Conjunctivitis can last between 5 and 15 days and during this time it is an infection that is easy to transmit, especially during the duration of symptoms.
Therefore, it is recommended that while you have conjunctivitis, avoid going to work or school. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask for a medical certificate at your appointment, as it’s very important not to work to avoid spreading conjunctivitis to others.
See how conjunctivitis is treated and what home remedies can be used
The duration of symptoms depends on the type of conjunctivitis:
Viral conjunctivitis lasts an average of 7 days, which is the time it takes for the body to fight the virus. For example, people with a stronger immune system can be cured in just 5 days, while people with a weakened immune system, such as the elderly or children, can take up to 12 days to heal.
To speed up the healing process, in addition to following the doctor’s advice, it is advisable to take 2 glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice with acerela per day, since the vitamin C present in these fruits is excellent to help the body’s defenses.
Bacterial conjunctivitis lasts an average of 8 days, but symptoms may begin to go away shortly after the second day of antibiotic use.
However, to ensure the cure of the disease, the antibiotic should be used for as long as the doctor determines even if there are no more symptoms before that date. This care is important to ensure that the bacteria responsible for conjunctivitis have been removed and not just weakened. See what can cause antibiotic misuse.
Allergic conjunctivitis has a very variable duration, as symptoms of the disease tend to decrease from the 2nd day of the onset of the use of an antihistamine. However, if the person does not take this medicine and remains exposed to the cause of the allergy, the symptoms are likely to last longer, reaching up to 15 days, for example.
Unlike other types, allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and therefore there is no need to stay away from school or work.
Watch the video below and understand how different types of conjunctivitis occur and what treatment is recommended: