pinkeye

Took Joe to the pedi this morning just to be safe b/c I noticed he had a redish, watery eye. Sure enough, it was pinkeye.

We have a big cousin party coming up, but I don't want to infect the whole family. Ped. said that it was viral/allergic conjunctivitis (not bacterial), and was surprised I had caught it so early.

He's on drops now, so does that mean he's not contagious anymore? I'm calling the pedi back to find out, but thought I'd see what you all had to say as well.

Also, any tips for wrestling down an 18mo for eye drops?

 

The girls had pink eye last winter...It cleared up pretty quickly after using the eyedrops, but pink eye can be VERY contagious. I am not 100% sure but I think it is no longer contagious after they have been on the eyedrops for 24 hrs (like most antibiotics). Like I said I am not positive of this though. Make sure you wash EVERYHING, sheets, towels, blankets, stuffies, etc. Good luck!

 

I'm not 100% sure either, but I thought the bacterial was no longer contagious after being on drops for 24 hours. I thought the viral was contagious until it cleared up. But if it is allergy related, I wouldn't think it was contagious. We would always put the drops in the inner corner of the eye and kind of let it roll in down the top of the nose into the eye (if that makes any sense!) Good luck! I always had a fight too!

 

Yep after 24 hours they can be around other kids again.
When my oldest dd caught it the pedi told me to sit on her with her arms under me. Keep in mind that I was about 7 or 8 months pregnant at the time. So I couldnt really see her when I sat on her plus cant she get hurt doing this??? So I tried it once and it didnt really work. When my dd#2 caught it the pedi told me to put it in when she was sleeping. You just drop some on her eye lid right where they close. It worked great and I used that trick when my son caught it too.
Hope it helps. Pinkeye is no big deal but man is it a pain to get rid of!!!

Tiffaney

 

If it's either viral or allergic, I would keep her away from other kids until it looks better. I am not quite sure what the drops do if it's not bacterial, unless they're just to soothe the irritation. (How does the ped even know which it is, unless he ran a culture?)

As far as how to do it -- it works best if you have a partner in crime. When Sarah had it, I would lay her down on the couch and pin her upper body with one hand, while DH held her head in both hands so she couldn't turn away. Then with my free hand I'd put the drops in. It wasn't fun, but she usually stopped screaming as soon as we said "All done!"

Frequently I wound up doing it when her eyes were closed anyway (because she was squeezing them shut in protest), so it seems like doing it while they're sleeping would work just as well, with a lot less exertion.

 

QUOTE(Tif3 @ Sep 28 2007, 02:22 PM) [snapback]428176[/snapback]
When my dd#2 caught it the pedi told me to put it in when she was sleeping. You just drop some on her eye lid right where they close. It worked great and I used that trick when my son caught it too.


Tiffaney, that is an INSPIRED idea...I knew you gals would have some BTDT pearls of wisdom to share! Thx!

QUOTE(Minette @ Sep 28 2007, 02:28 PM) [snapback]428182[/snapback]
I am not quite sure what the drops do if it's not bacterial, unless they're just to soothe the irritation. (How does the ped even know which it is, unless he ran a culture?)


I have no idea how he knows...no culture was run. Perhaps b/c there was no gunk/glue?

 

QUOTE
If it's either viral or allergic, I would keep her away from other kids until it looks better.


BTW, this is exactly what the ped said.