What’s Going Around: Stomach bug, pink eye, flu
WellSpan Pediatric Medicine Physicians across the Midstate are seeing flu, a stomach bug, pink eye, seasonal allergies and asthma.
Pediatricians at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital are still seeing a lot of flu cases this week. They are still seeing some lingering RSV infections, as well as COVID, strep throat and colds.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Physicians Roseville Pediatrics reports moderate strep throat cases, an increase in the stomach bug, ongoing cases of all types of pink eye, a lot of viruses causing congestion and sore throats and an increase in ear infections. They did see a decrease in flu cases this week.
Dr. Joan Thode offered the following advice on pink eye:
“Conjunctivitis is the general term for inflammation of the outer clear layer of the surface of the eye. It typically appears as a pink eye, but there are multiple possible causes.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a bacteria infecting the surface of the eye. It is frequently in only one eye and typically has thicker discharge. It can be painful or have a scratchy sensation when the child blinks. In babies, bacterial pink eye can frequently affect both eyes at the same time and should be evaluated for possible tear duct blockage. Bacterial pink eye is treated with antibiotic eye drops by your child’s primary physician. Until treated, it is very contagious.
Viral conjunctivitis is caused by a virus infecting the surface of the eye, and it frequently is seen in both eyes symmetrically. The discharge tends to be a bit thinner and waterier, though kids will frequently have crusting on their lashes after a period of sleep. Viral conjunctivitis is often seen in the second half of a virus and caused by the child rubbing their nose, then rubbing their eye, thus transferring the virus to the surface of the eye. The viral conjunctivitis will be killed off by the immune system at the same time that it beats the virus elsewhere in the body. Antibiotic eye drops will not do anything to speed that process because they do not affect viruses. Unfortunately, viral conjunctivitis is also contagious by touch.
Allergic conjunctivitis is a reaction to the pollen or other allergens in the air. This causes the immune cells to release histamine, which makes the eyes red, itchy, and watery. Itchy eyes are most likely allergic conjunctivitis. There is rarely thick eye drainage, though it is common for the eyes to tear a lot. The appropriate eye drops are antihistamine rather than drops, and these can be prescribed by your child’s primary physician.
Reasons to see the doctor: thick drainage from the eye; pain with eye movement; eyelid swelling; pain with light/light sensitivity; symptoms that worsen over two to three days; eye redness with any recent eye trauma or suspected foreign body in the eye; changes in vision.”
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