As cooler weather comes in, parents try to bundle their little ones up to keep them from the cold. When it’s too chilly or rainy, a cold day can be a perfect excuse for a day out at an indoor location. For weather that chills you to your bone, it’s the perfect opportunity to go to the The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium.

Children, especially those in daycare, school, or shared play areas, are known for catching illnesses easily. These places are hot spots for the viruses and bacteria that commonly cause pink eye.

Visit AFC Gastonia if you think your child has pink eye.

Common Pink Eye Symptoms

• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Green or white stringy discharge
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Crusting of the eyelids or lashes, especially while sleeping
• Redness and swelling in the white of your eye or inner eyelid
• Thick yellow discharge that crusts over your eyelashes, especially after sleep
• Gritty feeling in one or both eyes

What is Pink Eye?

The medical name for pink eye is ‘conjunctivitis.’ It happens when the conjunctiva— the clear tissue lining the inside of your eyelids and covering the white part of the eye— becomes inflamed. The conjunctiva helps keep your eyes moist.

In the U.S., pink eye affects both adults and children equally, with over six million cases each year. Among school-aged children, this results in nearly three million missed school days annually. It’s generally advised to stay home for 24 hours after starting antibiotics to prevent spreading the infection.

What Causes Pink Eye?

• Viruses (very contagious)
• Bacteria (very contagious)
• Allergens, like pollen (not contagious)
• Irritants, like smoke or dust (not contagious)
• Herpes

Viral conjunctivitis is an eye infection caused by a few different viruses and is very contagious. Sometimes large outbreaks occur. It passes on its own given several days.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection due to bacteria. Some bacteria are common, but others that can lead to pink eye include those related to sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. This type can also spread easily in certain settings and children who are not exhibiting fever or behavioral symptoms can usually continue attending school. This type of infection is more common in children than adults and is more prevalent from December through April.

Allergic conjunctivitis is often itchy and results from a body’s reaction to a specific allergen such as pollens, dust, mites, mold, pet dander, or cosmetics. It is most common among those who have other allergic conditions, such as asthma and isn’t contagious. High pollen counts can contribute, but it can occur at any time of the year depending on environmental factors. Allergy medication and allergy eye drops help.

Conjunctivitis caused by irritants has some overlap with allergic conjunctivitis as environmental chemicals or other airborne irritants may precipitate a non-contagious reaction. This type of conjunctivitis may also be caused by a foreign object in the eye, or in cases where contact lenses have not been cleaned properly. Burning eyes can also occur with this form.

Pink eye will resolve within two days to two weeks depending on the cause and treatment.

How to Avoid Pink Eye

Preventing pink eye can be challenging because it spreads easily through close contact. Even a routine handshake can transmit the infection. Pink eye can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then your face. Regular hand washing is crucial for prevention. To stop the spread, keep your child at home until their fever and eye discharge are completely gone.

Recommended Hygiene Practices:

• Do not touch or rub the infected eye(s)
• Wash hands often with soap and water, or sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• Wash any discharge from the eyes twice daily using a fresh cotton ball. Throw away the cotton ball and wash your hands with soap and warm water afterward
• Wash hands after applying any eye drops or ointment
• Do not share makeup, contact lenses, towels, or cups

Conjunctivitis in Babies

Neonatal conjunctivitis, or conjunctivitis in infants younger than four weeks, is particularly serious and requires immediate medical attention. The most common forms of conjunctivitis in newborns include:

Inclusion (chlamydial) conjunctivitis that passes to a baby by a mother with untreated chlamydia during birth. Symptoms typically appear 5-12 days after birth and can pass to the lungs or other parts of the body. Oral antibiotics treat the infection.

Gonococcal conjunctivitis is passed to the baby by a mother with untreated gonorrhea during childbirth. Conjunctivitis typically begins in the baby’s first 2-5 days. Intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics are required to prevent the baby from developing ulcers on the cornea or becoming blind.

Chemical conjunctivitis can result from the antimicrobial drops given to newborns to prevent bacterial infection. Symptoms should abate within 36 hours (or three days).

Some other viruses and bacteria can cause conjunctivitis in newborns such as the ones that can cause genital or oral herpes, which is less common, and even the bacteria that normally lives in a woman’s vagina. Antibiotic ointments or drops treat these cases.

When to Seek Medical Care

Your child should see their doctor if they have any of the following:

• Pain in the eye(s)
• Sensitivity to light or blurred vision that does not improve when discharge is wiped from the eye(s)
• Intense redness in the eye(s)
• Worsening or unimproved symptoms, including pink eye thought to be caused by bacteria which does not improve after 24 hours of antibiotic use
• A weakened immune system, for example from HIV infection, cancer treatment, or other medical conditions or treatments
• A preexisting eye condition
• Decrease in vision

Soothing Pink Eye

To calm the irritation and swelling of conjunctivitis, cold compresses can be helpful. Always use a new, clean compress for each use. Artificial tear drops may provide some comfort, but it’s best to avoid red-reducing drops, which can lead to further irritation. If you wear contact lenses, clean them thoroughly and avoid wearing them until your eyes have healed to prevent reinfection.

If you or your child is experiencing the symptoms of pink eye, visit AFC Urgent Care Gastonia for care.