26/07/2023
What is conjunctivitis and how does it spread?
Conjunctivitis is an irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is a protective membrane that sheaths the white part of the eyeball. Also known as pink eye, it is most often caused by a viral or a bacterial infection and is highly contagious. It can occur with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore throat. Wearing contact lenses that aren’t cleaned properly or aren’t your own, can cause bacterial conjunctivitis.
It spreads by direct contact, when you have touched your eye after touching contaminated surfaces. Therefore it is advised not to share towels or personal items when you develop conjunctivitis. You can contract the infection if you have had contact with eye secretions of another patient.
