Question

A 6-year-old is brought to the pediatric clinic for the assessment of redness and discharge from the eye and is diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis. What is the most important information to discuss with the parents and child?

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

It is very important to explain to the parents of the child that a viral conjunctivitis is one that usually presents accompanied by flu symptoms and that since it is viral it does not need to take any antibiotic at the moment, it is very important to educate on the safety of antibiotics to avoid resistance.The parents and the child should also be instructed to avoid scratching the eye and with dirty hands they give them to someone else to avoid contagion.

It is necessary to prevent the child who has conjunctivitis from sharing towels or handkerchiefs with someone else. All bedding or towels that have had contact with the child's eye should be washed separately.

Cold water compresses can be applied to each eye of the child to avoid symptoms.

In case the symptoms are very strong, anti-inflammatories can be used under medical supervision.

This is a disease that can last even two weeks so it is very important to warn parents that it is not something that is solved immediately, but maintaining the correct hygiene measures nothing serious will happen.

It should be explained that viral conjunctivitis can continue to be transmitted as long as the secretion and redness present in the eye is maintained, so it is very important to take the measures described above.