Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis

Is your child’s eye watery? In most cases, treating conjunctivitis is fairly straightforward.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis

Your child may:

  • Have red eyes or eyelids
  • Feel an itching or burning sensation in their eyes
  • Have watery eyes or discharge (which can be clear, yellowish, or greenish)
  • Wake up with sticky eyelids from yellowish discharge (a sign of bacterial conjunctivitis)
  • Try to avoid bright light

Consult a doctor or optometrist if your child:

  • Has symptoms that persist for more than two or three days
  • Has a lot of yellowish, sticky discharge
  • Frequently gets eye infections
  • Seems to have trouble seeing
  • Complains of eye pain
  • Has a fever
  • Has a swollen eye

What is conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the eye. It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Sometimes it appears following a cold, flu, or sore throat.

There are several types of conjunctivitis:

  • Acute bacterial conjunctivitis: Usually starts in one eye.
  • Acute viral conjunctivitis: Usually affects both eyes.
  • Allergic conjunctivitis: May appear in children with allergies to tree pollen or ragweed. It’s often accompanied by other symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, or itchy eyes; common in conditions like allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
  • Chemical conjunctivitis: Can be caused by a number of irritants including chlorine in swimming pools and smoke.

Is it really conjunctivitis?

Some babies have a tear duct that doesn’t completely open. This can lead to persistent tearing that can be mistaken for conjunctivitis. Gently massaging the inner corner of your baby’s eye can help clear the tear duct and prevent infection. Read our fact sheet on sticky eyes to learn more.

Duration: Conjunctivitis is almost always mild and usually clears up on its own in a day or two.
How it spreads: Infectious conjunctivitis is highly contagious. It spreads through contact with infected discharge or contaminated objects (e.g., washcloths, towels, face cloths).
Infectious period: Viral conjunctivitis can be contagious for one to two weeks. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually becomes much less contagious once treatment begins.
Daycare: Your daycare may ask you to keep your child at home if three or more children have conjunctivitis.

How to treat conjunctivitis

For younger children, applying ointment to the eyelid is usually easier than using eye drops.

Most cases don’t require medication. However, if it’s caused by a bacterial infection (with thicker yellow discharge), a doctor or optometrist may prescribe antibiotic drops or an ointment. In this case, be sure to complete the full course of treatment.

If you child has chronic allergic conjunctivitis, the doctor or optometrist may prescribe antihistamine or corticosteroid eye drops.

Care and practical advice

  • Apply a warm compress to eyelid of the affected eye to relieve itching. Use a soft, lint-free cloth or gauze.
  • Gently clean your child’s eye. Wipe away discharge with a warm compress. Wash your hands with soap before and after.
  • Try to keep your child from rubbing their eyes as much as possible.
  • Put lightweight cotton mittens on them so they don’t scratch themselves.
  • Avoid spreading germs. Wash your hands and don’t share washcloths, wash mitts, towels, etc.

Be careful with antibiotics

In Quebec, some antibiotic drops for conjunctivitis are available without a prescription. If your child’s symptoms don’t improve after two or three days of treatment, consult a doctor or optometrist.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral or allergic conjunctivitis. When used improperly, they can contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Prevention

  • Teach your child to wash their hands properly.
  • Remind them not to rub their eyes.
  • To prevent the spread of germs, change towels, washcloths, wash mitts, and pillowcases daily.
Naître et grandir

Scientific review: Dr. Anne-Claude Bernard-Bonnin, pediatrician
Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team
Updated: January 2024

Photo: GettyImages/SbytovaMN

Sources and references

Note: The links to other websites are not updated regularly, and some URLs may have changed since publication. If a link is no longer active, please use search engines to find the relevant information.

  • Chenelière Éducation. Dictionnaire de pédiatrie Weber. 3rd ed., Montreal, Chenelière Éducation, 2015, 1,384 pp.
  • Montreal Children’s Hospital. “La conjonctivite expliquée.” hopitalpourenfants.com
  • Labbé, Jean. Bulletins pédiatriques : votre enfant de la naissance à 5 ans. 8th ed., Quebec City, Université Laval faculty of medicine, 2022. fmed.ulaval.ca
  • Ministère de la Famille du Québec. Les infections en milieu de garde. 2019. mfa.gouv.qc.ca
  • Ministère de la Famille du Québec. “Les yeux rouges (conjonctivite)” Bye bye microbes! vol. 21, no. 1, winter 2018. mfa.gouv.qc.ca
  • Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec. Conjonctivite infectieuse (oeil rouge).2024.publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca
  • Canadian Paediatric Society. “Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis).” Caring for Kids. 2019. caringforkids.cps.ca

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