Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) in Children
Pink Eye: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
Your child's eye is red and goopy, and you're wondering if it's pink eye and what to do next. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is super common in kids and usually clears up on its own or with simple treatment. While it looks alarming, most cases aren't serious.
What's going on?
Pink eye is when the thin layer covering your child's eye (the conjunctiva) gets inflamed. Think of it like your eye getting irritated and puffy, just like your skin might after touching something scratchy.
It happens for different reasons. Sometimes it's from a virus (like a cold), bacteria, allergies, or even just getting soap or shampoo in the eye. Viral pink eye is the most common type in kids and spreads easily at daycare and school, which is why whole classrooms seem to get it at once.
The good news? Most pink eye clears up within a week, and serious complications are rare. Your child's vision won't be affected, and they'll be back to normal soon.
What you might notice
- Red or pink coloring in the white part of the eye
- Watery or thick, goopy discharge (yellow, green, or white)
- Eyes that are crusty or stuck shut in the morning
- Your child rubbing their eyes or saying they're itchy or scratchy
- Eyelids that look puffy or swollen
- More tears than usual, even when not crying
What helps at home
Start with gentle cleaning. Use a warm, damp cloth to wipe away any crust or discharge from the outside corner of the eye inward. Use a fresh cloth for each eye so you don't spread it around.
Cool or warm compresses can soothe irritated eyes. Let your child hold a clean, damp cloth over their closed eyes for a few minutes. Some kids prefer cool, others like warm, so see what feels better.
Keep those little hands clean. Pink eye spreads through touching, so wash hands frequently and remind your child not to rub their eyes. Change pillowcases daily and don't share towels or washcloths.
When to worry
Head to the emergency room if your child has severe eye pain, vision changes, or a high fever with pink eye. Also go if they're a newborn (under 4 weeks) with any eye discharge.
Call your doctor or text Arlo if the discharge is thick and yellow or green (might need antibiotic drops), if it's not improving after a few days, or if your child seems uncomfortable. We can help you figure out if it needs treatment and get you sorted quickly.
The takeaway
Pink eye looks scarier than it usually is, and you're doing great by keeping an eye on it. Most cases get better on their own with some TLC.
You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!
References - [Pink eye (conjunctivitis) - Caring for Kids](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/pinkeyeconjunctivitis)
- [Conjunctivitis - AboutKidsHealth](https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=782&language=english)
- [Eye infections and problems - Ontario.ca](https://www.ontario.ca/page/eye-infections-and-problems)