pink eye

Has your child developed a red, itchy, crusty eye? The likely cause of this inflammation is pinkeye, or conjunctivitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conjunctivitis is a common eye condition that causes swelling of the conjunctiva, the thin layer that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the whites of the eye. All types of conjunctivitis — viral, bacterial, and allergic — can clear up on their own, with the latter usually improving once the allergen is removed. Viral and bacterial pinkeye are particularly contagious, so to prevent spreading, speed recovery, and avoid long-term effects, Circle of Moms members suggest the following treatments.

Keep reading.

Pink eye has been oddly popular in pop culture lately: first, as a plot point in Knocked Up and, more recently, befalling Vinny on MTV's Jersey Shore. As a result, contracting pink eye — officially known as conjunctivitis — could elicit snickers from your friends.

The stigma attached to pink eye is that it's caused by — as Jason Segel's character so eloquently states in Knocked Up — "poo particles making their way into your ocular cavities." But really, anyone can get pink eye from many different causes, so read more

Do moms ever have downtime — even when they are sick? That's what a pregnant colleague wondered when her son recently came down with an ear infection and a nasty case of pink eye. She rented him movies, set up art projects, and occupied her tot to keep him happy. At the same time, she was diligent about keeping her hands washed, the toys sanitized, and the pillowcases clean.

After a night of trying to comfort the preschooler to sleep, she woke up with crusty eyes and realized that the pesky germs must have passed through his falling tears. Instead of staying in bed and watching Lifetime movies all day like she wanted to, her "sick day" consisted of entertaining her on-the-mend son and having to ignore her own condition.