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Picking up Pinkeye at School

4,024 views · Published 29 September 2014 · 2:01 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2014 · Science & Technology

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Among the many things your young child might pick up in school this year- one may not be welcome. The highly contagious pink eye, also called conjunctivitis.

“Conjunctivitis is fairly common, especially if it’s bacterial and it gets into a classroom setting or a daycare setting,” says Dr. Anthony Peitroniro, who is a pediatrician with Lee Memorial Health System. 

This common medical condition is around all year, but it's more common when school is back is session and kids are in close contact.

“It’s very easily spread. Basically all it takes to touch their eye and touch another object whether it be a doorknob or a glass, and if someone comes along and touches that same object and happens to touch their eye they can inoculate themselves,” says Dr. Peitroniro. 

The condition is referred to as pinkeye because the membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and white portions of the eye becomes red and swollen.

“There’s also eye discharge, it can vary from watery discharge to discharge that’s more mucus-like. Oftentimes the children will wake up in the morning with their eyes matted shut,” says Dr. Peitroniro. 

Contrary to popular belief, pinkeye is not always the result of a bacterial infection. It can also be caused by viruses, allergens and irritants. These types of conjunctivitis will resolve spontaneously without treatment. The bacterial form can be treated with antibiotics.

“For bacterial conjunctivitis usually the course of treatment is about 5-7 days of eye drops,” says Dr. Peitroniro. “And usually by the end of the course of those drops the eye should be doing better.” 

Here’s some basic tips to avoid the spread: 
Wash hands frequently, use sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available, avoid touching the eyes, and get at least 24 hours of treatment before returning to school. With proper attention, children can quickly say goodbye to pinkeye. 



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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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