To help reduce the spread of infection from one eye to the other, or to another person, it's important to help your child keep their eyes clean by washing them regularly with a warm washcloth (with their eyes closed, of course). SEE RELATED: Treating swollen eyes in toddlers Is pink eye contagious?īacterial and viral conjunctivitis are contagious once symptoms present themselves, and they remain contagious until symptoms resolve and the eyes return to normal.Ĭontagious forms of conjunctivitis spread when someone touches a contaminated object (an infected eye, a tissue or cloth used to clean infected eyes, etc.) and then touches their eyes or face. If your child’s eye swelling is severe and they are particularly sensitive to light, you should have them examined by an eye doctor immediately to rule out injury or a more serious eye condition. If they have a cough, sore throat and a fever along with their pink eye symptoms, they likely have the viral or bacterial strain.Ĭhildren who are sneezing, have a runny nose, or show other hay fever symptoms in addition to red, itchy eyes are likely experiencing allergic conjunctivitis. Itchiness and excessive tearing are symptoms of allergic and irritant conjunctivitis too, but these cases almost always appear in both eyes.Īnother way to determine which kind of pink eye you’re dealing with is to assess any additional symptoms experienced by your child. Viral pink eye typically causes red, itchy and watery eyes, and can also affect one or both eyes. Typically, thick or colored eye discharge is exclusive to bacterial conjunctivitis, which can infect one or both eyes. Itchiness or burning that makes your child rub their eyes It’s for this reason that proper precautions should be taken as soon as symptoms are detected. Depending on what kind of pink eye it is, once symptoms appear, it may be contagious. Signs of pink eye in toddlers and kids (and anyone else who has the condition) are pretty easy to spot. READ MORE: Pink eye (conjunctivitis) causes Pink eye symptoms in kids

This can include smoke, chlorine, and certain chemicals and liquids that aggravate the eyes. Irritant pink eye, also called chemical pink eye or toxic pink eye, occurs when a child’s eyes are exposed to an irritant. The most common triggers for allergic conjunctivitis include dust, pollen, mold, pet dander and strong fragrances. It is also possible for pink eye to be caused by the same bacteria found in certain sexually transmitted diseases.Īllergic pink eye is caused by different allergens that trigger a reaction from the eyes. This type of conjunctivitis, as well as viral, is compared to having “ a cold in the eye” because it typically is accompanied by other cold/virus symptoms. Viral pink eye in toddlers can also be caused by varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox or shingles), herpes simplex virus (the same virus that causes cold sores), and the virus that causes COVID-19.īacterial pink eye spawns when bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumonia spread to the eyes. Viral pink eye occurs when exposed to an adenovirus, a common virus that results in a number of different illnesses, including pink eye, bronchitis and pneumonia. There are various types of pink eye in children that are caused by different exposures. This inflammation typically results in red, watery, irritated eyes. Pink eye is a common eye infection in toddlers and children that causes inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear mucous membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids.

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