Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Types, Treatment, and When to Keep Kids Home
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Types, Treatment, and When to Keep Kids Home
Pink eye, medically known as conjunctivitis, is one of the most common eye conditions in children. It causes redness, irritation, and discharge from the eyes. While pink eye can look concerning and spreads easily, most cases are mild and clear up quickly with proper care.
What Is Pink Eye?
Pink eye is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin tissue that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. When irritated or infected, tiny blood vessels become visible, giving the eye a pink or red appearance. Pink eye can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, or irritants.
Types of Pink Eye
Viral Conjunctivitis: The most common type, often occurring with a cold. Symptoms include watery, clear discharge, red eyes, and light sensitivity. Usually starts in one eye but may spread to both. Highly contagious. Resolves on its own in 7 to 14 days with supportive care.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis: Caused by bacteria. Symptoms include thick, yellow, green, or white discharge and eyes crusted shut in the morning. Very contagious. Requires antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Symptoms usually improve within 24 to 48 hours of starting antibiotics.
Allergic Conjunctivitis: Results from allergies to pollen, pet dander, or dust mites. Symptoms include itchy, watery eyes (itching is the hallmark sign), affecting both eyes equally. Not contagious. Treated with allergy medications and cool compresses.
Irritant Conjunctivitis: Caused by chlorine, smoke, shampoo, or chemicals. Symptoms include red, watery eyes and mild burning. Not contagious. Symptoms improve quickly once irritant is removed.
When to Call Your Pediatrician
Parents in Princeton and Hamilton should contact our office if your child has: thick yellow, green, or white discharge, eye pain beyond mild irritation, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, pink eye in a newborn (younger than 1 month), symptoms not improving after 2 to 3 days, symptoms worsening despite treatment, severe redness or swelling of eyelids, fever along with pink eye, or recurring pink eye.
Home Care and Comfort Measures
Clean away discharge gently using a clean, damp washcloth or cotton ball, wiping from the inner corner outward. Use a fresh cloth for each eye. Apply warm or cool compresses to soothe irritation. Practice good hygiene: wash hands frequently, don't share towels or pillowcases, change pillowcases daily, and discourage eye touching or rubbing.
How to Apply Eye Drops or Ointment
For eye drops: Wash hands, gently pull down lower eyelid, hold dropper above the eye, squeeze prescribed drops into the pocket, have child blink to spread medication. For ointment: Wash hands, pull down lower eyelid, apply thin ribbon along inside of lower lid from inner to outer corner.
When to Keep Your Child Home
Keep your child home if they have bacterial or viral pink eye with discharge. They can usually return to school or daycare 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment (for bacterial pink eye) and when discharge has significantly decreased or stopped. Children with allergic or irritant pink eye can attend school as these types are not contagious.
Preventing Pink Eye
Families in Robbinsville, Bordentown, and East Windsor can help prevent pink eye by teaching proper handwashing, avoiding touching eyes with unwashed hands, not sharing personal items like towels or eye makeup, cleaning eyeglasses regularly, and replacing eye makeup every 3 months.
If you have concerns about your child's eye symptoms, our pediatric team in Robbinsville is here to help.
What to Expect
Viral pink eye resolves in 7 to 14 days. Bacterial pink eye improves within 24 to 48 hours of antibiotics but complete healing takes about a week. Allergic pink eye improves when allergen exposure is reduced and allergy treatment is started. Irritant pink eye improves within hours to a day after removing the irritant.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I keep my child home from school with pink eye?
Keep your child home if they have bacterial conjunctivitis (thick yellow or green discharge) until they've been on antibiotic drops for 24 hours. Viral pink eye requires staying home while symptoms are severe and discharge is present. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
How can I tell if my child's pink eye is bacterial or viral?
Bacterial pink eye typically produces thick yellow or green discharge that causes the eyelids to stick together, especially in the morning. Viral pink eye usually has watery discharge and often accompanies a cold. Only your pediatrician can definitively diagnose the type.
What's the difference in treatment for bacterial vs viral pink eye?
Bacterial pink eye is treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment and usually improves within 24-48 hours. Viral pink eye has no specific treatment and must run its course (typically 7-10 days), though cool compresses can provide comfort. Allergic conjunctivitis responds to antihistamine drops.
How can I prevent pink eye from spreading to other family members?
Practice frequent hand washing, don't share towels or pillowcases, clean surfaces regularly, avoid touching eyes, and wash your child's bedding daily. Dispose of used tissues immediately and avoid sharing eye makeup or contact lenses.
When should I call the doctor about pink eye?
Contact your pediatrician if your child has eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, the white of the eye appears very red, symptoms worsen or don't improve after 2-3 days of treatment, or if your newborn develops any eye discharge.
Need Personal Guidance?
This article provides general information. For questions specific to your child's health, please call our office or book an appointment online.