Got Pink Eye, should I go to the hospital?

[Scouzer]

I'd just go to the doctor, but I'd have to wait until Wednesday. I live in a small town so there aren't any walk in clinics unfortunately.

My girlfriend was diagnosed with pink eye two weeks ago so I'm fairly certain that's what it is.

I was planning on waiting it out, but I've had it for about 4 days in my left eye and the symptoms are stagnant or worsening. It spread to my right eye today.

What's the exposed life on objects for this crap? If it's a virus it's not like I can clean my computer keyboard with bleach...

 

[destrekor]

pink eye can be the result of a few different infections, either bacterial or viral.

Go to the doctor, as you'll get eye drops. Pink eye can spread easily.

+

 

[sjwaste]

Yeah, if its bacterial and not getting better, you might get some antibiotics. If its viral and getting worse, you might get some corticosteroids. At the very least, they might give you some drops to help w/ the itching and burning.

 

[ta8689]

Girlfriend has to quit farting on your pillow.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I'd just go to the doctor, but I'd have to wait until Wednesday. I live in a small town so there aren't any walk in clinics unfortunately.

My girlfriend was diagnosed with pink eye two weeks ago so I'm fairly certain that's what it is.

I was planning on waiting it out, but I've had it for about 4 days in my left eye and the symptoms are stagnant or worsening. It spread to my right eye today.

What are your symptoms?
Do you wear contacts?
Is there any possibility that you got dirt/particulates in your eye?
Have you come into contact with any allergens?
(I could go on...)

Typically simple conjunctivitis should be getting better by the forth day, most cases resolve within a week (even without treatment), although adenoviral conjunctivitis can take ~14 days to resolve.

As has been stated there are numerous viruses and bacteria that can cause conjunctivitis. Some of them are quite nasty (like chlamidial conjunctivitis).

Symptoms of concern would be, pain, blurring of vision, or photophobia.
If the symptoms are worsening, I would be concerned.

Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor.

 

[Scouzer]

Symptoms - Red eyes (not horribly, but definitely unusually so), occasional feeling of foreign body in eye, itchier than usual (not overly though), and sore. Pain when looking around, but I get that all the time anyway. Also have blurred vision.
Contacts - Yes, but not for the last 2-3 weeks, so they likely aren't associated to this
Allergens - Yes, but I've never got anything like this.

I'm not going to go to the hospital today, going to wait one more day to see how it improves/worsens.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
What's the exposed life on objects for this crap? If it's a virus it's not like I can clean my computer keyboard with bleach...

Viruses typically won't survive long outside the body, unfortunately adenoviruses are unusually stable (damb it!). There is nothing to stop you giving your keyboard a good clean, try googling (Here is one of the first hits, the isopropyl alcohol should kill of a fair amount of micro organisms as would ethanol at >70% vol).

Cleaning other surfaces would be useful (door handles and such which are contacted by numerous people).

Of prime concern is proper hand washing! So get out the soap and use hot water.
By proper hand washing I mean this. Not just running your hands under the tap for a second...

 

[Scouzer]

Trouble is it's a laptop keyboard, so any excess liquid will damage things.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
Trouble is it's a laptop keyboard, so any excess liquid will damage things.

[Ned]Oh man, that's nasty.[/Ned]

 

[gorcorps]

If you don't get help soon you may die. Pink eye is the first eye of ocular cancer.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
Symptoms - Red eyes (not horribly, but definitely unusually so), occasional feeling of foreign body in eye, itchier than usual (not overly though), and sore. Pain when looking around, but I get that all the time anyway. Also have blurred vision.
Contacts - Yes, but not for the last 2-3 weeks, so they likely aren't associated to this
Allergens - Yes, but I've never got anything like this.

I'm not going to go to the hospital today, going to wait one more day to see how it improves/worsens.

Ok, red eyes are classic, as is a feeling of occasional grittiness (the foreign body in eye feeling). Do you have any discharge from the eyes? (its common) if so describe it. Or are they watery?

Pain aint good, is the blurring transient or persistent? Your eyes watering/discharge can cause occasional minor blurring. Blurring aint that great either...

Any other symptoms?

Its unlikely to be allergy related if only one eye was initially effected, but best to check...

I meant to say in the last thread about washing your hands - with conjunctivitis try not to touch your face, and definitely no touching eyes or you risk spreading it to the uninfected eye (which is likely what happened).

Now you see that the internet is not the best place for medical advice
The more info you have the better, and it can get personal...

 

[MovingTarget]

Hospital? Probably not. Usually it clears up. There should be some sort of general practitioner open in your area. Thats all you really need here.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Just wait and go to the doc unless you are really nervous about it.

My daughter got pink eye and has been on drops the last 4 days. The redness disappeared after a day of drops.
No idea how she got it either. She is only 4 months old. Doc said babies have the tendency to get it frequently.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
Trouble is it's a laptop keyboard, so any excess liquid will damage things.

If its only you using the laptop it is unlikely that it was the source. I won't advise you to strip the laptop, take the keyboard out and give it a good clean then

You can just dampen a cloth (or decent kitchen roll) with the fluid and wipe the surface. I used IPA on kitchen roll on a full sized keyboard less than a week ago.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
Just wait and go to the doc unless you are really nervous about it.

My daughter got pink eye and has been on drops the last 4 days. The redness disappeared after a day of drops.
No idea how she got it either. She is only 4 months old. Doc said babies have the tendency to get it frequently.

At four months old babies have a habit of picking things up and putting them near their face/in their mouth, as well as putting their hands on their face. It has just come from somewhere in the environment, it's not a biggy - the viruses are easily transmitted by coughs and colds.

 

[Mo0o]

It's usually pretty selflimiting but if it bothers you, go and get a prescription

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Hospital? Probably not. Usually it clears up. There should be some sort of general practitioner open in your area. Thats all you really need here.

Again, small town, so there's no GP walk ins. Appointments are at least a couple days wait, and there's definitely nothing open on a Sunday.

Plasmabomb:

Discharge is minimal. I had a couple tiny globs when I woke up one morning, but not more than usual. It's definitely nothing like what my girlfriend had (both eyes sealed shut)

No discharge whatsoever during the day.

Blurring is intermittent.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Pink Eye is any, and I do mean any, condition that causes inflammation in the eye, including allergic reactions and somebody smacking you in the face, usually accompanied by redness. It is not anything to go to an emergency room for, unless you have severe pain. Usually not something to go to a doctor for either, but if you do, see an opthalmologist. Don't waste your time with an optometrist or a general practitioner(unless you need to see your regular doctor first due to insurance considerations). The opthalmologist will give you eye drops to reduce the inflammation, and he may give you something to deal with a bacterial of viral infection. What treatment did your girlfriend receive?

 

[The Stigenator]

pink eye is very contagious..

go to doctor, use medication, take off work, and dont look at computer or tv and wear sunglasses at home..

 

[Jeff7]

I had it once. Good god my eyes were itchy as hell.
The doctor prescribed some cheap eyedrops, and I think it went away in a few days. I don't remember too well anymore, it was a few years ago. All I remember was the constant itching. I started to think about using 320 grit sandpaper to help, but was eventually hoping for a 40 grit rotary grinder.

I think the advice he gave me concerning how contagious it is: Don't touch anything if you touch your eyes, and especially don't touch your eyes and then touch someone else's face. He said that's part of why it spreads so quickly in a school environment - kid rubs his eyes constantly and then goes touching other people right away.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Baloo
Pink Eye is any, and I do mean any, condition that causes inflammation in the eye, including allergic reactions and somebody smacking you in the face, usually accompanied by redness. It is not anything to go to an emergency room for, unless you have severe pain. Usually not something to go to a doctor for either, but if you do, see an opthalmologist. Don't waste your time with an optometrist or a general practitioner(unless you need to see your regular doctor first due to insurance considerations). The opthalmologist will give you eye drops to reduce the inflammation, and he may give you something to deal with a bacterial of viral infection. What treatment did your girlfriend receive?

She got Fusidic Acid from a GP.

I have been washing my hands like a religion and not touching my face. If I'm forced to scratch my eyes, I use a Kleenex, separate side for each eye (folded so the liquid doesn't seep through) and throw it out when I'm done.

 

[tboo]

Someone has been playing with poop particles.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: ta8689
Girlfriend has to quit farting on your pillow.

Farting bare assed. Are you sure that you aren't just really really high?

 

[Scouzer]

I realized what I'm going to do about sanitizing stuff: Just put anything I can into the freezer overnight. TV Remotes, glasses, etc. Obviously not my laptop or cell phone, but most stuff should be just fine.

 

[ta8689]

Originally posted by: potato28

Originally posted by: ta8689
Girlfriend has to quit farting on your pillow.

Farting bare assed. Are you sure that you aren't just really really high?

Ah, finally. someone got it.
Pink Eye