UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pediatrics

Title: Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)

Keywords: conjunctivitis, pinkeye, gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/6/2009 by Heidi-Marie Kellock, MD
Click here to contact Heidi-Marie Kellock, MD

Conjunctivitis in Children:

Usually a self-limiting process, very common in school-aged children and children in daycare or group home settings
Crusting/swelling treated with warm compresses
Antibiotics are not necessary outside of the neonatal period, but they do speed recovery
Neonates with conjunctivitis - send cultures (gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum); all others - no cultures necessary
Treatment with erythromycin ointment, Polytrim solution, ciprofloxacin solution (usually practicioner preference unless dealing with a recurrent/resistant case)

HOWEVER... remember to consider other common etiologies of a red eye in a child!