Tips for Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
Pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, happens a lot during sick season. But it can happen for a few reasons — from viruses, bacteria, allergies, or contact with topical triggers. Here are some tips to help:
What Does It Look Like?
You’ll recognize conjunctivitis when you see discharge from the eyes. That discharge can be thin or thick, depending on the cause. And the key is to look in the white parts of the eyes — those will usually look pink or red.
Is It Contagious?
Yes. It can spread through direct contact (touching), respiratory droplets (like with a child who has a runny nose, runny eyes, and touches you with their whole face), or contaminated surfaces.
What To Do
Take a soft washcloth and put it in warm water, then squeeze excess water away.
Wipe gently from the inner to outer eye 3-4x/day.
If there is a lot of crusting, gently remove that first with the washcloth.
You can use a second warm washcloth to use as a gentle compress for comfort.
Try this at home for 24 hours to start.
How to Prevent It From Spreading
For more tips on how to prevent pinkeye from spreading and when to seek help, take a look at the Conjunctivitis section of the Baby’s Health Handbook. It has specific details on what you can do in your home to prevent spread, different types of pinkeye and treatment for each kind, and when to seek medical help.
When Can My Child Return to School or Daycare?
Every school has different policies - check with yours for their rules. In general, most kids can often return once symptoms have improved. If they require antibiotic drops, they are typically allowed to return to school after 24-48 hours on antibiotic drops.
