Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): A Common Fall Illness

Doctor's Note Conjuncitivits

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): A Common Fall Illness

Summer is officially behind us, and another school year is back in session. When it comes to fall illnesses, conjunctivitis—commonly referred to as “pink eye”—is among the most feared by parents. School-aged children are at a high level of risk of exposure to conjunctivitis, and though severe complications are rare, viral pink eye is incredibly contagious and can cause quite a bit of discomfort if left untreated.

We see a rise in cases of conjunctivitis at ConvenientMD every fall and often receive questions about the illness from our patients. Here’s what you need to know about pink eye, as well as what to do if you or a family member are showing symptoms.


What Is Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)?

Conjunctivitis by definition is an inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva—the clear tissue which covers the white part of the eye and the interior of the eyelids. Many people refer to conjunctivitis as “pink eye” due largely to the physical appearance of symptoms such as redness of the eyes or yellow discharge. As children are in close contact with others during the school year, they are typically the most susceptible members of the population to contracting pink eye.

There are various forms of conjunctivitis, including allergic, viral and bacterial. While allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, viral (the most common form) and bacterial cases can easily spread from person to person. Those who wear contact lenses are at an increased risk of developing bacterial conjunctivitis, which may require treatment with antibiotics.


What are the Symptoms of Conjunctivitis?

Symptoms of conjunctivitis often depend upon the underlying cause of the inflammation and typically include the following:

  • Redness of the eyes (especially the whites of the eyes)
  • Increased tears
  • Swelling
  • Crusty discharge
  • Itchy or burning eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Swollen lymph nodes

In severe cases, the following symptoms may occur:

  • Blurred vision
  • High fever
  • Severe pain in eye

These symptoms are signs of a medical emergency. If experienced, seek medical treatment right away so as to prevent complications from forming.


Diagnosing and Treating Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is usually diagnosed via a physical examination and a conversation about symptoms and recent medical history. Rarely, a sample of discharge from the eye may be taken for laboratory analysis to confirm or deny a bacterial infection. For those suffering from allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamine-containing eye drops may be prescribed.

Since most cases of conjunctivitis are viral, a treating provider will usually provide guidance to help treat and alleviate symptoms while the virus runs its course (typically within 2-3 weeks).


Visit ConvenientMD to Get Treated for Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis can be severely uncomfortable. At ConvenientMD, we treat cases of conjunctivitis on a regular basis with the goal of helping our patients achieve symptom relief and get back to daily life. All of our clinics in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts are open seven days a week from 8am. to 8pm. Just walk in—you never need to make an appointment to be seen.

So don’t let conjunctivitis ruin your fall—visit ConvenientMD to get treated today!

ConvenientMD, New England’s Leading Urgent Care Provider Opening New Clinic in Bangor, Maine

Bangor, ME — ConvenientMD—New England’s leading urgent care provider—is proud to announce the opening of its newest location this November in Bangor, ME, located at 543 Broadway, right off I-95.

ConvenientMD provides convenient access to high-quality, affordable urgent care with the aim of revolutionizing the patient experience. All clinics are open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, and patients can just walk in without ever needing to make an appointment. Each location is staffed with a full medical team with decades of experience in urgent care, emergency room, and primary care settings. Insurances are accepted, but not required to be seen.

With locations in Portland and Westbrook, the opening of ConvenientMD’s Bangor clinic will provide residents of central and mid-coast Maine with an entirely new option for treatment of non-life threatening illnesses and injuries. ConvenientMD’s state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with X-ray imaging, lab, IV fluids/antibiotics as well as other on-site capabilities—making ConvenientMD an all-inclusive solution for treating a broad range of injuries and illness, led by the area’s leading physicians and providers.

For Gareth Dickens, Executive Chairman, and Max Puyanic, CEO of ConvenientMD, the opening of ConvenientMD’s Bangor location is the natural next step in increasing access to quality, affordable care across the state of Maine.

“We’ve seen an extremely positive response from the community in southern Maine since opening our Portland and Westbrook clinics last year,” says Puyanic. “Maine is a large state, and it’s important to us that patients located in other parts of the state have access to what ConvenientMD offers. We plan to deliver the same quality of care experienced at all of our locations to Bangor-area residents when we open in November.”

“We make patient care more convenient and affordable while minimizing the wait for expert medical care. We’ve worked hard to make Bangor a reality, and it’s been incredible to watch such a huge show of support materialize in the community,” says Dickens.

Dr. Mark Pundt, Chief Medical Officer of ConvenientMD noted “Bangor is fortunate to have a strong healthcare system offering great medical care. We look forward to collaborating with existing providers and systems to help enhance their practices and resources to better serve the community and implement effective emergency department avoidance strategies.”

ConvenientMD currently operates 11 locations across Maine and New Hampshire, with additional locations coming soon to Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The Grand Opening celebration date for ConvenientMD’s Bangor location is set for Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 from 11:30am to 2:30pm – all are welcome to attend.

For more information on this location, click here.