So why is Pink Eye and big deal?


Question:
I've always wonered why people gasp if someone has it, sends them home from school or work and demand they dont return until its passed. Its just red sore eyes right? I know people go to work and school with stomach viruses, bad colds and flu, and Id really rather catch sore eyes.

Answers:
You're not completely wrong. Usually pink eye isn't a huge deal and is simply an irritating condition - it's rare that any complications come of it. The thing is though, it's highly contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms begin and regardless of how harmless the condition may usually be, it's a bit like common courtesy to keep away from others while you have it. The same really should hold true for colds and flu but perhaps because colds and flu are so much more common society has simply come to downplay them and make it a little more justifiable to go out to public areas even when we're sneezing and wheezing. I'm personally of the opinion that you shouldn't be out and about where you can infect others at all regardless of what contagious disease you have.

Side note: Rare as they may be, complications can be serious as even permanent loss of eyesight, especially with more risk-prone children and newborns.

Other Answers:
no, it's actually a bacterial infection of the eyes that is highly contageous! You really don't want to catch this one, or any disease for that matter.

Pink Eye is really, really contagious and will spread faster than a cold or the flu. It's contagious! Nobody wants to be around sick people anyways.


Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eyes commonly known as "pink eye"

It is most often caused by a virus but can also be caused by bacteria.




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