Conjunctivitis, often referred to as pinkeye, doesn’t necessarily have the redness of the eyes that the name implies. Regardless of whether there’s redness, conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and needs to be assessed by a medical professional.
It is especially prevalent among children because of daycare and playground situations, and can spread like wildfire. However, teenagers and adults are not completely safe from it, especially if there are children around often they can catch it from. Here are some things to know about conjunctivitis so you know what to keep an eye out for…
KidsHealth.org explains that even infants can get pinkeye, and while pinkeye is not usually considered serious, very young kids “can develop serious health complications if it’s not treated”. Newborns can contract pinkeye from bacteria in the birth canal of a mother who has an STD, notes the site. Mothers can also be treated for STDs during pregnancy, it adds.
That’s why doctors will administer antibiotic drops to the baby immediately after birth. The treatment alone can cause a “mild chemical conjunctivitis, which usually clears up on its own,” adds the source.