacterial infection. Others include cellulitis and Lyme disease.
The most common bacteria associated with skin infections are the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species.
Skin infections can result from bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic causes. The way they affect the body will depend on the specific pathogen. Some cause skin symptoms as part of a wider infection, while others cause local symptoms only.
Skin infections are often highly treatable, but severe symptoms and complications can arise if a person has a weakened immune system.
Some infections are are contagious, such as scabies, and people need to take care not to pass them on before or during treatment.
See your doctor if you have any concerns about signs of a skin infection.
Read this article in Spanish.
Comments
Post a Comment