Monday afternoon your daughter Marybeth comes home from school with a puffy, red, draining eye....

She’s complaining there is something, like sand, in her eye. You examine her eye but can’t find anything. When she left that morning her eyes were clear. You start racking you brain trying to figure out what’s causing her eye to feel so scratchy and irritated. You remember the sleep- over at Sandy’s Friday night. Wasn’t Sandy’s eye red, watery, and puffy too?
It turns out, after a phone call to Sandy’s mother, that Sandy has bacterial conjunctivitis. Sandy had gone to her doctor’s office after all the girls went home on Saturday afternoon. Marybeth may have caught conjunctivitis, better known as "pink eye" from Sandy. How did that happen? You call your doctor’s office for an appointment. The appointment isn’t until tomorrow morning. Since pink eye can be very contagious you want to protect the rest of the family especially your three year old son Danny. Danny goes to day care during the week. If he comes down with pink eye the program will insist on him staying home. Marybeth feels terrible. Maybe your family health book can help here. It’s dogged eared from many of the other familial illnesses and injuries. Chicken pox, sinusitis, pregnancy, are all marked, but not pink eye.

The more you read the more you start finding answers. Pink eye or conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the lining of the eyelids and the protective conjunctive or white of the eye. It causes sore, red, sticky eyes. Pus may form and drain from the infected eye.

Conjunctivitis can be caused in three ways

• a bacterium
• a virus
• a reaction due to an allergy.

Many times it is not immediately clear which type of pink eye is present. In Marybeth’s case, her right eye is slightly puffy and the white of her eye is growing pinker. Conjunctivitis caused by a germ (bacterium) usually affects both eyes. The infection starts in one eye. Like Marybeth, a person may experience a gritty feeling or the sensation that there is something in the eye. Pus is present with bacterial conjunctivitis. The touching of the pus, using the same towels as someone with bacterial pink eye, or using the same make- up can spread the infection.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

According to the book, you’ll need to do a few things to protect the family from catching pink eye.

• Marybeth will have her own set of towels and not use the same towels as the rest of the family. It is also a good idea for Marybeth to remain at home until her eyes become clear again. People with bacterial conjunctivitis should stay home from work and school until the infection is cured.
• Good hand washing is vital in preventing the spreading of pink eye. Hand washing with soap and warm water after touching an infected person works to stop transmission.
• Marybeth will have to take gentle care and clean away the pus from her eye. This will involve using a cotton ball or tissue. Pus can be removed by wiping either towards the nose from the outside in, or from the inside out, whichever Marybeth prefers. All her used tissues or cotton balls should be immediately thrown away.

Viral conjunctivitis

is caused by a virus and can involve one or both eyes. This type of pink eye is different from Marybeth’s because it does not produce pus. The person with viral conjunctivitis has watery eyes. This type of pink eye spreads very easily. It can be spread by touching the water that comes out of the infected eye and by droplet (like coughing or sneezing) if the person has a cold at the same time. Like bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis is very contagious and the infected person should take the same precautions as not to spread the infection.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

If the pink eye comes from an allergy there are often signs of hay fever including an itchy nose and sneezing. Eyes can also feel hot. The good news about allergic conjunctivitis is that it isn’t contagious. Tuesday morning arrives and you take Marybeth to the doctor’s office. Your doctor exams your daughter’s eyes and talks with her about who else was at the sleepover. Marybeth volunteers that all the girls used Sandy’s make-up including her eyeshadows and mascara. Marybeth’s eye exam and exposure to Sandy lead your doctor to bacterial conjunctivitis. This was probably transmitted from Sandy to Marybeth through the eye make-up. Your doctor’s diagnosis is also confirmed by bacterial conjunctivitis’ three day incubation period. It took about that long for Marybeth to develop the infection. He gives you a prescription for antibiotic drops to treat Marybeth’s eye. She won’t be back to school until her eye clears up; which takes about three days.

After you fill the prescription you get home and go to your book shelf. The family health book proved pretty darn useful last night. You feel good about how you helped Marybeth and Danny. You dog-ear the pink eye page, just in case..

Comments:

Pink Eye That Doesn't Clear Up
From: Penny A.Thompson
My daughter has mainly a watery eye. She has had it for a week. We went to a walk in clinic a week ago and the dr. said he was pretty sure it was pink eye and he prescribed Augmentin and eye ointment. She has taken the complete dosage and she still has the tearing in her eye. I am her mother and my eyes have felt a little itchy for a couple of days. Does this sound like pink eye and do you know why it wouldn't respond to medication if it is pink eye. She didn't have any puss or crustiness or redness. Thank you for any help you might provide. She is very nervous about having to go back to the doctors.

Dr. Joe:
Basically, they treated your daughter for pink eye that is related to a bacterial infection. The antibiotic either didn't work because the bacteria was resistant or perhaps the pink eye is not related to a bacterial infection at all. Other causes of pink eye might include allergies or possibly viral infections of the eye.

Chances are that it is an allergic problem,
BUT on the possibility it is a viral infection like herpes,
she should be rechecked by a doctor like an opthalmologist. Some viral infections in the eye if not treated with very specific antiviral remedies can lead to damage of the surface of the cornea. An eye specialist would have the proper equipment to assess the surface of the eye and make the right diagnosis.

Beware of over-the-counter preparations
From Kay Smith
I was in the country, and very limited on funds. A doctor there told me that when pink-eye first starts to wash my hands thoroughly and to wash gently around the infected eye with warm water, turning the rag constantly to get the infection from getting back on the eye. Then to take a very small amount of Neosporin or any triple antibiotic and put it on the eyelashes ONLY of the infected eye. This will help to draw out the infection. Please remember, this is in the first stages and if it doesn't have any effect within 12 hours to see a doctor. This is still the approach I use today for my children even though we have insurance. Doctors warn that getting too much of a OTC product in your eyes can cause harm, so use sparingly and on the eyelashes ONLY>

Dr. Joe:
I'm glad that you did well with your therapy. Although you got away with your therapy, I would be careful about using preparations intended for the skin in the eye. You can get the SAME antibiotic, but in a preparation meant for the eye for use. Sometimes the vehicle that suspends the antibiotic can be critical especially for an ointment for use in the eye which is a very special place. If you are low on money, you should be able to find a federally funded clinic that can get you seen for free.

Use of preparations meant for the skin in the eye can lead to eye irritation which can worsen the condition. ALSO, if you missed the diagnosis and the pink eye is NOT related to a bacterial infection you risk losing the eye by leaving an untreated viral infection of the eye.

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This behavior is purely a symptom of an immature bladder system, and for most children, the problem will disappear when they get a little older. The following ideas may help speed the process along. Find out more.

Health Byte:
Pink Eye (conjunctivitis)
Pink eye or conjunctivitis is a very common infectious condition. It can affect any age group but is predominantly found in school- aged children and children who are in day care. Find out more.

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