Moxie Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Is there any way to tell the difference between pink eye that needs meds and goopy red eyes due to a lingering cold?? Also, why must children get sick on the busiest day of the year?!?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Pink eye is usually viral. If your children have had a cold, chances are it is viral and antibiotics won't help. Viral pink eye tends to have a watery discharge. Bacterial pink eye tends to have a goopier, yellow/green discharge. Both kinds are very contagious, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 It's difficult to distinguish between the two because of overlapping symptoms. If it's matting the eye closed upon wakening and/or intense itching/pain, I would be more incline to have it treated. If you go in for treatment, it's more than likely going to be treated as if it's bacterial. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 When my boys had it the NP told us the bacterial usually presents in both eyes while the viral tends to be in just one eye. They had the bacterial kind--it was not just goopy, pink, itchy, but also painful to be in the light. We lived in the dark a few days before the antibiotics cleared things up. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 When in doubt, get treated. It's only a topical antibiotic, and viral pinkeye can turn into bacterial pinkeye because the eye is already irritated and susceptible to infection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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