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Conjunctivitis is also known as red or pink eye.
It usually affects both eyes and makes them:
There are things you can do to help ease the symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better.
Speak to a pharmacist about conjunctivitis. They can give you advice and suggest eyedrops or antihistamines to help with your symptoms.
If you need treatment for a child under 2 years old, you'll need a prescription from a GP.
There are things you can do to stop conjunctivitis spreading to other people.
wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water
wash your pillow cases and face cloths in hot water and detergent
cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and put used tissues in the bin
do not share towels and pillows
do not rub your eyes
You do not need to stay away from work or school unless you or your child are feeling very unwell.
These can be signs of a more serious eye problem.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Treatment will depend on the cause of your conjunctivitis.
If it's a bacterial infection, you might be prescribed antibiotics. But these will not work if it's caused by a virus (viral conjunctivitis) or an allergy.
Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause conjunctivitis. This type takes longer to get better.
