What is pink eye, and how long am I contagious with it?
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a very common eye infection of the membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis can affect anyone; however, it is most common in children. There are several types of conjunctivitis including bacterial, viral, and allergic. Bacterial conjunctivitis spreads easily to others by hand-to-hand contact after an infected person rubs his eyes and touches something else that another person touches, such as towels and washcloths. The white part of the eye can look red, and the eye may feel scratchy like there is sand in the eye. The eyelids are sometimes stuck together after sleep due to a pus-like discharge. Antibiotics are often prescribed. People with pink eye should stay home from childcare, school, and work until they have a full 24 hours of antibiotic treatment. With viral conjunctivitis, the white of the eye becomes pink, and the eye may be sore and watery. Viral conjunctivitis will not respond to antibiotics. Peopl
