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What can I do to prevent my child from getting pinkeye? How is pinkeye treated? Pinkeye caused by a virus usually goes away on its own without any treatment. If a doctor suspects that the pinkeye has been caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic eye drops or ointment will be prescribed. To prevent pinkeye caused by infections, teach kids to wash their hands often with warm water and soap. They also should not share eye drops, tissues, eye makeup, washcloths, towels, or pillowcases with other people. Be sure to wash your own hands thoroughly after touching an infected child���s eyes, and throw away items like gauze or cotton balls after they���ve been used. Wash towels and other linens that the child has used in hot water separately from the rest of the family���s laundry to avoid contamination. If you know your child is prone to allergic conjunctivitis, keep windows and doors closed on days when the pollen is heavy, and dust and vacuum frequently to limit allergy triggers in the home. Irritant conjunctivitis can only be prevented by avoiding the irritating causes. Many cases of pinkeye in newborns can be prevented by screening and treating pregnant women for STIs. A pregnant woman may have bacteria in her birth canal even if she shows no symptoms, which is why prenatal screening is important. Sometimes it can be a challenge to get kids to tolerate eye drops several times a day. If you���re having trouble, put the drops on the inner corner of your child���s closed eye ��� when the child opens the eye, the medicine will flow into it. If you continue to have trouble with drops, ask your health-care provider about antibiotic ointment. It can be applied in a thin layer where the eyelids meet, and will melt and enter the eye. If your child has allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe anti-allergy medication, which comes in the form of pills, liquid or eye drops. Cool or warm compresses and acetaminophen or ibuprofen may make a child with pinkeye feel more comfortable. You can clean the edges of the infected eye carefully with warm water and gauze or cotton balls. This can also remove the crusts of dried discharge that may cause the eyelids to stick together first thing in the morning. When should I call a health-care provider? If you think your child has pinkeye, it���s important to contact your health-care provider to try to determine what���s causing it and how to treat it. Other serious eye conditions can mimic conjunctivitis, so a child who complains of severe pain, changes in eyesight, or sensitivity to light should be re-examined. If the pinkeye does not improve after two to three days of treatment, or after a week when left untreated, call your health-care provider. e a If your child has pinkeye and starts to develop increased swelling, redness, and tenderness in the eyelids and around the eye, along with a fever, call your doctor. Those symptoms may mean the infection has started to spread beyond the conjunctiva and will require additional treatment. Audra Kolesar is a registered nurse and manager with Health Links - Info Sant��, the Winnipeg Health Region���s telephone health information service. The information for this column is provided by Health Links - Info Sant��. It is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a health-care professional. You can access health information from a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Health Links - Info Sant��. Call 788-8200 or toll-free 1-888-315-9257 SAVE THE DATE Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Location: Victoria Inn 1808 Wellington Ave., ., 6th Annual H E A LT H S TA R T S AT H O M E Seniors Housing & Lifestyles Expo Services Include: Winnipeg, MB. For more information, please contact act A&0: Support Services for Older Adults dults at 204 956-6440 or view our website at te www.ageopportunity.mb.ca Event includes exhibitors representing housing sing facilities, care facilities, housing support services, realtors, and non-pro���t agencies that provide vide services to older adults. Free Admission! Victorian Order of Nurses Main Floor Winnipeg Clinic 425 St. Mary Ave. Winnipeg 204-775-1693 ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� Nursing Corporate Wellness Mantoux Testing Immunizations Flu Clinics URIS SMART Home Support Foot Care 33503

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