PINK EYE IS NOT THAT BAD

It's "Pink Eye" season, as well as flu season. Like most terms for diseases, "Pink Eye" is a term that gets batted around freely, and usually inaccurately. Let's clear up this concept a bit.

WHAT IS PINK EYE?
Pink eye is better known as "infectious conjunctivitis," a contagious infection of the eye which is fortunately very benign. There are strange varieties of this in the developing world, but here in the U.S. there are just 2 main types. Both cause the eye or eyes to be red, painful, itchy, sensitive to light, and sometimes full of mucus and pus. Pink eye lasts weeks. If your eyes are itchy, watery, or bothersome intermittently for months or years, you don't have pink eye, you have eye allergies.
THE 2 TYPES OF PINK EYE:
1. Viral conjunctivitis- this accounts for more than 90% of cases of pink eye. There is no cure, you just have to suffer for 2-4 weeks until it goes away. Most people, including doctors, incorrectly think that you need antibiotic eye drops to treat this. You don't. Antibiotic eye drops for viral pink eye will either do nothing, or make your eyes burn more.
2. Bacterial conjunctivitis- this causes about 5-10% of cases of pink eye. It usually affects just one eye, and is not quite as contagious to others. This type of pink eye gets gradually worse without treatment with antibiotic drops, and it DOES NOT go away on its own.
HOW DO YOU TELL VIRAL PINK EYE FROM BACTERIAL PINK EYE?
Fortunately, it's not that hard. Bacterial pink eye (the one that requires antibiotic drops) produces large amounts of white or yellow pus in the eye, so that in the morning the eye is crusty and initially hard to open. It's quite painful, and while it can be in both eyes, it's usually just in one eye. It also progresses; each day it gets more red, more painful, and there is more pus. So if you think you have bacterial pink eye, see your doctor!
By contrast, the common viral pink eye is very annoying, but does not get worse day by day. It can be painful and irritating, and it easily spreads to the other eye. It can also produce a lot of mucus in the eye, but this is usually clear mucus that is sticky in the morning and more "runny" the rest of the day. It's not white or yellow mucus. NO eye drops will shorten the duration of viral pink eye.
HOW DOES PINK EYE SPREAD?
1. Bacterial: infected body secretions have to actually get into your eye to give you bacterial pink eye. Babies can get it just from being born, via contact with vaginal bacteria (all babies are usually given a dose of eye ointment at birth to prevent this). But you can probably get it from the saliva, snot, or eye secretions of your child, spouse, or friend. So if someone you're in close contact with probably has bacterial pink eye, see your doctor if your eye starts bothering you.
2. Viral: viral pink eye is very contagious. It almost seems to spread via "ESP" or perhaps through the "fabric of the universe." It's possible that it can travel on water vapor in the air, and just "land on" your eye. It certainly can be spread by close contact with infected people, especially if you happen to rub your eye. If your child has viral pink eye, I suggest you simply get some sunglasses and assume you'll have it within the week.
HOW DO YOU TREAT PINK EYE?
1. Bacterial: get some antibiotic drops from your doctor; most eye doctors and optometrists can write a prescription for these as well. Put a cold, wet towel over your closed eye for 10 minutes periodically- it can be very soothing. Take ibuprofen or naproxen for the pain. You'll be better soon.
2. Viral: you can try anti-inflammatory drops such as Naphcon, Zaditor, Ophcon, or Visine; they usually don't help much. A lubricating drop such as "Artificial Tears" is probably more helpful. Use a cool compress on your eye or eyes when you have time. Wear sunglasses. Try some ibuprofen or naproxen. Rest. You won't be better that soon, but there are worse diseases to have.
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE PINK EYE, BACTERIAL OR VIRAL:
-Don't wear contact lenses
-Don't swim in chlorinated pools (not dangerous to do, just painful)
-Don't handle other people's small children
-Don't get eye surgery
-Don't ask your doctor for narcotics (we know it doesn't hurt that bad)

THE FLU SHOT: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, it's almost flu season again. That means it's the season when many people will start spreading various myths, inaccuracies, untrue stories, and other nonsense about the flu shot and why they don't get it. I don't care that much- people are free to skip out on getting flu shots if they want to. I just want you to know the facts about it, so that you can make an INTELLIGENT choice as to whether or not you want the flu shot. I'll give you the facts via a format I like, the common "Frequently Asked Questions" or FAQs.

THE FLU SHOT: FAQs

Q: Can the flu shot give you the flu?

A: NO. The flu shot is a dead, killed, completely inactive virus. You cannot get an actual flu from the flu shot, even if your immune system is weak or nonexistent. There ARE some live flu vaccines that are given as a nasal spray, but I don't trust these; they haven't been around long enough. They can't give you the flu either if your immune system is normal. Your doctor probably has the good 'ol flu shot for you anyway.

Q: I got the flu and it was just like a bad cold, and I got over it. Why bother getting a shot to prevent this?

A: You didn't have the flu. You had a bad cold. Did you have shaking chills, a fever over 102, severe diarrhea, and body aches that were so bad you couldn't get off the couch for almost 2 weeks? I didn't think so. You had a cold. Stop telling people you had the flu. If you had the flu you'd be begging for the flu shot this year.

Q: Does the flu shot make you feel sick afterwards?

A: Sometimes. It may give you a low-grade fever, MILD body aches, fatigue, and nausea for 1 (one) day. If it gave you these symptoms for longer than that, you either had a cold coming your way already, or you are a hypochondriac (see earlier post about hypochondriasis).

Q: Can't the flu shot give my child autism?

A: No. This question has been addressed in studies that are some of the largest clinical trials in medical history, and time and again, it's been shown that there is NO provable link between ANY vaccine given to children, and autism. But there are much bigger, fancier blogs and web sites than mine that will tell you the opposite. I go with the science, and I believe the scientific studies on this issue (which, by the way, are NOT funded by the drug companies) are conclusive.

The flu shot is safe for kids, and kids don't like having the flu.

Q: Who should get the flu shot?

A: Everyone. I'd say everyone "should" get the flu shot, but I don't push the issue in young, healthy people. Why? Because the flu sucks, but it won't kill those people. I do push the issue in some patients (see next question).

Q: Who REALLY SHOULD get the flu shot?

A: Senior citizens (people over 65), people with diabetes, people with lung diseases such as emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis, people with cancer, heavy smokers, people with heart failure and other chronic heart conditions, and young children (under 5 is "young" in my book but ask your pediatrician since I don't treat kids). Why is it so important? Because for these folks, the flu is a life-threatening illness.

Q: Does the flu shot protect you from the dreaded "bird flu?"

A: No. Unfortunately, modern medicine has absolutely nothing that can prevent or cure the "bird flu." Your best bet is still to avoid frolicking in Asian live poultry markets.

Q: I've heard that the flu vaccine doesn't protect you from all normal flu viruses. Is this true?

A: Yes. Flu viruses mutate every year, which is why the flu vaccine has to be made from scratch every season. Sometimes the flu viruses circulate in greater variety. For example, in 2006 the vaccine was quite good, protecting against over 75% of common flu viruses. Last year, the vaccine was relatively mediocre (60% protection or so at best). Unfortunately, we don't know how effective a given flu vaccine will be until we are well into the flu season.

Q: When should I get the flu vaccine?

A: As soon as your doctor, office, pharmacy, or local clinic has it available.

Q: When is it "too late" to get the flu shot?

A: When there are none left. It's amazing how long flu season lasts- while fall and winter are the worst times, we still see cases well into spring. So if you haven't made it in for a checkup until January and your doctor offers you a flu shot, I recommend you take it.