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Conjunctivitis - infective - Management
What self-care advice can I give a person with acute infectious conjunctivitis?
- Infective conjunctivitis is a self-limiting illness that usually settles without treatment within 1–2 weeks. People should reconsult if their symptoms persist for longer than 2 weeks.
- Urgently seek medical attention if marked eye pain or photophobia, loss of visual acuity, or marked redness of the eye develop.
- Remove contact lenses until all symptoms and signs of infection have completely resolved, and any treatment has been completed for 24 hours.
- Lubricant eye drops may reduce eye discomfort; these are available over the counter, as well as on prescription.
- Clean away infected secretions from eyelids and lashes with cotton wool soaked in water.
- Wash hands regularly, particularly after touching infected secretions, and avoid sharing pillows and towels.
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