Eye Infections (Conjunctivitis)

My child has pink eye. What do I do?

It can be concerning when your child wakes up in the morning with an eye sealed shut with yellow goop. If your child is an infant and the eye itself is white and normal looking, and this is an ongoing chronic issue, then this may be just a blocked tear duct. Otherwise, they may have conjunctivitis ("Pink Eye"), which is an infection of the superficial covering of the eye (conjunctiva). Conjunctivitis can be caused by either a virus or a bacteria.

Symptoms

Viral conjunctivitis usually has mild to moderate eye redness, mild white discharge, and symptoms of eye irritation and burning.  It can involve one or both eyes and often happens along with or right after an upper respiratory infection. Like a common cold, the treatment is primarily for comfort. Antibiotic eye drops will not help as they do not fight viruses. The infection will improve on its own, usually in 1-2 days, but occasionally it might last up to 1-2 weeks. It is very contagious, and care should be taken to avoid touching the eyes and to keep up with strict hand washing.

Bacterial conjunctivitis has more severe symptoms with worse redness, more eye pain, and a greater amount of yellow or greenish discharge. Again, it is very contagious and hygiene measures are critically important.

Treatment

As opposed to viral conjunctivitis, a bacterial pink eye can be treated effectively with antibiotic eye drops to shorten the infection.

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine which type of conjunctivitis you are dealing with, even for primary doctors or eye doctors. If in doubt, have your child evaluated by your pediatrician, family doctor, or an urgent care. For persistent or worsening conjunctivitis which doesn’t respond to treatment, contact Spokane Eye Clinic for a pediatric ophthalmology evaluation.

The hardest question to answer is whether a child with conjunctivitis should be kept at home away from pre-school or school. Most eye doctors, including us, will recommend keeping the child at home until their eyes are no longer red and have no discharge due to the highly contagious nature of the infection. But this has implications for the child's school attendance and the parents' work responsibilities.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends handling viral pink eye like a common cold and not automatically excluding them from school. If the infection is bacterial, they may need antibiotic drops before returning. Check with your preschool or school district regarding their rules and guidelines.

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