It must be Pink eye!

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I just don't know how to stop this, but almost every single day, the Kinder or 1st grade teachers ALWAYS brings me some kid with slight pink-ish eyes and say they have pink eye. I know the difference but they don't and if I deny the child having "Pink eye", they get mad. How do I explain them the difference between allergies and pink eye?

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It's a constant battle here too! I know someone on here has an awesome chart comparing the two, hopefully they'll share it again! I send home for copious amounts of yellow drainage or when you can tell by the crazy amount of crust on their lashes that they woke up with their eyes stuck shut! Just pinkness of the eye gets a warm compress or a cool compress if they got poked in the eye. But, yes, according to every teacher in the history of ever, a slightly pink eye is immediately the dreaded "pink eye"!

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I look at their health history first- if it says rhinitis/seasonal allergies and there's no drainage/ slight pink sclera and they deny itching- I let them stay. I usually call the parent too- sometimes they are under treatment for it already (after a weekend.) I have all KG and first graders though- so they are not the best hand washers and spread it so easily- so if they have pink sclera with itching, white/green/yellow drainage- they need to go home.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Thanks! I have this kid right now next to me and he has slight pink eye, and some grey discharge but he's not complaining of pain or itchiness. I called mom and she said it was allergies, but I asked her to take him to the doctor just in case, so she can get it in a written statement because if this happens a lot, they will send him to me a lot.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

The CDC has a great info page that helps to differentiate between the types of conjunctivitis. Note: typically allergic conjunctivitis presents in both eyes. Bacterial starts in one eye and then is easily spread to the other eye. Hope this helps.

Conjunctivitis | Pink Eye | Signs and Symptoms | CDC

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Specializes in school nursing.

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I find this super helpful! I like to kindly remind them that there are MANY other reasons an eye can appear pink. Sometimes we hear hooves and think zebras. I usually assess the child in front of the teacher, because it ends up decreasing my number of "pink eye" visits. If a teacher hears me ask the kiddo "Did you accidentally poke yourself?" and get a yes in response, they immediately realize how silly it might be to send every little reddish eyeball my way.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Well the son of 2 school nurses ended up with pink eye despite having few real tell tale symptoms. My kid never presents anything textbook, and he said he got soap in his eye so the sand feeling was really the only symptom as well as a little exudate, no pinkness or massive exudate. He doesn't really have pain with strept throat.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I sent out a note to teachers telling them I will no longer send a kid home with conjunctivitis unless they are so uncomfortable they can't concentrate or they have copious amounts of drainage coming out of the eye. They all freaked out initially but finally understand that the number of pink-ish eyed kids they were sending me on a daily basis was getting ridiculous. Many of the teachers were also using pink eye as a reason to call out from work.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
I sent out a note to teachers telling them I will no longer send a kid home with conjunctivitis unless they are so uncomfortable they can't concentrate or they have copious amounts of drainage coming out of the eye. They all freaked out initially but finally understand that the number of pink-ish eyed kids they were sending me on a daily basis was getting ridiculous. Many of the teachers were also using pink eye as a reason to call out from work.

Yes, great approach!

Depending on the age group you work with also. With older kids you can tell them not to touch their eyes and wash their hands. I had a HS student that I was on the fence with the other day. Pink sclera, one eye, clear drainage. Called parents and explained situation and told them I would continue to monitor, if drainage turned yellow/greenish they would have to come pick the student up from school. Parents appreciated not having to leave work immediately. They took student to urgent care after school, no pink eye.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Honestly, I'd say 90% of the time, I see kids with "just a red eye" and no drainage. Itching varies. But I's say almost 100% of the time those kids come in convinced and already diagnosed by either their teacher or Dr. Bestfriend that they have the WORST case of acute conjunctivitis. but 9/10 times once they rinse it well they feel better and it doesn't bother them again.

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Specializes in School nursing.
Honestly, I'd say 90% of the time, I see kids with "just a red eye" and no drainage. Itching varies. But I's say almost 100% of the time those kids come in convinced and already diagnosed by either their teacher or Dr. Bestfriend that they have the WORST case of acute conjunctivitis. but 9/10 times once they rinse it well they feel better and it doesn't bother them again.

I have eye wash drops and one or two of those in the eye and I've worked miracles! ;)

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
I've worked miracles! ;)

Miracles happen continually in my office! It's amazing what a trip to my bathroom and what a drink from my fabled well can cure!

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