Page C4-The Chronicle, Thursds
"Pink Eye'
Many people of vintage age -maybe
not so vintage -remember
having "pink eye" as
kids. It was a common occurence
in summer. The eyes turned red
as a beet, mattered continually ?
especially during sleep, and seemingly
always attracted swarming
gnats.
"Pink eye" was epidemic nearly
every summer. One family
member would become infected,
then the rest. Being highly contagious,
"pink eye" sometimes
ran through the whole commnniti#??
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reason for the seasonal outbreak
was that sanitary conditions, as a
rule, left a lot to be desired. One
wash towel, one bar of soap, two
or thw?u*a Heifr close o?wtae*
-- almost always assured its
spread.
Now, things are different, environmentally,
and "pink eye" is
not as apt to become epidemic.
But, according to Dr. Donald
Moore, a Coats family physician,
it is still a common infection and
does occur, but mostly as a result
of close contact among children.
Dr. Moore explained that
"pink eye" is a viral form of conjunctivitis.
Another form is caused
by bacteria which usually
results from infection caused by
injury to the eyes -- foreign
substances, swimming in contaminated
water, allergic reactions
to pollen,* chemical burns,
among others.
Dr. Moore said conjunctivitis
is so named because the conjunchi/n
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part of the surface of the eye, is
infected. Symptoms of the infection
are redness (bloodshot
eyeballs and red rims), swelling
(puffy eyelids like that caused by
lack of sleep, crying, etc.), tearing
(as if you'd been chopping
onions), and secretion (similar to
what may occur in the corners of
the eyes some mornings, only
much worse).
He pointed out that the
bacterial form of conjunctivitis
can occur anytime during the
year, but is most common in
summer due to dust and pollens.
Specific symptoms are itchiness,
redness and sometimes inflammation.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
usually starts as a simple infection.
The family physician said initial
treatment consists of warm
compresses, and a simple antisep
tic sucn as a diluted boric acid
eyewash -- plus an antihistamine
if the condition stems from an
allergy. * Sometimes treatment
may call for a topical antibiotic.
If the infection is severe enough,
he said a systemic antibiotic, one
taken internally, may be prescribed.
Of course, viral conjunctivitis
does not respond to antibiotics.
Dr. Moore said "pink eye" treatment
most often consists of little
else other than a boric acid
eyewash and warm compresses.
He said care should be taken to
wash the eye from the inside corner
out to make sure the tear
ducts do not become infected.
Its spread can, however, be
? limited if rarp ic taV#?n hv tKi** r?*r_
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son who has it. A person with
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from the water. Don't use
anybody else's washcloth or
towel. Hands should be washed
evey time they come in contact
with eyes, else the germs will be
left on everything touched.
Remember, it spreads like crazy.
To sum up, Dr. Moore suggested
that it is well to remember that
conjunctivitis, the "pink eye"
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' not as epidemic r
type, is highly contagious and cessfully wit
makes the eyes tear, get red and eyewash and i
swollen. And there will usually The bacterial
be gooey discharge. It is a simple tivitis, that is <
infection that can be treated sue- injury of soi
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low but still conta
h a boric acid treated with an eyewash, a t<
-varm compresses. antibiotic, or systemic anti
type of conjunc- if the infection is serious en
:aused by pollen or Dr. Moore cautioned tha
me kind, can be junctivitis, whatever its <,
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epical can be serious, especially whei
biotic caused by injury to the eyes,
ough. Red, swollen eyes with
t con- discharge, usually indicate con
;ause, junctivitis and should be diagnos
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children
n ed by a physician. Don't take
chances with your eyes,
a (This column is a service of the
North Carolina Academy of
Family Physicians.)
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