Medical question - viral vs. bacterial pinkeye

[klmama]

One of my dc came down with a virus a few days ago and now has a red eye. (I assume it's a virus because of the sudden onset, high fever, and tummy rash, although nasal discharge is green.) Should I assume that the red eye is viral, or should we go in to the doctor for antibiotic drops? This child is feeling fine now, except for the red eye and a little sinus drainage. We have a family event to attend this weekend, and I don't want to infect anyone with pinkeye, if this is contagious. Is it always contagious?

[Pencil Pusher]

I had pinkeye in college, & if I remember right, it was viral instead of bacterial.

I had to go to a specialist. Both eyes swoll to the size of...baseballs, maybe? I was technically still going to a pediatrician, & they sent me to a pediatric specialist. I didn't realize it until I got there, driven by my boyfriend. (Mom had been in the hospital.)

At first, they wouldn't see me w/out a parent. I slipped my sunglasses down, & they saw me immediately.

Years later, I had an eye exam for new glasses, & the dr said I had scar tissue on my retina. I forget what a small amt of a millimeter it was away from...is it the iris?...anyway, I'd be blind in that eye if it were a little bit over one way.

My point is, call your dr. I'm not sure the dif between viral & bacterial is anything to stop you from seeing someone in this case. It's been over 10 yrs, though, so...I could be wrong.

[Mommy22alyns]

If I remember correctly, the viral pinkeye is contagious, but the bacterial pinkeye really isn't.

Becca had bacterial pinkeye back in the fall. Her eyes looked pretty goopy, but the doctor said she wasn't contagious.

[AFwife Claire]

We just had this go through our house a month ago. Even with vigilant handwashing, almost all 8 of us got it, and it spread to both eyes for us. I had a hangnail on my right middle finger, and that got infected with the staph bacteria too. My finger swelled up, and I ended up having to have it lanced at the hospital, which was so incredibly painful I thought I was going to vomit and pass out. It was horrible!!

We have had viral pinkeye as well, in years past. The drainage is not as thick, although it lasts longer. It's contagious too, unfortunately. Cool chamomile tea on cloths on the eye is very soothing--I discovered that after googling when we were dealing with it all.

[Mamabegood]

Yes, bacterial pink eye is DEFINITELY contagious--we also were dealing with this a month or so ago. If you suspect pink eye, you might try just calling into your pediatrician's office. I know that my children's doctor will prescribe antibiotics for pink eye if there are certain symptoms present, and he is usually over-the-top conservative about requiring an office visit.

[KidsHappen]

She wasn't specifically talking about pink eye but I would assume that it applies across the board. Think of both the flu (a virus) and strep throat (a bacteria). Both are contagious. The only difference is that a bacteria can be treated. I would call the dr. just in case it can be treated.

[Soph the vet]

There are antiviral ophthalmic drops as well, like Viroptic, that may treat viral pinkeye. Even if it is viral, the inflammation and disruption to normal tear production may predispose the eye to a secondary bacterial infection, so antibiotic drops may be a good idea anyway.
Just my $0.02.

[Oak Knoll Mom]

Please go see the doctor and have him checked out! We had pinkeye last year and my boys got over it very quickly with no medical intervention, but like Aubrey, I had complications--it took over two months, two doctors, and two rounds of medication to get rid of it. I was in horrible pain and was close to being hospitalized! It was awful! Many times we think pinkeye is nothing more than an inconvenience, but I learned that it can cause severe problems if not treated appropriately. ((hugs))

[DollyM]

It's going rampant around my church. Recurring in folks who thought it was gone. DD has had it THREE TIMES since February. It erupts in all it's pinkish pus-y fury then WENT AWAY on it's OWN the first two times - most recently we got the drops from the pediatrician.

When I mention this to folks at my church/homeschool group facility they all suddently fess up that they ahve "had it too!" Ack. We're all just passing it around among one another, I guess.