Pink Eye Guidelines

PINKEYE-INFECTIOUSCONJUCTIVITIS
INFORMATIONFORPARENTS
GeneralInformation
Conjunctivitisisaninflammationofthethin,clearmembrane(conjunctiva)thatcoversthewhiteofthe
eyeandinsidesurfaceoftheeyelid.Itcanbecausedbyavarietyofbacteria,virusesandothergermsas
wellasbyallergy(e.g.pollens)andexposuretochemicals(e.g.smoke,cosmetics)orirritants(e.g.dust).
TheIllness
Theusualsignsofconjunctivitisarerednessofthewhiteoftheeye,oftenaccompaniedbyincreased
tearingordischarge(“matter”).Thisdischargemaybewatery,orthickwithmucusandpuscausingthe
eyelidstosticktogether.Infectionmaybegininonlyoneeye,butusuallyspreadstoinvolveboth.
Painisuncommon.Olderchildrenwillsometimescomplainthattheireyesburnoritchorthatitfeelsas
ifsomethingisintheeye.Visionshouldremainunchangedalthoughpusandmucuscancausesome
blurring.
Thedurationofillnessvaries.Viralinfectionsusuallygetbetterin8to10daysandareunaffectedby
antibiotics,whereas,mostcasesofconjunctivitiscausedbybacteriacanbecuredbyantibioticswithin3
to5days.
Whentocallyourdoctor
Ifyouareworriedaboutyourchild’sillness,callyourdoctorifyourchildhas;redness,swellingor
tendernessspreadingaroundtheeyeandeyelid;severeeyepain;constantblurringofvision;double
vision;extremesensitivitytolight.Othersymptomsforconsultingyourdoctorare:feverover102F
(39c);smallblisters(likecoldsores)closetotheeye;cloudytissuecoveringtheeye;noimprovement
after2daysoftreatmentorafter7daysifuntreated.
Treatment
Theusualtreatmentforinfectiousconjunctivitisisanantibioticdroporointment.Ifusingthese
medicinesonyourchildisabattle,askaboutthepossibilityofgivinganantibioticbymouthinstead.If
yourchildisgettinganoralantibioticforanotherreason,suchasanearinfection,eyedropsorointment
maynotbenecessary.
Beforeyoustarttreatment,wipeanymucusorpusofftheeyelidswithatissueorcottonballdippedin
warmwater.Warnolderchildrenthatthemedicinemaystingorburnforafewmoments.Thengently
pullthelowerliddownandplaceonedrop(ora½-inchribbonofointment)intothesmallpouchthat
thisforms.Ifyourchildisolderandcooperative,askhim/hertolookupwhileyouareputtinginthe
medication.Avoidtouchingthedropperortubetotheeye.
Anotherwaytogiveeyedropsistohaveyourchildliefaceupwithbotheyesclosed.Placeonedropon
theinnercornerofeacheyeandthengentlypullthelidsapartortellyourchildtoblink.Thedropswill
runintotheeyebythemselves.
EYECONDITION
Yourchildhasthefollowingsymptomsoftheright,left,botheye(s)(symptomsarelistedonthe
back).Becausemanyofthesesymptomsarecontagioustootherstudents,wemustexclude
yourchildformschooluntil:
1. He/shehasbeenseenbythedoctorandhasbeentreated(usuallywithantibiotic
ointmentordrops)for24hours,or
2. He/shehasbeenseenbythedoctorandhasanotestatingthattheeyeconditionis
non-contagious,or
3. He/sheissymptomfree.
Thankyou,
________________________________R.N.
SchoolNurse
CONJUNTIVITIS(OJOROSADO)
Suniñotieneloquepareceserunainfecciónoinflamacióndela(los)(izquierdo,derecho,
ambos)ojo(s).Porquelamayoríadelasinfeccionessoncontagiosasaotrosalumnos,tenemos
queexcluirasuniñodelaescuelahastaque:
1. Hayasidoatendidoporunmédicoyhayasigotratado(generalmenteconungüento
antibióticoogotas)por24horas,
2. Hayasidoatendidoporunmédicoytieneunanotadiciendoquelacondicióndel
(los)ojo(s)noescontagiosa,o
3. Sealibredesíntomas.
Gracias,
_________________________________R.N.
EnfermeraEscolar
Originaldateissued:1-94
Lastdaterevised: