Are Styes Contagious?

When someone suffers from stye, the people around him begin to wonder whether it is contagious. Most sources claim that no, it is possible, however ophthalmologists is not so categorical. The possibility of infection, although is very low, but it is still there. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to protect themselves and others from this infection, especially if we are talking about children. To make yourself some conclusions on this issue, you need to assess and weigh all the «pros» and «cons».

• This inflammation is local, that is limited spread of the place: it is difficult to touch each other’s eyes or eyelids, so the infection usually does not occur;
• After opening the focus of inflammation pus flows insignificant a little, so it is not dangerous to others;
• According to statistics, 80% of opened stye are at night, at careless movement of a sleeping man, when no one is around, — accordingly, there is nobody to infect.

After such convincing arguments, many doubt is left that stye is not dangerous. Indeed, there is no reason to isolate the sick person from other people. Therefore, children can be seen quietly going to the kindergarten or school, and any of your co-worker will not take sick leave in this case. Still, there is the possibility of infection, and it is necessary to know, contact with the sick person.

But are you sure that eye stye is not contagious?

Even among ophthalmologists, there is no consensus about contagious or not eye stye. Most of them do not exclude such possibility, because there is an infection in the contained pus, which is in inflammation. As it is known, in the eye, after aging, an eye stye is opened: inside — in the conjunctive sac, but external — to the eyes, face, eyelids, and eyebrows. If at this moment pus somehow gets on another person (especially on mucous — in the mouth or eyes), there is a danger of infection. Arguments of ophthalmologists are quite convincing:

• 95% of the stye in the eye occurs due to the activity of a bacterial infection — Staphylococcus aureus, which is 100% contagious and can be transmitted to another person through the pus, which is contained in the aging stye;
• It is possible the inflammation of the entire eye socket if you open the inflamed hearth by yourself: this pus somehow can be on the mucous of healthy person, the risk of catching an infection increases significantly;
• It’s a very high chance to catch a stye if the person suffers from weak immune systems: the body, which is not fully protected by its own internal forces;
• In addition, people who suffer from blepharitis, conjunctivitis or demodicosis have a risk of a stye infection.

How not to catch the eye stye?

Eye stye, according to ophthalmologists may be dangerous for the people around them only under certain conditions. If you do not allow them, and the probability of infection would be zero. Following certain rules will guarantee protection of you from this disease.

1. Strengthen the immune system
To begin with, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system — a natural protection of the human body. Healthy lifestyle is a guarantee that the immune system will be able to reflect the attack from outside.

2. Treat eye diseases
Any eye infectious diseases should be immediately being treated, and not at home, by artisanal methods, which are often only drive the disease into the corner and not being treated it.

3. Avoid direct contact with sick people.
Basic hygiene rules guarantee safety from infection eye stye from another person.

To avoid an eye stye you should follow particular rules and inform children. In addition, you should support and strengthen your immune system.