As cooler weather comes in, maybe it’s the perfect opportunity to go to the Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville when it’s chilly. As your kid learns about various fun facts, let our team at AFC teach you about a common childhood illness that you can prepare for.

Kids are well-known for catching all sorts of illnesses, especially when they attend daycare, school, or play in shared spaces where the bacteria and viruses responsible for most pink eye cases spread easily.

Visit one of our North Carolina AFC Urgent Care Locations 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 term for pink eye is ‘conjunctivitis,’ which occurs when the conjunctiva, the transparent tissue lining the inner eyelid and covering the white of the eye, becomes inflamed. This tissue’s role is to keep the eyes moist.

In the U.S., pink eye affects more than six million people annually, with adults and children impacted equally. Among schoolchildren, it leads to about three million missed days of school. To reduce the spread, it’s recommended to stay home for 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

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

Keeping pink eye at bay can be difficult since it’s easily spread through close contact, like a simple handshake. The infection can also transfer when you touch a contaminated surface and then your face. Frequent hand washing is a critical part of preventing pink eye. To contain the infection, keep your child at home until their fever and eye discharge are 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

Conjunctivitis in infants younger than four weeks, called neonatal conjunctivitis, should be treated urgently with a doctor’s visit. The most common types found in newborns are:

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

Applying cold compresses can ease the irritation and swelling that come with conjunctivitis. It’s important to use new, clean compresses every time. Artificial tear drops can help, but steer clear of red-reducing eye drops, as they can aggravate the irritation. If you wear contacts, clean them thoroughly and stop using them until your eyes are fully healed to prevent reinfection.

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