Pinkeye – Beijing Kids

Not Pretty in Pink: Can You Get Pink Eye from Public Pools?

Michelle Zhang — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 03:00:08 +0000

Let’s face it, this summer, we’re not traveling anywhere outside of China! Sure, there are a few sunny domestic destinations such as Sanya, but for most of us, it looks like we’ll be spending the entire summer right here in Beijing. And there’s nothing wrong with that, since the capital is jam-packed with fantastic historical and modern sites just waiting to be discovered. However, summertime isn’t all about learning and cultural enrichment, it’s also about relaxing and having fun.

So with pools, picnics, and floaties in mind, we head into summer prepared for fun in the sun.

I’ve always been a bit of a germaphobe, even before Covid. The idea of jumping into a pool that’s possibly got a higher pee-peeH level than I’d like is still pretty icky to me. As such, in my mind, family-friendly pools are all but synonymous with pink eye.

Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses is great. Seeing it through rose-colored eyeballs… not so much. To find out more about this ghastly virus, we consulted Dr. Joy Oreto, a pediatrician at Oasis International Hospital who cleared up a few common misconceptions about pink eye.

Most everyone knows that pink eye comes from contact with fecal matter. It’s exactly how it sounds. Essentially, pink eye is the result of getting poop in your eye. But it’s also not that simple. “Bacteria or viruses that cause conjunctivitis (pink eye) can spread through hand-to-eye contact, [it’s] transmitted by hands or objects that are contaminated,” explains Dr. Oreto, adding, “Having contact with infectious tears, eye discharge, fecal matter, or respiratory discharges can contaminate hands.” Simply put, going to the bathroom and not properly washing your hands afterward, and then proceeding to touch a bunch of different surfaces, is one surefire way to get pink eye.

While we might not be able to count on the cleanliness of every surface we touch, pools are thoroughly chlorinated and that kills bacteria, right? “Even if the pool water is chlorinated it does not guarantee that it is germ-free,” says Dr. Oreto. “It is still possible to spread the infection through chlorinated water. Also, if you have conjunctivitis it could further worsen your eye condition.”

Okay, so you’re going to start – if you haven’t already – washing your hands with soap after every trip to the bathroom. Likewise, you may even be considering avoiding pools altogether this summer. Does that mean you’re safe from contracting pink eye? Not quite. Pink eye is highly contagious and, as mentioned, it’s spread by contact. The first time I heard this I thought to myself, “Well, what are the chances that someone else’s eyes will get in contact with mine?” but it’s actually more common than one would expect. It spreads when an infected person gets their eye secretion onto another surface – any surface… Think door handles, towels, pillowcases, etc.

Fear not, though! To prevent yourself from getting pink eye, a few simple measures can make a world of difference. Don’t share tissues, handkerchiefs, towels, or bedding with anyone you think might be infected. If you’re traveling, it’s never a bad idea to bring your own towels or buy a set of single-use ones that you can throw away. If you’re out and about, keep your hands clean and away from your face. Always wash your hands and when a sink isn’t available, a quick hand sanitizer rub will kill most bacteria.

What should parents do if their kids get pink eye?

• Consult your doctor about appropriate treatment.
• The safest approach to avoid spreading viral and bacterial conjunctivitis is to let your child stay home until there is no longer any discharge from the eye.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces.
• Change towels and bed covers.
• Teach kids proper hand hygiene.

KEEP READING: Back to School Health: Sniffles and Pinkeye and Lice! Oh My!

Images: Pexels

This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 May issue

Back to School Health: Sniffles and Pinkeye and Lice! Oh My!

Aisling.OBrien — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 01:00:00 +0000

As if you didn’t have enough to deal with, marshaling kids, books, backpacks, schedules, and uniforms, back-to-school also comes with a regular host of health hazards. It’s quite normal for children to suffer from minor health issues within the first few weeks of returning to the classroom. Certainly, kids can contract these illnesses at any time, but the schoolroom in early fall can be a smorgasbord of new germs. Let’s take a look at dealing with some common annual concerns.

Sniffles:

When kids return from summer vacation, many have travelled back from far-flung climes spending hours on planes and breathing recirculated air. They’ve more than likely picked up all sorts of airborne germs and viruses. Mix them all together in early September, shake or stir and you’ve got a powerful cocktail of sniffles and coughs.

Frequent and thorough hand washing is the best way to mitigate all communicable infections. Pack hand sanitizer for use when sinks are out of reach. You should also go over the proper techniques for safe sneezing and coughing with your kids. You can find those techniques here.

Flu viruses can mutate and change frequently, so it’s a good idea to check when the annual flu vaccine becomes available each winter and go get the latest jabs. Find our information on last year’s flu season here and here.

Pinkeye:

Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is another common back-to-school condition; in fact it’s one of the main triggers for school and day care absence (Patel 2007). There are infectious and non-infectious causes of pink-eye. The infections types, viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, are caused when germs are introduced to the eye. This leads to one or both eyes becoming inflamed and reddened, hence the name pinkeye. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are quickly spread from kid-to-kid. As with all communicable diseases, increased thorough hand washing can help to halt the spread of contagious conjunctivitis. Warn your children to avoid touching their eyes also.

As with many viral infections, there is no treatment available for viral conjunctivitis but time. In the case of bacterial conjunctivitis topical antibiotics may be prescribed. Find previous articles dealing with pinkeye here and here.

Lice:

Head lice are spread when little heads bend together in concentration and affection. Lice and their eggs, nits, are difficult to spot, and the first tell-tale sign is usually itching and scratching. However, in my experience, just reading about head lice is enough to trigger some temporary scalp tickles! So, if you do suspect head lice, the next step is to confirm your diagnosis with a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb. Should you find them, make sure to let your school know so that other kids can be checked and treated.

Remember, lice might be lousy, but they’re no one’s fault. There’s a legacy of social stigma around head lice – they are the origin of the term cooties after all – but infestation can happen to any child, especially the freshly bathed. Although shame, fear or squeamishness may be understandable knee-jerk reactions, these are just the vestiges of parents’ negative childhood experiences. Lice prefer recently washed hair because they can grab onto a squeaky clean hair shaft that much more tightly. Outbreaks are an everyday fact of life for American school kids, and the CDC reports that between 6 and 12 million cases occur in school age kids annually. There’s a comprehensive post on the issue of head lice here.

Photo courtesy of wikimedia commons

Dr. Mom: Natural Ways to Beat Pinkeye

beijingkids

My son has been home from school with pinkeye for a few days now. It must be going around because there were other children in his classroom who also had it. But what exactly is pinkeye, and how bad can it be?

Pinkeye (it even sounds kind of cute) is usually not serious, just irritating. It’s an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye — the thin protective membrane that covers the eyeball and the eyelids. That’s why the medical term is conjunctivitis. Here is a good website that describes the various types of conjunctivitis and explains when to see your pediatrician or M.D. Since I am currently dealing with a viral pinkeye let’s talk about conjunctivitis due to infection.

To begin with the symptoms of pinkeye are … you guessed it, a pink eye! The white part of the eye, the sclera, takes on a pinkish tinge or sometimes a more severe bloodshot appearance that can be described more like redeye. The eyes can feel itchy, irritated and be sensitive to light. Some people will experience other cold-like symptoms including runny nose, sore throat, and possibly a fever.

In most cases the infection is viral, so from an allopathic point of view there isn’t much that can be done. All treatment is supportive, although if a viral infection goes on long enough it could become bacterial. In that case anti-bacterial eye drops are needed. There are a few natural treatments that can be very effective in helping the infection resolve quickly and without complications. Vitamin A or Beta-carotene as well as and Vitamin C help support the immune system and fight infection. Foods high in Beta-carotene are sweet potato, carrots and pumpkin. Vitamin C can be found in kiwis, berries, and greens like broccoli and kale. The herb aptly named eyebright, specifically targets the eyes. You can prepare a concentrated infusion with one teaspoon of herb per half cup of boiling water. After letting it sit for a good 15 minutes you’re ready to treat the eyes. Get 6 clean cotton balls, dip a cotton ball in the warm solution and wipe the affected eye from the inner corner to the outer corner. Use 3 cotton balls per eye and remember to use a fresh cotton ball each time. If you don’t happen to have eyebright lying around your home, chamomile is another great option. Sea salt can also be used, add ¼ of a teaspoon of salt to ½ a cup of warm water.

Finally, keep in mind that pinkeye is extremely contagious so it’s best to keep your child at home until the infection completely clears up. Reminding kids not touch their eyes and to wash their hands frequently with hot soapy water is extremely important. My son doesn’t enjoy hand washing so I find the alcohol based hand sanitizers work really well. He thinks it’s fun! And of course I couldn’t end this blog post without saying that rest and relaxation helps the body recoup. So let your kids sleep in, they need it! And if you can, why not sleep in too? Mom and dad could always use a few extra zzz’s. Am I right?

Dr. Melissa Rodriguez is a Naturopathic doctor who lives with her family in Beijing, www.drmelissarodriguez.com