Does Conjunctivitis Have Your Eyes Turning Pink?

About 3 million cases of conjunctivitis or “pink eye” occur in the United States each year, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). Conjunctivitis is one of the most common and treatable eye conditions in children and adults. Although not seriously life threatening, conjunctivitis is a common condition causing inflammation of the conjunctiva in the eye, causing redness , itching, and discharge from the eye.

Silver Cross Hospital offers tips to know when to seek medical attention when your conjunctivitis takes a turn for the worse.

As the summer season winds down and the school year quickly approaches, keep yourself, your children, and those around you free from conjunctivitis infection by practicing good cleanliness habits and being aware of any signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of infection may include pain, itching, discharge from the eye, redness, and swelling of the eyelids. If any of these symptoms show, it is critical to get the problem taken care of as soon as possible as conjunctivitis is very contagious. The infection thrives in close quarters and lots of human contact such as schools, gyms, and the workplace.

“A lot of times, the spread of conjunctivitis can be prevented simply by awareness and taking the easy extra step, such as making sure to wash your hands,” said Daniel Checco, D.O., Medical Director of Silver Cross Urgent Care in Joliet. “Residents can rest assured that our hospital board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses at the Silver Cross Urgent Care are equipped to provide high-quality care for this type of infection should it arise.”

Dr. Checco also offered these tips for handling and preventing conjunctivitis:

For those injected with conjunctivitis, prevent the spread of infection by:

• Washing any discharge from around the eyes several times per day
• Washing your hands often with soap and water
• Avoiding rubbing/touching of the eyes
• Washing pillowcases, sheets, washcloths, towels
• Avoiding swimming pools
• Avoiding eye makeup

Avoid becoming infected by conjunctivitis by:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water
• Avoiding rubbing/touching of the eyes
• Not sharing any items with an infected person
• Cleaning and changing eyeglasses or contacts as appropriate

Urgent Care Nearby

Even with the utmost caution, accidents and illnesses can still occur. It is good to know peace of mind is just minutes away at the new Silver Cross Urgent Care located in the Silver Cross Professional Building at 1051 Essington Rd., Suite 100, Joliet.

Patients will receive prompt, compassionate care for sudden illnesses and injuries without the long wait. At the Silver Cross Urgent Care, patients can be treated for flu and cold symptoms, broken bones and fractures, stomach and joint pain, infections, minor burns, asthma, allergic reactions and more.

Open Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 am. to 3 p.m., the Urgent Care is staffed by a licensed clinical practitioner under the supervision of a board certified emergency care physician with EM Strategies– the same medical group that cares for patients at Silver Cross Hospital’s Emergency Department in New Lenox and the Silver Cross Emergency Care Center in Homer Glen.

No appointment is necessary; patients can walk-in or reserve a time to be seen at the Silver Cross Urgent Care that is convenient for them online through SCHedule Now at www.silvercross.org.

If needed Urgent Care offers on-site Laboratory and X-Ray services, and if follow-up care is required, patients will be referred back to their doctor or a specialist on the Silver Cross Medical Staff. If physical therapy is needed, therapists with The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago are conveniently located in the same building. Silver Cross Urgent Care accepts most major health plans and can bill insurance companies directly.

Patients should check their insurance benefits in advance and bring their insurance card, and the policyholder’s name, date of birth, and social security number. For self-paying patients, payment is required at time of service. Cash and credit/debit cards accepted.

A complete list of services and pricing is available at www.silvercross.org. For more information, call (815) 300-2273.