Pink eye may be either a bacterial or viral cause. Symptoms are usually drainage, itching, irritation, and reddness of the sclera and conjuctivitis of the eye. You may wake in the morning with crusting of the eye lids that make it difficult to get your eyes open. Treatment usually consists of antibiotic eye drops prescribed by a physician. Transmission is sooooo easy. It can be transmitted on objects and hands that are contaminated by the drainage. Preventions required careful and consistent handwashing, disinfection of common use objects, careful washing and disinfections of bed linens and towels. This often is seen in the school systems and can run rampant though the school and carried home by the kids (who are not the best a washing hands and swap EVERYTHING including spit!)to run rampant through the family. Usually after a person has been treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic and have a noted reduction in drainage they can be considered non-infectious.
