Can A Child With Conjunctivitis Go To School?
Conjunctivitis is commonly identified as an eye infection, especially for children under the age group of five. This infection is basically an inflammation (redness and swelling) of the conjunctiva, a clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the insides of the eyelids. In some cases, conjunctivitis is called ‘pink eye’ because the eye appears pink or red.
If your child is affected with conjunctivitis, you may have a million thoughts in your mind, including what is the treatment for this infection and whether your child with conjunctivitis can go to school or not. It is normal to get worried and have doubts in this condition, but now you don’t have to feel stressed anymore. To solve all your queries, we have come up with this blog after having a conversation with Dr. Promilla Butani, one of the Top 10 Child Specialist in South Delhi. Here, we will discuss in detail about conjunctivitis and whether your child can go to school or not after getting affected by it. So, let’s start exploring.
What Causes Conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis can be a result of a highly contagious infection (either a virus or bacteria). Your child can get conjunctivitis infection if they come into contact with:
- Contaminated fingers or objects
- Contaminated water or contaminated towels at the time of swimming
- The discharge from the nose, throat, or eyes of an infected person through touch, coughing, or sneezing.
- A person with infectious conjunctivitis will be infectious as long as there is a discharge from their eye.
If your child gets diagnosed with conjunctivitis, do not allow them to share eye drops, make-up, tissues, towels, or pillowcases with other people. Take extra care in this condition, and consult a child specialist. If you can detect any signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis in them, they can recover as soon as possible.
Signs & Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis
If your child has conjunctivitis, they may show these changes:
- Red or pink eye
- Excessive tears
- Swelling of the eye
- Swelling of the eyelids makes them appear fluffy
- Itchiness of the eyes and eye-rubbing
- Photophobia (a sensitivity to bright light)
- A yellow-green discharge from the eye dries when the child sleeps, leading to the casting formation around the eyelids.
These symptoms usually show within 24 to 72 hours of getting infected and can eventually last from two days to three weeks.
Conjunctivitis Can Also Be Caused Due To Allergy?
Conjunctivitis can also be the result of an allergic reaction. However, allergic conjunctivitis is not known to be contagious. Children with a history of other allergies are more likely to get affected by this infection. Your child may show other signs of hay fever if their conjunctivitis is a result of an allergy.
Common signs of Conjunctivitis resulted due to allergy are:
- Itchy or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Children rubbing their eyes a lot
Can The Conjunctivitis Infection Be Treated At Home?
If the condition is in the initial stage and the symptoms are mild, the eyes can be cleaned gently with cotton balls soaked in warm water to help your child feel better.
Tips To Follow
- Clean only in one direction, outwards from the nose-side of the eye. With this method, the other eye can be prevented from becoming infected.
- Discard the cotton each time after using it to avoid contamination.
- Try to avoid cleaning inside the eyelids. It may damage your child’s conjunctiva. While lubricating the eye with eye drops such as ‘artificial tears’ may give some relief.
- Antihistamines can help for sore, inflamed, and itchy eyes resulting from conjunctivitis. Make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using antihistamines for your child.
- You may also have heard the rumour that breastmilk can be used on a baby’s eyes if they appear to be gunky or sticky. Breastmilk does not treat conjunctivitis, and there is no benefit too to using breastmilk on your baby’s eyes, nor is there harm to use. Still, it would be better if you avoid using it.
When To See A Child Specialist?
Make sure you monitor your child’s condition regularly. If your child’s conjunctivitis isn’t getting better even after two days of any of the below-listed conditions, then you can consult Dr. Promilla Butani. She is acknowledged as the best child doctor in Delhi.
- Severe pain
- Unwell and has a fever
- Problems with vision and eye-sight
- Increased swelling, redness, tenderness in the eyelids and around the eyes
- A persistent white spot appears in the cornea (clear window at the front of the eye).
What Are Do’s And Don’ts To Stop Infectious Conjunctivitis From Spreading?
Do
- Make sure your kid washes their hands regularly with warm, soapy water
- Cover your kid’s mouth and nose when sneezing, and throw used and dirty tissues in the bin
- Wash your pillowcases and facecloths in hot water and detergent
Don’t
- Avoid sharing used towels and pillows with your kid
- Don’t let your kid rub the eyes
Can Your Child With Conjunctivitis Go To School?
If you are thinking about whether you should send your child with conjunctivitis to school or not, then you should refrain from doing so because:
- A child with contagious pink eyes can spread the infection to others until the redness and discharge from the eyes are completely gone.
- Conjunctivitis can be an allergic response, or it can be found to be infectious, it is highly contagious.
- Children with infectious conjunctivitis are advised to be kept home from school, kindergarten, or childcare.
Final Words
Conjunctivitis is a contagious infection and can be spread if your child is infected by it. However, it would be best if you could consult one of the top 10 child specialist in Delhi. With their guidance, you can determine if your kid got conjunctivitis due to infection or due to an allergic condition. Both demand to be treated in different ways.
If your child is showing severe symptoms of conjunctivitis, consult Dr. Promilla Butani at Dr. Promilla Butani's Pediatrics Practice. With almost five decades of experience and having looked after more than two generations of children, Dr. Promilla Bhutani is an expert in her field. To book your appointment and consult with her, you can visit Dr. Promilla Butani's Pediatrics Practice today!
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