Help! I Think My Child Has Pink Eye

Pink eye is never convenient, but it’s not a symptom you want to ignore. If you think your child has pink eye, the best thing you can do is get the right diagnosis to get a treatment plan in place as soon as possible. Pink eye has several causes, and not all causes require the same treatment.

At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland, our specialists can provide the urgent care you need for a quick diagnosis and treatment plan for your child’s pink eye. Here, we cover pink eye and explain what you should do if you think your child has it.

About pink eye

Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the conjunctiva — the clear membrane that covers the surface of your eye and keeps it moist. The inflammation may affect one eye or both eyes, depending on the cause.

In addition to turning your child’s eye pink or red, pink eye may cause itchiness, eye pain, or excessive mucus production. 

Pink eye isn’t usually a serious health concern. However, some causes of this eye condition are highly contagious and only get better with the right treatment.

Causes of pink eye

The pinkness of your child’s eye occurs because of inflammation of the blood vessels in the conjunctiva. This inflammation may be caused by:

Viral and bacterial infections

Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of pink eye. If your child has symptoms that affect both eyes, it’s likely they have some kind of infection. 

It’s not uncommon for children to first have a cold and then develop pink eye. The same virus that causes colds is also a common cause of pink eye. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a type of cold virus that may lead to pink eye.

Viral and bacterial infections are highly contagious and require immediate care to prevent the infection from spreading to other people.

Allergic reaction

If your child has seasonal (pollen) or indoor (dust or mold) allergies, it’s possible their eye irritation is an allergic reaction. We call this type of pink eye allergic conjunctiva, which causes intense itching and excessive tearing, along with the inflammation.

Eye irritant

Your child may also develop pink eye from an outside irritant such as dust, smoke, chemicals, or fumes. 

Treating pink eye

Treatment for your child’s pink eye depends on the cause and severity of symptoms. 

Mild viral and bacterial infections require no special treatment and clear up on their own in a week or two. However, if your child has a more severe infection, we may recommend an antiviral medication or an antibiotic. 

In either case, your child needs to stay home from school until they’re no longer contagious. We suggest warm eye compresses and acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease symptoms. 

For allergic conjunctivitis, your child may benefit from allergy medication or eye drops. If your child has pink eye from an irritant, we recommend washing out the affected eye under cool running water. Your child’s symptoms should clear up within a few hours. 

Pink eye has many causes, and it benefits from a medical evaluation so you know how best to help your child. Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland can provide the care you need. We’re open seven days a week for in-office and telehealth visits. Call our office in Midland, Michigan, or book an appointment online today.