Unsure if your child needs urgent care for pink eye? Learn the signs that require medical attention. Visit urgent care near you today for proper care.

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a common concern for parents when their child wakes up with red, watery eyes. The question is: do you need to take them to the doctor or urgent care? While some cases of pink eye can be treated at home, there are certain signs that indicate a professional visit to a local urgent care is necessary. Knowing when to head to urgent care can help you protect your child’s eye health and prevent the condition from worsening.

In Sevierville, TN, as families enjoy local fall activities like picking apples or sipping hot cider at Carver’s Apple Orchard, it’s essential to keep an eye out for pink eye symptoms. Ensure your child practices good hygiene during these outings to reduce the risk of spreading the infection while having fun.

Visit AFC Sevierville today.

Types of Pink Eye

Understanding the different types of pink eye will help you decide whether urgent care is needed. Conjunctivitis can be caused by:

• Viral conjunctivitis: Often the result of a cold or respiratory virus, viral pink eye is highly contagious but typically resolves on its own within a week. Symptoms include watery eyes, redness, and irritation, but these can often be managed at home.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis: This form of pink eye is caused by bacteria and produces thick yellow or green discharge. It’s also highly contagious, and while mild cases may resolve on their own, bacterial infections often require antibiotic treatment. If the discharge is severe or persistent, an urgent care visit is recommended.
• Allergic conjunctivitis: Triggered by allergens like pollen or pet dander, this type of pink eye is not contagious. It’s typically managed with over-the-counter antihistamines or allergy medication, but severe cases may benefit from our AFC advice.

When to Seek Urgent Care for Pink Eye

Most cases of pink eye don’t require emergency care, but there are certain symptoms that should prompt an urgent care visit. If your child experiences any of the following, it’s best to get them checked out by one of our providers:

• Severe eye pain or discomfort: Pink eye can cause irritation, but intense pain is a red flag. If your child is complaining of significant pain, it could indicate a more serious infection or an underlying condition that requires immediate attention from an urgent care provider.
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia): If your child becomes unusually sensitive to light, it could signal a deeper eye infection or even a condition affecting the inside of the eye. This symptom should always prompt a visit to urgent care.
• Blurry vision that doesn’t improve: While some blurriness is expected with pink eye due to discharge, if your child’s vision remains blurry after cleaning the eyes, it’s time to seek medical care. Persistent vision changes could indicate that the infection is spreading.
• Thick or persistent discharge: If your child has thick, yellow or green discharge that continues after 24-48 hours of home care, or if their symptoms are worsening, an urgent care visit is necessary. Bacterial infections often require antibiotics to clear up.
• No improvement after a week: Viral pink eye typically resolves in 5-7 days, and bacterial conjunctivitis should improve within a couple of days once antibiotics are started. If your child’s symptoms persist beyond this timeframe, a healthcare provider should evaluate the condition to determine if further treatment is needed.

Pink Eye and Fever

If your child develops a fever along with pink eye, this could be a sign of a more systemic infection, such as a viral or bacterial illness affecting multiple parts of the body. Our team of providers can help identify whether the fever is related to pink eye or another condition, and give proper treatment.

• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C): This could indicate that the infection is spreading and warrants an urgent care visit.
• Lethargy or fatigue: If your child seems unusually tired or lethargic, this could suggest that their body is fighting a broader infection, and urgent care can provide the necessary treatment.

Is Pink Eye Linked to Other Medical Conditions?

Children with weakened immune systems or other medical conditions may be more susceptible to complications from pink eye. If your child has a chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes, or an autoimmune disorder, it’s important to visit urgent care as soon as pink eye symptoms develop. Early medical intervention can prevent complications and help your child recover more quickly.

What to Expect at Your Urgent Care Visit

When you bring your child to urgent care for pink eye, our team will first examine their eyes to determine the cause of the infection. If bacterial pink eye is diagnosed, we will likely prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment to clear up the infection. For viral pink eye, treatment may focus on symptom relief, as the infection will usually resolve on its own. If allergies are the cause, antihistamines or other allergy treatments may be recommended to soothe your child’s symptoms.

The benefit of urgent care is that you can receive prompt treatment without the long wait times often associated with a primary care visit or emergency room visit. Plus, urgent care centers often have evening and weekend hours, making them a convenient option for parents juggling busy schedules.

Visit AFC Urgent Care Sevierville today. No appointment necessary!