Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) in Children — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

A red, goopy, crusty eye on a small child almost always means pink eye — and while it looks dramatic and spreads fast, most cases are mild and clear up on their own. Here is how to tell what you are dealing with and when it needs a visit.

What pink eye is

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the thin, clear layer that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes several causes: viruses, bacteria, allergies, and irritants. Viral and bacterial pink eye are both very contagious and spread easily from person to person — another reason it sweeps through classrooms.

Signs and telling the types apart

All types share redness, watering, and irritation. Bacterial pink eye tends to produce thicker, more constant discharge that can glue the lashes shut, especially after sleep; viral pink eye is often waterier and may come with a cold; allergic pink eye is usually itchy and affects both eyes with a clear watery discharge. The types can be hard to distinguish by look alone, which is where an exam helps.

How we approach it at Ohana Care Clinic

Many cases need no medicine. The CDC notes conjunctivitis is often self-limited, typically clearing within one to two weeks, and a warm compress can ease swelling and irritation for both viral and bacterial types. Antibiotic eye drops don’t help viral or allergic pink eye and are not always needed even for bacterial cases, though they can shorten it. We look at the whole picture with you and use antibiotics only when they are likely to help — part of protecting your keiki from medicines they don’t need. Some situations do need prompt in-person care: eye pain, vision changes, a lot of swelling or light sensitivity, or pink eye in a newborn, which the CDC flags as needing urgent evaluation.

Getting care by telehealth

Most of our care at Ohana Care Clinic happens by secure video across Hawaiʻi. A new primary-care or pediatric patient is seen in person for the first visit at our Hilo clinic; after that, many follow-ups and quick questions work well by video. When your keiki is sick, a video visit can often tell us whether they need to be seen in person, saving you a drive when it isn’t needed.

When to get help now

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if your child is struggling to breathe, turning blue around the lips, unresponsive, or you believe this is a life-threatening emergency. When in doubt, call us at (808) 867-8002 or use our symptom checker for after-hours guidance on whether your child needs to be seen.

Medically reviewed by Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, pediatric nurse practitioner, and George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, President & Owner of Ohana Care Clinic.
Date published: July 2, 2026 · Last reviewed: July 2026 · Citations verified: July 2026

This article is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your child’s situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you think your child may have a medical condition, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About pink eye (conjunctivitis). https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/about/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Pink eye in newborns. https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/newborns/index.html