Since the start of the school year, many doctors say they have seen an increase in a common infection.
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye is a bacterial or viral infection that causes redness and swelling of the eye.
Physicians say the condition is extremely contagious.
In fact, when kids go back to school each fall, the number of cases skyrocket, because they are sharing school supplies and germs.
Doctor Maria Del Pilar Levy with Cook Children's Medical Center says, "Once treatment is initiated the patient needs to
stay away from school for 24 hours, follow proper hygiene measures like washing hands and at home, they need to change towels.
If they dry their face with a towel it needs to be changed and not shared, the same goes for pillow cases."
Doctors also say Conjunctivitis can sometimes be caused by allergies and in that case, it is not contagious, but you still should take your child to the doctor for a check-up.
