How To Prevent Your Kids From Catching The Pink Eye

Conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, is a quite common eye infection among children. The contagious infection which may be viral or bacterial is characterized by the inflammation or swelling of the conjunctiva (the thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye), making the eye itch and appear pink or reddish.

It may also be caused by the body’s reaction to an allergen or irritant (allergic conjunctivitis). This type is not contagious.

Find major ways to prevent your child from contracting this eye infection…

Avoiding direct contact with infected persons. Tell your child about this infection and warn them against touching infected friends at school or elsewhere as it’s easy to catch the infection just by touching the hands of someone who is infected. Infected persons will likely touch their eye(s) several times as a result of all that severe itching and transfer secretions containing causative bacteria or virus to their hands and others they touch.

Encourage frequent & proper hand-washing. Your child can beat contracting the infection through proper and frequent hand-washing with warm, soapy water. Alcohol-based hand rub is also effective. That way, they can get rid of potential conjunctivitis-causing bacteria or virus from their hands and cut the risk of transferring them to their eyes when they touch them.

Discourage poor hygiene habits. Bacteria can easily spread to the eyes through hand-to-eye contact if your child is constantly picking his nose, for instance. In addition to frequent hand-washing (see number 2), spot your child’s poor hygiene habits and devise ways to get them to drop them.

Also, tell them to always cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and avoid rubbing or touching their eyes.

Clean contact lenses properly. If your child uses recommended or decorative contact lenses, ensure they fit properly and are cleaned thoroughly – follow instructions for lens care to the letter. Also, warn your child about trying on friends’ eye glasses or contacts at school.

In addition, ensure they remove contacts before showering, using a hot tub or swimming to avoid trapping bacteria between their eyes and the lenses.

Avoid possible allergic reaction triggers. For instance, if your child is allergic to dust or very sensitive to bright lights, have him wear shades while outdoors to prevent possible eye irritation or other allergic reaction that may cause conjunctivitis.

You may also flush their eyes with an eyewash whenever they have been around something to which you’re allergic to avoid allergic conjunctivitis.

Warn against sharing personal items. From handkerchiefs, hand towels, to tissues and so on, warn your child from using other children’s personal items at school or sharing their with others to cut the risk of contracting the infection from others.

Also discourage sharing makeup, pillows, washcloths, towels, eye drops or ointments and makeup brushes.

READ ALSO: Signs Your Baby Has Worms & What To Do

Clean & sanitize surfaces frequently. These include countertops, faucet handles, phones, and so on, in your home to curb the spread of bacteria.

Always wear swim goggles while swimming. It doesn’t matter if it’s a public pool or not, ensure your child always wears one while in the water to protect him from bacteria and other microorganisms in the pool that can cause conjunctivitis.

Avoid using eye drops which are opened for several days. Even if you kept them in the fridge, bacteria can still breed and infect your eyes.

Vaccination. Though there is no vaccine that prevents all types of conjunctivitis, vaccination against some viral and bacterial diseases linked with conjunctivitis such as adenovirus, haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus, rubella, measles, shingles, chickenpox and neisseria meningitides, are said to be helpful at preventing conjunctivitis. Ask your doctor about these vaccinations.