Conjunctivitis or Pink eye is a contagious disease. It can spread from one eye to the other. It can also spread to other people by touching the affected eye or the drainage from the eye.
Drainage from the eye is usually contagious for 24 to 48hours after starting treatment. Therefore, hand washing is very important. Also, avoid touching the eyes with the hands, changing pillow cases often and do not reuse tissues or hand towels on the face.
The following remedies can be done to help ease conjunctivitis symptoms in a child:
- Wash all of the sheets
- Take zinc supplements as advised by the doctor
- Apply cold compress to the eyes
- Flush the eyes out regularly with clean water
- Get lots of sleep
- Place a warm, damp washcloth over the affected eye. Leave it on for a few minutes. This should help to loosen any stuck-on gunk from the eye so it can open more easily
- Wash the hands and use a new damp washcloth on the other eye if both eyes affected
- Apply lubricating eye drops as directed by your doctor, usually labelled “artificial tears” to each eye. Don’t let the tip of the eye dropper touch the eye. If it does, throw it away because it’s contaminated
- Wash the hands after applying eye drops
- Lastly, your child can take over- the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or paracetamol as directed by your physician or pharmacist
Remember, that if your child’s swelling is severe or they are particularly sensitive to light, do consult your doctor immediately to rule out an injury or a more serious eye condition
Dr. Favvy
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