Conjunctivitis Confusion in Kids

It’s one of the most common calls you’ll get as a pediatrician, and one of the fastest infections to spread through a classroom. A pink eye shows up and suddenly the questions follow: Is it contagious? Do they need drops? Can they go back to school? Pink eye seems like a simple fix until it’s not. From bacterial to viral to allergic, knowing what you’re looking at can change how it impacts a family.

Rebecca Edwards Mayhew, MD, PhD, specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus, at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is also an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss: 

• Distinguishing between viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis 
• How to consult families about contagion and school policies 
• Red flags that should immediately raise concerns for more serious pathology 
• When treating with antibiotics makes sense and when to wait and watch