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Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitisisacommoninfectionespeciallyamongchildrenunderfive. Childrenwithconjunctivitismustbekepthomefromschoolordaycareuntilthedischargefrom theireyeshasstopped.Thiswillpreventthespreadofinfectiontootherchildren.Theincidenceof conjunctivitisdecreaseswithage.

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Conjunctivitis symptoms
Conjunctivitisleadsto: Eyeirritationandredness Excessivetearsintheeyes Adischargewithpus Swellingoftheeyelids Photophobia(youcanttoleratelookingintosunlight).

Thesymptomsusuallydevelopwithin24to72hoursofbecominginfectedandlastfromtwodays tothreeweeks.

How you develop conjunctivitis

Youcoulddevelopconjunctivitisifyoucomeintocontactwith: Dischargefromtheeyes,noseorthroatofaninfectedperson Contaminatedfingersorobjects.

Conjunctivitiscanbetransmittedfromaninfectedmothertoherbabyduringvaginaldelivery.

Confirming that you have conjunctivitis

Yourdoctorwilltakeasampleofthedischargefromyoureye.Thiswillbeexaminedundera microscopeorgrowninaculturetodetermineifitisconjunctivitis.

Antibiotic eye drops are necessary

Ifyoudevelopconjunctivitisyouwillneedantibioticeyedropsorointmentto: Treattheinfection Helppreventthespreadofconjunctivitis.

Youwillremaininfectiousaslongasthereisadischargefromyoureye.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControlUnit,DepartmentofHealthVictoriaTel. 1300651160. RoyalVictorianEyeandEarHospital.

Conjunctivitis

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Things to remember
Conjunctivitisisaninfectiouseyecondition Symptomslastfromtwodaystothreeweeks Childrenwithconjunctivitisshouldbekepthomefromschool

Youwillremaininfectiousaslongasyouhaveaneyedischarge.

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DepartmentofHealth-CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControlUnit
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Conjunctivitis

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