Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
- Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) is the inflammation (i.e. redness and swelling) of the thin tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids
Causes
- Infection (bacteria or virus)
- Allergies
- Irritant
Signs and Symptoms
- Red or pink eye
- Itchy and/or painful eye
- Green or yellow discharge
- Infected eyes can get “crusted” and may be difficult to open in the morning
- May affect one or both eyes
How is it spread?
- If bacterial/viral in nature – it can spread by direct contact with discharge from an infected eye
- If from allergy or irritant – usually not contagious
How do you treat it?
- When pink eye caused by infection, most often it is from virus, so antibiotic will not help – it will go away on its own in few days
- If caused by bacteria – it can be treated with antibiotic drops or gel. In that case, antibiotic eye drops should be used for 24 hours before going back to school
- Clean eyes before putting antibiotic drops
- Use warm water and wet cloth to remove pus/crusting and dispose it carefully
- Children who wear contact lens need to switch to glass for a while
- With treatment discharge should clear up in 2-3 days , however red eye may last up to week
When to Call the Pediatrician?
- If eye is extremely red, oozing or very painful
- If child complains about visual blurring or visual loss
Prevention
- The best method for preventing spread is good hand hygiene
- Careful hand hygiene before and after touching the eyes, nose, and mouth
- Avoid sharing towel, bed clothes or other personal items with person who has pink eye
