How is conjunctivitis (or pink eye) in infants treated?
Conjunctivitis in children is treated based on an exam of the discharge, conjunctiva (the clear covering of the white of the eye), and lymph nodes (part of the immune system, which fights infection). In addition, recent exposures to a virus that the infant may have had will be taken into consideration. Occasionally a culture (testing a sample of discharge for bacteria) may be taken and examined. The ophthalmologist may or may not use antibiotics to treat the conjunctivitis based on the results of this exam.
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