What Is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is the most common eye problem kids can have. It can cause redness, itching, inflammation or swelling, and a clear or white, yellow, or greenish gooey liquid to collect in the eyes. Many people know the more common name for conjunctivitis, which is pinkeye.

It's called pinkeye because the white part of the eye and inside the eyelids become red or pink when you have it. Pinkeye may start in one eye, but many people get conjunctivitis in both eyes at the same time. Conjunctivitis usually doesn't hurt, but itching can be annoying. Sometimes it feels like you have an eyelash or a speck of sand in your eye and can't get it out.

Adults, especially parents and teachers who spend a lot of time with kids, can get conjunctivitis, too. Conjunctivitis lasts a short time, usually about a week or less, and then goes away by itself or after treatment.

How Do I Get Conjunctivitis?

Kids get conjunctivitis for different reasons. Most kids get it from bacteria or viruses. This is called infectious conjunctivitis. Bacteria can be seen only with a powerful microscope and viruses are even smaller than bacteria! Bacteria live on your skin or in your nose or mouth all the time and you never know it. Most don't ever bother you, but certain kinds of bacteria can cause infections like conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis is easy to catch just through touching. You can get conjunctivitis by touching the hand of an infected friend who has touched his eyes. If you then touch your eyes, the infection can be spread to you. Washing your hands often with warm, soapy water is the best way to not get infected with conjunctivitis.

Kids also get conjunctivitis because of allergies or because they get something irritating in their eyes, but these kinds of conjunctivitis are not contagious.

If your eyes are itchy, red, or more crusty than usual in the morning, you should tell your parent. Do not wait because conjunctivitis spreads easily. Your parent will probably call the doctor for an appointment.