Conjunctivitis in Children:

• Usually a self-limiting process, very common in school-aged children and children in daycare or group home settings
• Crusting/swelling treated with warm compresses
• Antibiotics are not necessary outside of the neonatal period, but they do speed recovery
• Neonates with conjunctivitis - send cultures (gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum);  all others - no cultures necessary
• Treatment with erythromycin ointment, Polytrim solution, ciprofloxacin solution (usually practicioner preference unless dealing with a recurrent/resistant case)

HOWEVER... remember to consider other common etiologies of a red eye in a child!

• Corneal abrasions
• Acute angle closure glaucoma (sickle cell patients)
• Allergic sources

References

1. Nelson's Essentials of Pediatrics, 5th ed.
2. The Red Book - 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases