PINKEYE-INFECTIOUSCONJUCTIVITIS

INFORMATIONFORPARENTS

GeneralInformation

Conjunctivitisisaninflammationofthethin,clearmembrane(conjunctiva)thatcoversthewhiteoftheeyeandinsidesurfaceoftheeyelid.Itcanbecausedbyavarietyofbacteria,virusesandothergermsaswellasbyallergy(e.g.pollens)andexposuretochemicals(e.g.smoke,cosmetics)orirritants(e.g.dust).

TheIllness

Theusualsignsofconjunctivitisarerednessofthewhiteoftheeye,oftenaccompaniedbyincreasedtearingordischarge(“matter”).Thisdischargemaybewatery,orthickwithmucusandpuscausingtheeyelidstosticktogether.Infectionmaybegininonlyoneeye,butusuallyspreadstoinvolveboth.

Painisuncommon.Olderchildrenwillsometimescomplainthattheireyesburnoritchorthatitfeelsasifsomethingisintheeye.Visionshouldremainunchangedalthoughpusandmucuscancausesomeblurring.

Thedurationofillnessvaries.Viralinfectionsusuallygetbetterin8to10daysandareunaffectedbyantibiotics,whereas,mostcasesofconjunctivitiscausedbybacteriacanbecuredbyantibioticswithin3to5days.

Whentocallyourdoctor

Ifyouareworriedaboutyourchild’sillness,callyourdoctorifyourchildhas;redness,swellingortendernessspreadingaroundtheeyeandeyelid;severeeyepain;constantblurringofvision;doublevision;extremesensitivitytolight.Othersymptomsforconsultingyourdoctorare:feverover102F(39c);smallblisters(likecoldsores)closetotheeye;cloudytissuecoveringtheeye;noimprovementafter2daysoftreatmentorafter7daysifuntreated.

Treatment

Theusualtreatmentforinfectiousconjunctivitisisanantibioticdroporointment.Ifusingthesemedicinesonyourchildisabattle,askaboutthepossibilityofgivinganantibioticbymouthinstead.Ifyourchildisgettinganoralantibioticforanotherreason,suchasanearinfection,eyedropsorointmentmaynotbenecessary.

Beforeyoustarttreatment,wipeanymucusorpusofftheeyelidswithatissueorcottonballdippedinwarmwater.Warnolderchildrenthatthemedicinemaystingorburnforafewmoments.Thengentlypullthelowerliddownandplaceonedrop(ora½-inchribbonofointment)intothesmallpouchthatthisforms.Ifyourchildisolderandcooperative,askhim/hertolookupwhileyouareputtinginthemedication.Avoidtouchingthedropperortubetotheeye.

Anotherwaytogiveeyedropsistohaveyourchildliefaceupwithbotheyesclosed.Placeonedropontheinnercornerofeacheyeandthengentlypullthelidsapartortellyourchildtoblink.Thedropswillrunintotheeyebythemselves.

EYECONDITION

Yourchildhasthefollowingsymptomsoftheright,left,botheye(s)(symptomsarelistedontheback).Becausemanyofthesesymptomsarecontagioustootherstudents,wemustexcludeyourchildformschooluntil:

1. He/shehasbeenseenbythedoctorandhasbeentreated(usuallywithantibioticointmentordrops)for24hours,or

2. He/shehasbeenseenbythedoctorandhasanotestatingthattheeyeconditionisnon-contagious,or

3. He/sheissymptomfree.

Thankyou,

________________________________R.N.

SchoolNurse

CONJUNTIVITIS(OJOROSADO)

Suniñotieneloquepareceserunainfecciónoinflamacióndela(los)(izquierdo,derecho,ambos)ojo(s).Porquelamayoríadelasinfeccionessoncontagiosasaotrosalumnos,tenemosqueexcluirasuniñodelaescuelahastaque:

1. Hayasidoatendidoporunmédicoyhayasigotratado(generalmenteconungüentoantibióticoogotas)por24horas,

2. Hayasidoatendidoporunmédicoytieneunanotadiciendoquelacondicióndel(los)ojo(s)noescontagiosa,o

3. Sealibredesíntomas.

Gracias,

_________________________________R.N.

EnfermeraEscolar

Originaldateissued:1-94 Lastdaterevised: