How to Deal With Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the lining of the eyeball or eyelids, and can be allergic, viral, or bacterial. It affects one or both eyes, and the stickier the eyes are in the morning, the more likely it is to be bacterial. Babies get conjunctivitis because their tear ducts have not properly formed until the age of six months. If your child has mild conjunctivitis, with only slightly sticky eyes when he wakes up, you might not need a doctor at all. Wash your hands thoroughly, then gently wipe his eyes, from the nose out, with cotton wool dipped in cooled, boiled water. Use a clean piece of cotton wool for each eye and each wipe, taking care to not touch the eyeball itself. Wash your hands again afterwards. If you ha ve seen the doctor and been given eye-drops, make sure to finish the course, which is usually about five days.