The Dreaded Pink Eye.
Probably none of us escaped childhood without having had “pink eye”! Do you remember being sent home with a note that didn’t allow you to come back to school until your eyes were a normal color again? Conjunctivitis, commonly know as pink eye, is very contagious and children can infect classmates and family members quickly and easily. Pink eye can be caused by many of the same bacteria and viruses that cause colds and other infections. Doctors usually recommend that children with pink eye stay home from pre-school or day care.
Newborns are particularly susceptible to pink eye. Many babies are born with a narrow or blocked tear duct, a condition that usually clears up on its own, but sometimes can lead to conjunctivitis. If you suspect that your baby has pink eye, take him or her to the doctor.
Different types of pink eye can have different symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is discomfort in the eye. Your child may say that it feels like sand or dirt in the eye. Some might have redness of the eye and inner eyelid, hence the name pink eye. It can also cause discharge from the eyes that may cause the eyelids to stick together when your child wakes up in the morning. Some kids become very sensitive to bright light when they have pink eye.
If pink eye is caused by a virus it will go away on its own; but if it is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic eye drops or ointment will be prescribed. It is best to check with your child’s doctor.
Giving your child eye drops can be a challenge. If you are having trouble, put the drops on the inner corner of our child’s closed eye and then when the child opens the eye, the medicine will flow into it. If you continue to have trouble with the drops, ask the doctor about antibiotic ointment. It can be applied in a thin layer where the eyelids meet, and will melt and enter the eye.
- Laurel-Le Lipski