Pink Eye - Saint Paul,MN

From www.MayoClinic.com (a site I trust):

"Pink eye (conjunctivitis) generally remains contagious as long as the eye continues to tear and produce a discharge. Signs and symptoms of pink eye usually improve within three to seven days. When tearing and discharge are no longer present, it's appropriate for a child to return to school or child care."

"Treatment for viral conjunctivitis
There is no treatment for most cases of viral conjunctivitis. Instead, the virus needs time to run its course — up to two or three weeks. Viral conjunctivitis often begins in one eye and then infects the other eye within a few days. Your signs and symptoms should gradually clear on their own."

There is no mention of using shampoo and I can't imagine that this wouldn't irritate the eye more. Regular saline eye drops can be used to keep the eye moist.

my kids have had pink eye and I didn't treat it. we didn't have any problems after -- just let it run it's course, a few days and back to daycare they went.

My daughter recently had pink eye and the doctor said she could go back to school after 24 hours of treatment. She had eye drops we had to put in her eyes for a few days.

if she has viral conjunctivitis (aka pink eye) the kids at her daycare have probably already been exposed to the same virus that resulted in your daughters' pink eye. in my opinion she should go back :)

If you can still see it, it would probably be best to keep her home. I'm sure it would cause other moms to flare. If the doc said she is no longer contagious she probably isn't; however it will be hard to convince other Moms of that.

As long as her eye(s) is red she is contagious. Find out from your daycare if you need any type of doctor's note I know our school requires one that states when it is safe for a child with something very contagious to return to school.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t082800.asp

edited: Michelle M, antibiotics only treat bacterial infections they DO NOT treat viral infections.

Call your day care and ask them when she can come back. My policy is symptom free for 24 hrs. So no tearing or eye "junk" for 24 hrs.

First let me say pink eye is not a big deal, children in daycare usually get it once or twice a year. My child had it so often, I got to the point where my doctor would call in a prescription when I called with symptoms.
My daycare had a 24 hours after treatment policy for pink eye. I believe this is also true for the public schools (although the good news is once in school my daughter stopped getting pink eye). I would call the daycare and find out their policy.
I am interested to know how the doctor came to the conclusion it is viral and not bacterial. Usually a test is required to tell the difference and the test needs to be sent to a lab. Labs usually take a day or so to get you the results of the test (unless you went to the local hospital and got a rush on the results-not likely for pink eye).
From my understanding the viral pink eye is rarer than the bacterial and harder to treat, so please be sure you sure treating the right type. Drops are usually all it takes for the bacterial pink-eye.

Good luck,
S.

I do home childcare in MN..and I have gone round and round with the pink eye issue for over 13 years. Many docs will say "oh its viral, no meds needed". Whatever, thats fine, but MY rules say NO ONE returns to daycare until there is no goop and tearing up, with or without meds. Its extremely contagious and every single child and many of their parents will get it. It is such an incredible inconvienience, that I am super strict on it now. And have you used the medicated drops..they sting! I have had it more than my share of times, as a provider.

If someone gets it here, they need to immediately go home. Then I disinfect everything (toys, doorknobs and handrails, cribs..all common touched surfaces, etc). I wash all the bedding as well. I inform all parents and I reiterate my policies. It took me a few years to get strong with it. In the middle years there is when many were getting that same story from Drs about viral pinkeye (just fromm being seen..no tests were run, were told its NOT contagious), then literally everyone here, plus a parent or 2 got it inside of a week. I do not believe the doctors and insist on my own policy regarding this. It is an obvious and physical sign we all can see. Watery and goopy eyes...means pinkeye...the goop is contagious material!

So I advise you talk to your provider or center and find out what their policy is. It very well could be different than what your doc said. Whatever the provider or center says IS the rule..doctors can not "trump" what the daycare rules are.

BTW...I am not sure I would ever put shampoo IN my childs eyes on purpose, tearless childrens shampoo or otherwise..but thats just me.

Good Luck.

Why not get antibiotic drops? Is it because you are only practicing homeopathic medicine? I personally do not think it is good to keep putting shampoo in the eye? Antiobiotics will have her able to go back to daycare 24 hours after the start of treatment. Shampoo can not clear an infection! I am curious of what type of homeopathic remedy are you using. I am not saying this is the case, but I have heard people trying to use homeopathic remedies for infections even as serious as MRSA & just do not understand. Not saying nothing is wrong with Eastern Medicine, but some of the pretty simple Western ones work pretty quick.

after 24 hours of treatment she should be ready to go back to daycare