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Conjunctivitis (Pink eye)
This common condition is characterised by inflammation,
grittiness and irritation of the conjunctiva (the delicate
membrane covering the white of the eye and inside of the lids).
The child's eye will be red with crusts which form around the
eye, especially after a night's sleep. Most cases of pink eye
are caused by a bacterial or virus infection, but an allergy to
some airborne product such as cigarette smoke can trigger the
irritation. Blocked tear ducts can also give cause to pink eye,
and on occasion conjunctivitis can be a symptom of another
serious eye disorder.
Prevention and treatment:
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you suspect
pink eye for the correct treatment to be administered.
- Bathe the child's eye with cottonwool and warm sterile
water or a weak solution of rooibos tea, to remove the crusts.
- Refrain from touching the eye too often, and keep the
child's face cloth and towel separate to that of the family's.
- If your baby has a blocked tear duct, gently massage the
area near the bottom lid to aid in removing the blockage.
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