From the Guidelines
A person with viral conjunctivitis is typically contagious from when symptoms first appear until about 10-14 days later, as suggested by the most recent study 1. The most contagious period is during the first 3-5 days after symptoms begin. You should consider yourself contagious as long as your eyes are red, watery, and producing discharge. To prevent spreading the infection, it is essential to:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
- Avoid touching your eyes
- Don't share towels or pillowcases
- Stay home from work or school during the most contagious period Unlike bacterial conjunctivitis, viral cases don't respond to antibiotics and must run their course. You can manage symptoms with:
- Cold compresses
- Artificial tears The virus spreads easily through direct contact with eye secretions or contaminated objects, which is why proper hygiene is essential during the contagious period. Most cases resolve without treatment within 1-2 weeks, as noted in the study 1. It is crucial to follow the guidelines outlined in the conjunctivitis preferred practice pattern to minimize the spread of the infection and prevent complications, as recommended by 1 and 1. By taking these precautions and following the recommended guidelines, you can reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to others and promote a speedy recovery.
From the Research
Contagious Period for Viral Conjunctivitis
The contagious period for viral conjunctivitis is a critical factor in preventing the spread of the infection. According to the available evidence:
- Patients with adenoviral conjunctivitis are contagious for approximately 14 days after the onset of symptoms 2.
- The possibility of the eye acting as a source for spreading infection during the incubation period is very small, as no specimen obtained before onset showed a positive result for adenovirus in both immunochromatography and polymerase chain reaction tests 2.
- Viral conjunctivitis spreads easily, and controlling the spread requires quick diagnosis, strict implementation of hand washing, and sanitization of surfaces 3.
Factors Affecting Contagiousness
Several factors can affect the contagiousness of viral conjunctivitis, including:
- The type of virus causing the infection, with adenoviruses being the most common cause of viral conjunctivitis 3.
- The presence of symptoms such as eye discharge, swelling of the lid margin, and ciliary injection, which can increase the risk of transmission 3.
- The use of topical antibiotics, which can decrease the duration of bacterial conjunctivitis but may not affect the contagiousness of viral conjunctivitis 4.
Prevention and Treatment
Preventing the spread of viral conjunctivitis requires:
- Quick diagnosis and treatment of the infection 3.
- Strict implementation of hand washing and sanitization of surfaces 3.
- Avoiding close contact with individuals who have viral conjunctivitis 3.
- Using topical antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers to alleviate symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, which can help reduce the risk of transmission 4.
- Considering the use of a one-time, low-concentration ocular surface povidone-iodine wash, which has been shown to expedite recovery and reduce complications in acute infective conjunctivitis 5.