Conjunctivitis, or "pink eye," is a common condition affecting infants. According to a 2007 review article published in "Infectious Disease Clinics of North America," conjunctivitis is the most common eye condition from birth to 6 years. Pink eye is an infection of the conjunctiva, which is the lining of the eye and eyelids. Sometimes the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria that is transmitted from an infected person touching or having close contact with a baby. In other cases, newborns can contract pink eye from bacteria and viruses from their mothers during delivery.
Eye Redness
The first sign of infection is a red or pink discoloration of the white part of the eye. This is due to inflammation of the small blood vessels on the surface of the eye, and it is where the term "pink eye" comes from. Redness usually starts in one eye, but often spreads fairly quickly to the other eye. Particularly with viral causes of pink eye, the symptoms will spread from one eye to the other within 24 to 48 hours. This is according to an article published in a 2000 edition of "Progress in retinal and eye research." The insides of the eyelids also become extremely red. This can be seen by pulling the eyelids down toward the infant's cheek.
Mucous and Drainage
Once the eye becomes red, mucous and drainage usually start to build up, first in the corners of the eyes, and eventually covering the whole surface of the eye. Babies will often wake up first thing in the morning with the eyelids matted shut with dried drainage. It is usually yellowish or greenish in color. It can be wiped away with a wet washcloth but will reaccumulate relatively quickly. Another condition in infants, known as blocked tear ducts, can also cause intermittent drainage from one or both eyes. The difference is that the drainage due to a blocked tear duct is not caused by infection, is usually more clear than colored, and never occurs in the context of eye redness.
Puffiness
Once the inflammation of the eyelids due to pink eye becomes severe enough, the lining will actually become swollen. This will cause puffiness around the eyes.
Lack of Systemic Symptoms
The lack of systemic symptoms refers to the fact that pink eye is an infection isolated to the eyes. This means that pink eye never causes fever, lethargy, change in eating pattern, or any other total-body or "systemic" symptoms. If a baby has red eyes, eye drainage, or swollen eyes, but also has some of these other, more serious symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention to determine the cause.
References
- "Infectious Disease Clinics of North America"; Periorbital and Orbital Infections; E Wald; June 2007
- "Progress in retinal and eye research"; Treatment of viral diseases of the cornea and external eye; HE Kaufman; January 2000
