Dds friend has conjunctavitis (15/16months) can he come and play??

[Bugzi]

A friends ds (15 months) has conjunctivitis (pink eye) and I have a 16 month old dd. They want to come and visit on Wednesday but I am rather apprehensive. Apparently he woke up yesterday morning with the infection. She plans to get antibiotics for him today and says that the second he starts taking these, he is no longer infectious. I said I wasnt entirely sure of that. Frankly, I do not want them to come around. Does anyone know how long conjunctivitis is contagious for and if you take antibiotics, does this really mean the infection is no longer contagious?

I thought it was at least 48 hours from starting antibiotics and assuming all discharge has stopped. Don't think I would feel comfortable about it.

hth

According to my spotty book it says it is infectious whilst there is pus and crusting. Once that's gone it is no longer infectious. I do seem to remember a dr telling my friend that it was fine to see people 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

Agree with jimjams, as long as you can see the pus/crusting, it is still highly highly contagious. It does go away quickly after antibiotics, but I would postpone the play date until next week.

DD (4) woke up with it today. Made appt at the GP's and then wondered if I kept her eyes clean if there is any possibility of it going away on its own. From past experience I know that anything going vaguely near her eyes sends her into an absolute frenzy.

Anyone out there know?

Carla, hate to say it, but you probably need to get the antibiotical drops. Will eliminate it entirely fairly quickly.

Most conjunctivitis is viral rather than bacterial, (though bacterial infection can follow viral infection). this means it can go away on its own (bathing with cotton wool with cooled boiled water helps clean off the discharge) and also that antibiotics won't necessarily make it less infectious. It is pretty impossible to tell from the symptoms which is which, and often nurseries insist on treatment before readmission, which I think is why it usually is treated with antibiotics.
It is very contagious but ultimately not serious so really its up to you if you want to risk exposure (personally I find the main problem being excluded from nursery so I would prefer to avoid it!)

Thank you all for your advice. I have decided that I do not want them to come around as I'm sure he will not be 100% better by then - now I just need to find the most diplomatic way of telling my friend!! Eeeeek!!! Best to be straight forward I think.

Thanks again everyone!!