Conjunctivitis - keeping off school and treatment

[Servalan]

Hi, am a bit confused.

DD is 4 years old. She started having symptoms of conjunctivitis yesterday, so DH took her to the surgery where she saw a practice nurse. DH was told that DD did have mild conjunctivitis, but that they generally don't treat if at all possible, and she told him the current HPA guidelines that children don't need to be excluded from school with conjunctivitis.

This morning, I thought I'd better check with the school before sending DD in anyway, and I was told that they don't want her in if she has conjunctivitis because it is so contagious. The school admin lady said that she shouldn't be off too long because it clears quickly once the treatment kicks in. She seemed a bit horrified when I told her that DD had not been prescribed anything and I was just wiping with cooled boiled water when they look gunky.

DD's eyes aren't looking any better tonight so will have to keep her off tomorrow too probably. Not sure how long it will last if she's not prescribed drops or the like? Should I be ringing the doctor tomorrow and asking for her to be prescribed with something or is there an over the counter eye drop that I'd be able to get straight from a pharmacist?

Also, I'm wondering if the HPA guidelines have changed recently because there is obviously a disparity between what they/doctors are saying and what the school policy is.

Thanks

Bump

HPA guidelines are that children do NOT need to be kept off school with conjunctivitis - they changed about two years ago.

However, eyedrops might make her more comfortable. You can buy OTC drops from chemists now, they don't need to be prescribed.

Thanks, I'll check out the eye drops tomorrow.

Despite HPA guidelines, School were pretty adamant they don't want her in with it, so hope it clears soon!!

Go to Boots or other chemist to get drops/cream.

It is very contagious, so I would rather your DD wasn't around my DC...the last thing I need is a couple of days off work, which believe me I would take, as I wouldn't send mine in.

Wipe with cooled boiled water in the meantime.

Try adding a teaspoon of salt to the boiled water, you'll find it clears up a lot quicker. It is a self-limiting condition usually though and will just clear up. Hope you're LO gets better soon. And I wouldn't be sending them to school either

I would possibly try to get a second GP appointment with another doctor. This happened with my sister's little boy - the first doctor wouldn't prescribe for it, no different overnight, and then a second doctor did give her antibiotic drops.

It depends how easy it is for you to be taking the days off work to look after him.

Also, I think when DH had an eye infection he was actually able to buy some antibiotic drops over the counter (advised by Out of Hours Doctor phone service) - not sure if they are for kids as well as adults.

Nurse is correct. Current hpa guidelines are that exclusion is not necessary, as it's usually a mild and self-limiting infection. Cloramphenicol can be bought OTC for children 2 and above, and works very quickly ime.