Parasitic Diseases—Eye Infections

Your eyes can get infections from bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Eye infections can occur in different parts of the eye and can affect just one eye or both. Two common eye infections are

• Conjunctivitis – also known as pinkeye. Conjunctivitis is often due to an infection. Children frequently get it, and it is very contagious.
• Stye – a bump on the eyelid that happens when bacteria from your skin get into the hair follicle of an eyelash.

Symptoms of eye infections may include redness, itching, swelling, discharge, pain, or problems with vision. Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and may include compresses, eye drops, creams, or antibiotics.

• Blepharitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Corneal ulcers and infections (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cytomegalovirus retinitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Dacryoadenitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Endophthalmitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Eye burning – itching and discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Eye redness (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Meibomianitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Orbital cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Periorbital cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia)

Parasites are living things that use other living things – like your body – for food and a place to live. You can get them from contaminated food or water, a bug bite, or sexual contact. Some parasitic diseases are easily treated and some are not.

Parasites range in size from tiny, one-celled organisms called protozoa to worms that can be seen with the naked eye. Some parasitic diseases occur in the United States. Contaminated water supplies can lead to Giardia infections. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous for pregnant women. Others, like malaria, are common in other parts of the world.

If you are traveling, it’s important to drink only water you know is safe. Prevention is especially important. There are no vaccines for parasitic diseases. Some medicines are available to treat parasitic infections.

• Amebiasis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Amebic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Ascariasis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Creeping eruption (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Stool ova and parasites exam (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Taeniasis (Medical Encyclopedia)