Written by Editorial Team
Pink eye or conjunctivitis is very common among babies. Your child’s eyes are red and runny. One of the most frequent eye infections in children and adults is pink eye. Despite the fact that pink eye in babies is painful and very infectious, it usually will not bring about any complications.
Even newborns are susceptible to pink eye as they have blocked tear ducts and low immunity and they can get exposed to bacteria which is normally present in the birth canal during vaginal birth. Here’s all you need to know everything about pink eye in babies.
In This Article
In both babies and adults, the inner side of the eyelids and the white of the eyes are lined with a transparent membrane called the conjunctiva. The infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can be caused by microbes or mechanical irritation, is called conjunctivitis. The blood vessels in the eyes will become more visible when they get inflamed. This gives the characteristic red or pink color to the white part of the eye. Hence the name pink eye.
Pinkeye mostly affects babies above three-month as they have a low immune system. Sometimes newborns can also get it during vaginal birth. Babies are likely to touch their eyes every now and then and are therefore more susceptible to getting pink eye. The infection generally begins in one eye, and then eventually spreads to the other eye too.
The pinkeye in babies is caused by
Apart from the causes mentioned above, bacterial and viral pink eye is highly contagious. The baby will get bacterial and viral pinkeye if
The symptoms of pinkeye in babies vary
Other symptoms include
The treatment of pink eyes in babies depends on the type of pink eye that has affected your baby:
Viral conjunctivitis usually disappears on its own. As the antibiotic drops have no effect on viral conjunctivitis, all the above-mentioned measures other than drops and ointment will help to alleviate the irritation and ensure fast relief.
As we already mentioned, twenty per cent of babies are born with blocked tear ducts. Massaging gently the corner of the eye near the nose will help to unblock the tear duct.
Breast milk is excellent in treating all types of conjunctivitis. Putting a few drops of expressed breast milk on the affected eye several times a day will help clear any discharge and treat a mild infection or prevent it from worsening.
A newborn has an increased chance of getting pinkeye, especially during a vaginal birth as they are exposed to the bacteria in the birth canal. Both the normal bacteria and the bacteria that are present in the birth canal, if the mother suffers from any infection or sexually transmitted diseases, can cause pink eye in newborn babies.
To prevent this, immediately after the delivery, the doctor will apply antibiotic ointment or eye drops. However, this can give rise to chemical conjunctivitis as the chemicals in antibacterial eye drops or ointment irritates the conjunctiva. This is relatively harmless and will disappear within 36 hrs.
A hundred per cent prevention is impossible. But there are some measures you can take to reduce the chances of your baby getting pinkeye.
If treated, the pink eye should clear up in three to five days; if untreated (for example, due to a virus), it might take up to two weeks. It’s important to have your child’s physician assess any illness that lasts longer than expected. Also, if your infant or young child has trouble seeing, is overly sensitive to light (particularly indoor light), or has red, watery eyes, you should take her to the baby eye specialist immediately away.
We hope this article will help you to deal well with this situation. If you have any suggestions or home remedies to deal with pinkeye in babies, please feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.
Viral pink eye often begins in one eye after a cold or respiratory illness and results in watery discharge. Bacterial pink eye may affect one or both eyes and is most often caused by a respiratory or ear infection. The discharge of bacterial pink eye is usually thick and causes the eyes to stay together.
Pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines and covers your eyeball’s white region. Eye infections may occur in a variety of locations of the eye and can affect one or both eyes.
Viral conjunctivitis often starts with a rapid onset of discomfort or a sensation of particles in the eye. Bacterial conjunctivitis causes burning, itching, a grittiness feeling, and minor pain or discomfort in the eye.
There is inadequate data to support the use of breast milk to treat eye infections in babies. Breast milk, on the other hand, seems to be safe and beneficial in treating bacterial eye infections and clogged tear ducts.
Conjunctivitis may be caused by either bacteria or viruses, and it often comes on in tandem with the common cold or other signs of a respiratory illness, such as a sore throat.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
Psoriasis and Breastfeeding – Is it Safe, Treatment & Tips to Manage
Busy Boards For Babies – How it Helps in Baby’s Development
Hibiscus For Babies – A Nutrient-Rich and Safe Addition To Their Diet
Top Activities For a 3 Month Old Baby – Benefits and Tips For Parents
Puzzles For Babies – How it Helps in Baby’s Development
Puppet Play For Babies – How it Helps in Baby’s Development
Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.