Anyone that has pink eye should research the condition to learn how long is pink eye contagious in order to prevent the further spread of the problem. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, has a widely varied group of possible causes and the exact cause will determine just how contagious is pink eye on an individual basis. For this reason, a person that has pink eye should make a visit to a local doctor to find out what the cause in and how best to treat it. The physician will also be able to instruct the person on the correct steps to take to prevent spreading the condition to family members, friends, and co-workers.

The large majority of pink eye cases come from an adenoviral infection of the eye. These viruses are highly contagious and a person with the condition will need to be vigilant about making sure that they keep the highest levels of cleanliness. Pink eye from viral sources will generally have a pink eye contagious period of up to two weeks. Those people that have pink eye that has resulted from a bacterial infection are also at risk at spreading the bacterial infection. With bacterial causes, how contagious is pink eye will depend on when treatment is started. In most cases, the condition will only be contagious up to one day after antibiotic treatment has been started. Some causes of pink eye, such as the disease of Chlamydia, are less contagious, but transference can still happen. For Chlamydia, the most common way of spreading the condition is through sexual contact. An allergic reaction is often a common cause of pink eye, but it is not possible to spread the condition by contact with a person who exhibits pink eye symptoms. Another possible cause of pink eye that is not contagious is conjunctivitis caused by chemical exposure.

There are a number of ways that an infected person can practice good hygiene and prevent the spread of pink eye to other people. First and foremost, the patient should avoid contact with the infected eye as simple contact can easily give the infection to the other eye or other people. Secondly, the patient should adopt hygienic practices such as regular washing of the hands. Hand washing should be done after applying medication to the affected eye and also before entering areas where other people are present. Care should be taken to make sure that towels and washcloths are not shared by a person with pink eye and a healthy person. In fact, the best practice is to sterilize the towels and washcloths after they have been used. When cleaning the eye, the person should use a cotton pad and properly dispose of the pad after it has been used.

With current medical advancements, much is known about the causes of pink eye and the best way to treat them.  Each cause can have a specific treatment plan. By visiting a medical professional, a patient can easily find out what type of pink eye they have and whether it is contagious or not. With this knowledge, a person can take the necessary steps to preventing the condition. Knowing how long is pink eye contagious is the first step in keeping family and loved ones unaffected by the condition.