Text_Files/Conjunctivitis.txt

CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye) cont. 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye) 
 
Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eyes commonly 
known as “pink eye”.  Conjunctivitis can be 
purulent or nonpurulent.  It is most often caused by 
a virus (like those which cause the common cold), 
but can also be caused by bacteria, allergies or 
chemicals.  The conjunctiva – the clear layer over 
the whites of the eyes – becomes pink and there 
may be tearing and discharge from the eyes.  Eyes 
may be itchy or even painful.  In the morning, the 
discharge may make the eyelids stick together.  
Conjunctivitis is a mild illness.  Viral conjunctivitis 
will go away by itself in one to three weeks. 
 
Who gets this disease? 
Anyone can get it.  Conjunctivitis is caused by a 
virus or bacterium and is highly contagious.  
Preschoolers and school -age children have it most 
often and can spread it to people taking care of them 
or to each other. 
 
How is it spread? 
Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis spread by 
contact with discharge from the eye.  Children often 
pass it along by rubbing their ey es and getting 
discharge on their hands and then: 
a) Touches another child’s eye. 
b) Touches another child’s hands.  The second 
child then touches his/her eyes. 
c) Touches an object.  Another child touches the 
object and then puts his/her hands into his/her 
eyes. 
 
Staff washing, drying or wiping a child’s face and 
then using the same washcloth/towel/paper 
towel/tissue on another child’s face can also pass it 
along.  Staff could also get eye discharge on their 
hands when wiping a child’s eyes and then pass it 
along as outlined above. 
The incubation period varies depending upon the 
cause whether it is viral or bacterial; symptoms may 
develop in 5 –12 days depending on the cause.  
(Bacterial 24-72 hours, viral 12 hours to 12 days). 
 
How is it diagnosed and treated? 
Signs and symptoms of purulent conjunctivitis are 
white or colored discharge from the eye, eye 
redness, eyelid swelling, eye pain, and sometime 
fever.  It is often difficult to tell if the cause is 
bacterial or viral.  Occasionally the doctor will 
examine the discharge under the microscope or 
culture it.  Often an antibiotic eye medicine will be 
given because treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis 
shortens the length of symptoms and decreases 
infectiousness.  There is not treatment for viral 
conjunctivitis; it will go away by itself but may last 
a week or more. 
 
Signs and symptoms of nonpurulent conjunctivitis 
are clear watery discharge from the eye, without eye 
redness or pain or fever.   
 
How can the spread of this disease be 
prevented? 
1. Follow hand washing and center cleanliness 
guidelines. 
2. Teach children to avoid rubbing their eyes 
3. Keep children’s eyes wiped free of 
discharge. 
4. Always use disposable tissues/towels for 
wiping and washing.  Never
 use the same 
tissue/towel for more than one child. 
5. Always wash your  hands after wiping a 
child’s eyes. 
6. Teach children to wash their hands after 
wiping their eyes. 
7. Dispose of tissues/towels in lined, covered 
container kept away from food and childcare 
materials.


CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye) cont. 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
 
8. Be sure articles that may touch children’s 
eyes (e.g., pillo wcases, sheets, towels 
binoculars, prisms, toy cameras) are washed 
well with soap and hot water at least once 
daily. 
 
Who should be excluded? 
It is recommended that children and staff with 
purulent conjunctivitis be excluded from childcare 
until examined b y a healthcare provider  and 
approved for re -admission, with or without 
treatment. Children with nonpurulent conjunctivitis 
do not need to be excluded from childcare. 
 
 
Reportable? 
No. Conjunctivitis is not reportable by New 
Hampshire state law to the Divis ion of Public 
Health Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease 
Control.  However, Public Health Professionals are 
available for consultation at (603) 271-4496.