Pink Eye Symptoms in Children

Popularly known as conjunctivitis, pink eye is an extreme medical condition, where the eyes become extremely pink, or red, in appearance. There are a set of membranes that cover the white portion of the eye, and there are a number of conditions that cause the pink eye in children and adults. Along with these protective membranes, there is also a set of membranes that protect the inner part of the eye-lids, and allergies to certain external materials causes intense irritation to these membranes. This results in the eyes getting red and feeling extremely itchy.

It's found quite often in children, and this is due to the fact that it is a condition that spreads easily by touching an infected eye and then touching another eye. Conjunctivitis spreads very easily in this manner, and many kids across the world are afflicted by it many times in their lives. The term conjunctivitis stems from the word conjunctiva, which is the name of the outer membranes that protect the white portion of an individual's eye.

Causes of Pink Eye
The invasion of the eye by any alien material ends up causing these symptoms to surface, and this can be attributed primarily to a virus. There are some bacterial infections as well, that can cause the symptoms in your child. There are a number of pollutants and irritants present in the air at all times, and an allergic reaction to these materials also causes it. The contagiousness of a viral presence or a bacterial contamination are also well-known, and that is why if a child is suffering from conjunctivitis he is usually advised to get complete bed rest and avoid the company of other children.

The most widespread cause of pink eye in your child is most likely to be direct contact with another person who is carrying the eye infection. This infection can spread very easily from one person to another, so suitable precautions must be taken. So basically, conjunctivitis can be of 3 types.

• Viral Conjunctivitis
• Bacterial Conjunctivitis
• Allergic Conjunctivitis

Now there are certain clear cut symptoms that you need to be on the lookout for. If any of these symptoms are clearly noticeable, immediate medical advice must be sought, and corrective measures must be immediately undertaken. Failure to do so, or any kind of delay, can cause the seriousness of the situation to escalate, and the infection to spread. It is absolutely crucial to avoid direct contact with other people, especially other children, in order to stop the eye problem from spreading.

The most obvious symptoms of this condition are itchiness, redness and swelling of the eye. These are unmistakable signs that a person has contracted this condition, and suitable action must immediately be taken. Viral conjunctivitis has been seen to affect only one eye, so it is easy to diagnose. There will be a light discharge from the eye, and the individual will also experience excessive watering in the eye. Another clear symptom is the formation of crusts on the eyelid.

As far as bacterial conjunctivitis is concerned, the infection will almost always spread to both eyes. The level of discharge will be heavy, and it will always appear greenish in appearance. This condition will also cause crusting, and these are the most common symptoms. Allergic conjunctivitis is also accompanied by a runny and itchy nose. There will also be slight tearing in the eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis also affects both the eyes of an individual. Once you've seen what are the symptoms that your child is displaying, you can figure out which kind of conjunctivitis he or she has contracted, and then treat it accordingly using home remedies.

Tips to Avoid Pink Eye
Keeping the following tips in mind will help a child avoid the condition altogether, especially when it is known that someone around the kid has contracted pink eye. The basic tip stems simply from a good sense of personal hygiene and following measures of good eye care.

• Regularly wash hands.
• Use personal hand towels to wipe face and eyes.
• Do not share eye drops.
• Do not share cosmetic products that have to be applied to the eyes.
• Avoid excessive rubbing of the eyes.
• Dust the home regularly.
• Wear protective glasses when venturing outside or swimming.
• Wear and remove contact lenses in the proper manner.
• Avoid touching an infected individuals eyes or hands.
• Keep all doors and windows closed when inside.

Following these simple pointers can prevent a child from contracting the infection. It can be quite troublesome and worrying, and can even last for many weeks. With the right care and attention, contraction of this infection can be avoided completely.