By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

DAUGHTER PROBABLY HAS INFECTIOUS PINKEYE, NEEDS ANTIBIOTICS

Question: My child got sent home from daycare with “pinkeye” and was not allowed to return until she had been seen by her doctor. He gave her an eye ointment. What causes pinkeye, and what can I do to keep her from getting it? Can I get it from her? I didn’t.

Answer: Well, I am glad that you did not get pinkeye, but you could have. It is easily spread from person to person. Pinkeye is a form of conjunctivitis -- which refers to any infection or inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelid. This membrane is called the conjunctiva.

Technically, the term “pinkeye” refers only to conjunctivitis that is caused by an infection. Sometimes, though, you’ll see the phrase used more broadly to refer to any inflammation of the eye. Infectious conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. Non-infectious conjunctivitis can be caused by irritants such as allergens, chemicals, or rarely, by parasites.

Both adults and children can develop infectious conjunctivitis. However, pinkeye due to bacterial infection is more common in children. This is probably what your daughter had. The primary symptoms of infective conjunctivitis are redness and inflammation of one eye. The eyelids may be swollen, and there may be a discharge from the eye.

If the pinkeye is due to a viral infection, the discharge is usually watery. Typically, the eye is not “stuck shut” in the morning upon awakening.

However, when a bacterial infection is the cause of the conjunctivitis, the symptoms may be a little different. The discharge -- instead of being clear -- may be yellow or green. The sufferer may also complain of eye pain, have swelling of the eyelids and exhibit the classic redness of one eye. It’s not uncommon for a child with bacterial pinkeye to wake up in the morning panicked because one eye is glued shut by the discharge.

Treatment of bacterial pinkeye is usually an antibiotic eye drop or ointment. I’ll bet this is what your doctor prescribed for your daughter. Sometimes, an upper respiratory infection is also present that may require an oral antibiotic. Viral pinkeye will resolve on its own in about seven days.

Non-infectious conjunctivitus is caused by allergens, or other irritants such as household chemicals, industrial pollutants and environmental contaminants. With allergic conjunctivitis, there is usually itching of the eyes and tearing, and it commonly affects both eyes. Your doctor may need to prescribe allergy medications.

If the eyes are pink from a chemical irritant, then the eyes need to be promptly washed with large amounts of water to get the chemical flushed out. Sometimes a trip to the hospital emergency department is needed to best treat an eye that has come into contact with a chemical irritant. Some chemicals can be very damaging to the eye. When in doubt, contact the nearest poison control center for advice.

Infectious conjunctivitis is spread by direct contact with infected people. It can be highly contagious among young children. This is why your daughter was excluded from daycare. Good hand washing and general decontamination of household objects -- like the phone and the remote -- can help keep other household members from getting pinkeye.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.