Conjunctivitis in Children

Pink eye or Conjunctivitis in kids is quite common, it may not be a pleasant experience for your child but is usually not a cause for concern and easy to treat. Let us look at the causes, symptoms, what to look out for, treatment and when to see a doctor.

Causes of Conjunctivitis:

When the white or Conjunctiva of the eye is irritated it leads to conjunctivitis. It can also irritate the inner of the eyelids. It could be caused by any of the below:

• Bacterial & Viral: When the eye or eyes are infected by bacteria or Virus its called Infectious Conjunctivitis and spreads from infected person's mucus, saliva, or contaminated surfaces. It is highly contagious.

• Allergic: When caused by an allergic reaction seasonal changes, chemicals, food, pets, or others. This form is not contagious and subsides when the cause for allergy is taken care of.

Symptoms:

Based on the type of conjunctivitis it can last from a few days (bacterial) to weeks (viral and allergic). Some of the common symptoms are:

• Red eyes with red inner part of the eyelids

• Swollen eye lids

• Itchy eyes, swelling, watering

• Feeling of sand in the eyes

• Not liking bright lights

• Yellow or green discharge that gets crusty with time or post naps/sleep

Allergic Conjunctivitis may have similar symptoms of allergies like runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and itchy eyes.

Conjunctivitis Treatment for Kids:

Conjunctivitis usually resolves on its own in a few days but sometimes may need medical help if bacterial or allergic. Best to talk to your doctor to which is it, also below are a few home remedies for conjunctivitis you can try:

• Wipe the eyes with clean cotton ball using warm water from inward to outward. Use fresh cotton ball for each eye and also for each wipe.

• Artificial tears

• Cold or warm compress

• Avoid contact lenses till better

• Use sunglasses, if need to step out

In case of bacterial conjunctivitis, an antibiotic eyedrop or ointment prescribed by your doctor can help and if viral conjunctivitis, it usually has no treatment and resolves on its own in a few days or weeks.

For allergic conjunctivitis, stay away from the cause if known, use antihistamine eyedrops and medicines prescribed by your doctor.

In some rare cases newborns can develop conjunctivitis during birth from the mother and this needs medical evaluation as some infections can flare up if not treated timely.

Things to avoid:

Prevention is better than cure. As babies are already prone to catch infections faster with their still developing immunity its best to avoid situations and places where they could get one.

• Crowded public places where they could get exposed

• Politely ask friends and relatives with conjunctivitis to not visit until better

• Wash your hands thoroughly and ask anyone who holds the baby to do the same

• Don't send your child to play outside or school till they get better as bacterial / viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious

When to see the doctor?

Call your doctor immediately if you see any of the below symptoms.

• Difficulty seeing, in pain, extreme sensitivity to light

• White spot in the eye

• Sweeling and redness that gets worse

• Develops fever and new symptoms after a few days of onset

• Conjunctivitis due to foreign object stuck in the eye

• Scratch or injury to the eye

• Chemical reaction to products used