What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the transparent lining that covers the outer eyeballs and eyelids. The disease can be caused by viruses, bacteria or allergic reactions. Children are most susceptible to conjunctivitis due to incomplete immune systems and limited personal hygiene habits.
According to Dr. Neeraj Gupta, a pediatrician at Artemis Children's Hospital (India), conjunctivitis is not transmitted by the looks as many people mistakenly believe, but mainly spreads through hand-eyed contact or sharing infected objects. Typical symptoms are red eyes, itching, swelling of the eyelids, and watery eyes. If there is yellow pus or fever, it is often a sign of infection, he emphasized.
According to statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conjunctivitis causes American students to be absent from school for up to 3 million days a year - a figure that is not small for a seemingly simple disease.
6 ways to prevent conjunctivitis for babies in summer
Change pillowcases and bed linen every day
Bacteria can survive on fabric for hours. Regularly changing bed sheets and pillowcases will help break the chain of infection from object to person.
Use a separate towel for children and change the face towel every day
Children often dry their face or hands on the eyes, causing bacteria to stick to the towel. Using a shared towel or reusing an unwashed towel can cause conjunctivitis to spread throughout the home.
Wash your back every time you touch your baby's eyes
Any small act such as taking medicine, wiping away tears... has the potential to cause disease transmission. Washing your hands with soap or antibacterial solution is mandatory.
Keep your hands clean when handling children's personal belongings
After removing your child's towel, pillow or clothes, wash your hands thoroughly. Conjunctivitis can persist on fabric and the surface of objects for hours.
Throw away a paper towel properly
paper towels used for eye drying should be thrown into a sealed trash can. Do not leave mucus sticks or scatter them in your home or reuse the towel.
Absolutely do not touch your face
One of the reflexes that can easily cause the disease to spread is touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Parents need to limit this behavior while caring for a child with conjunctivitis.
