Help with "Pink Eye"

Updated on May 11, 2008
D.M. asks from Troy, OH
21 answers

Hey everyone!
My 2 year old son developed pink eye during the week and I was wondering if any of you knew how long it would take to run its course. I am no stranger to pink eye because my other two children have had it before, but I guess I worry more when it is my baby! Thanks!

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So What Happened?

I just wanted to say Thank you to all of you that helped with this topic! I actually did let my son's eye heal on its own and he is doing much better today. I appreciate those of you that told me he does need antibiotics but I am not always so quick to that remedy. The reason being that when children are always given antibiotics this weakens their own immune systems. I have always been the type of mother to try and let nature do its job, and if that is not working, I let the doctors take over!! Thanks again for all your comments!!!

Featured Answers

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

A friend told me that what helped her and her son's case of PE was to brew camomile tea and them place the tea bags on their eyes for a few minutes a few time a day. Hope that helps:)

1 mom found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

It's pretty much the same as with other kids....sometimes it's just harder to keep them from rubbing their eyes. Keep his hands washed as much as possible. My sister had it when she was very young...she did fine, but it might take longer to get over it.

1 mom found this helpful

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S.O.

answers from Cincinnati on

My daughter just had pink eye in both of her eyes (she is 4.5 months old), and the pediatrician prescribed an antibiotic eye drop. This cleared it up in a little over a day. I would suggest calling your child's doctor. Pink eye can be viral or bacterial, and if it is bacterial, it will only clear up with antibiotics. When I called, they didn't even ask to see her at the doctor's office. They just called in a prescription.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Steubenville on

we just went throught this with my daughter last week. the doctor gave her cipro eye drops and they help, but she was complaining of the pain so we gave her tylenol. hope this helps

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I dont like the gooey salves they give you for pinkeye... you can try REGULAR Visine, the one with red and blue on the label, to rinse and make his eye more comfortable. I think it has an antibiotic in it that really helps. The label has caution: children under 6, ask a doctor. Also they say " use up to 4 times a day"... it has a blood vessel constrictor (?) in it.. to make eyes less red..I think 4 times is too much for anybody, any age. But the goo pinkeye makes irritates the eye and this is a really good way to stop that.

Other Visine products and things like "Real Tears" do not have the same effects, or any effect at all.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Cincinnati on

With pink eye, you'll have to take your son to the pediatrician for an eye drop or ointment. I have had it a few times, and it required those things for about a week before it was healed.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Lafayette on

7-10 days to run it's course, keep yours & eeryone elses hands washed very good or someone else will get it. vygomax is a great eyedrop antibiotic for it & clears it up in no time. to help with the gunk, run a rag under very warm water and place it over the eye for a few minutes and gently wipe outwards from nose to ear each time folding the rag to keep from spreading it to the other eye.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Bloomington on

My daughter's pink eye is alway joined with an ear infection. Have him looked at to get medicine and make sure it's not an ear infection. My daughter has been prescribed eye drops too. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.E.

answers from Indianapolis on

This is my first round with my kids - I'm right there with you. All 3 of my kids have it right now - 6 1/2, 2 1/2 & 11 mo. My 11 mo old is almost over it. We started the ointment on Thursday. I have known people who said they were finished after 2 or 3 times treating with the eyedrops. I'm not sure where it came from but I'm sure ready for it to go.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from Cleveland on

I don't think you can just "let it run its course." You need to take the child to the doctor and get antibiotics. Doctors get very concerned about any infections of the eye. Plus it is very contagious and could spread to your other children and other people in the house as well. Get it treated medically.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Toledo on

If it really is pink eye, then you need to call the Dr. He will need an antibiotic to get rid of it, because no matter how comfortable you can make him, it won't go away on its own.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.K.

answers from South Bend on

My son was 8months old when he got it. I was freaked out on how he could of possibly got it. Come to find out, he had an ear infection and an untreated ear infection can cause a child to have pink eye, apparently its pretty common my doctor told me. So they prescribed anti biotics to treat them both at the same time. His eye was very pink and every morning it took 10+ minutes to get all the gunk out. But thankfully noone else in the house got it.. Even though I was hoping for a few days off from work :O)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

I've never heard of letting pink eye "run its course". If your son truly has pink eye he will need prescription drops.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Cincinnati on

I agree with the others. Pink eye needs eye drops. You can usually just call your doc. and have them phoned into your pharmacy. After a treatment or two the eye will begin to clear up. Save the drops! Use them the next time you need them!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Cleveland on

My friend is an eye doctor (but not local). I called her because we thought my one sone had pink eye and we were at my in-laws for Easter. She told me if his eye was red and there was no discharge just let it run its course (usually 3-5 days). If there was greenish yellow discharge call and get a perscription for it. The dischare make is bacterial pink eye and should be treated. Red and Watering eyes is viral and the recommended treatment in small children is do nothing. Wash hands a lot. disinfect toys that type of thing to keep it from spreading.

Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.N.

answers from Dayton on

If you know someone that is breastfeeding, breast milk will clear it right up.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

When my son gets pink eye, I call the nurse at his ped's office and have her phone me in a prescription. It usually clears it up within the first day or two. I am pretty sure though that you are supposed to get the medicine, rather than let it run its course. Don't quote me on it, but that's what I've always thought.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi my name is C. and I do babysitting I caught once
and it took me one week to ten days as long as you get the
medicine right away,and try to keep hands away from eyes but that is kind of hard being a child.
Oh by the way if you live in the city I do babysitting at
any hours, I have done it for 15 years.so just email me.

____@____.com
###-###-####

1 mom found this helpful
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J.R.

answers from Columbus on

Go to the doctor! I was just there today with my 9 year old daughter for pink eye and a strep test. We were prescribed eye drops, 3 times a day for 5 days. Still waiting on the strep test results since her throat is so red and yucky (maybe it's related to the goop that causes pink eye?).
I don't know that pink eye runs its course! I have heard differing opinions about whether pink eye is viral vs. bacterial. I think they treat it with drops regardless.

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W.B.

answers from Toledo on

None of my kids have had it for a long time, but if it really is pink eye, aren't you supposed to go to the doctor and get a prescription for it?

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S.K.

answers from Cleveland on

try simalson over the counter pink eye relief. It is great! I use it whenever my 12 year old has had it.

Hope this helps.

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