Do I Need Antibiotics for Pink Eye?

Pink eye happens when there is inflammation of the covering of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelid. It can be caused by an infection from a virus or bacteria. It can also be caused by allergies. For this page, we’ll focus on pink eye caused by infection.

Why You Might Need Antibiotics for Pink Eye

Pink eye will often go away on its own in 7-10 days. Pink eye is usually caused by a virus and will go away on its own. Sometimes pink eye can be caused by bacteria and if so an antibiotic may be needed. If the symptoms of pink eye get worse, see your primary care provider.

Symptoms of Pink Eye

• The whites of the eyes are pink or red
• Teary, itchy eyes
• Eyelids maybe swollen
• There could be pus or thick discharge and this could make the eyelids sticky

Prevention of Pink Eye

Pink eye is very contagious and can spread very easily. Here are ways to prevent spreading pink eye:

• Frequent hand washing with plain soap
• Avoid touching or rubbing the eye with symptoms and wash your hands right away if you touch the eye with symptoms
• If there is discharge from the infected eye, this can be cleaned twice a day. With a single stroke wipe from the inside of the eye to the outside with a damp tissue. With a new tissue, blot dry. Do not touch the uninfected eye.
• If possible, use paper towels instead of cloth towels to wash and dry hands and face. If this is not possible, ensure others do not use the towels used by the person with the infected eye.
• Do not share towels or bed linens with anyone who has pink eye. These items should also be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. They would also be washed separately from other’s laundry.

For considerations on when your child needs to stay home from school or daycare when they have pink eye, please see Quick Guide to Common Childhood Diseases.

In British Columbia, you can call HealthLink BC (at 8-1-1) or visit healthlinkbc.ca if you need advice or are unsure of the best course of action.

• HealthLink BC: Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)

Do I Need Antibiotics for Acne?

Rarely. There are other options for acne treatment. Most treatment for acne takes time to work and for acne to improve, often 6-8 weeks. For moderate to severe acne, antibiotics taken by a pill may be required for a limited amount of time (about 3 months) and used in combination with a topical treatment (to be applied to the skin). If topical antibiotics are prescribed, they should be prescribed in combination with another topical medication. Use of antibiotics should be limited as bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. Discuss treatment options with your health-care provider.

• HealthLink BC: Acne: Should I see my doctor?

Do I Need Antibiotics for Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacteria B. burgdorferi that is spread by ticks. You can get Lyme disease if you are bitten by an infected tick. But most people who have had a tick bite in BC don’t get Lyme disease. It’s still important to see your doctor if you have a tick attached to you that you can’t remove.

Why You Might Need Antibiotics for Lyme Disease

The majority of people with Lyme disease can be treated successfully with two to four weeks of antibiotics, especially if caught early.

A small proportion of patients who have had Lyme disease have symptoms that last months to years after treatment with antibiotics. These symptoms can include muscle and joint pains, sleep disturbance, or fatigue. The cause of these symptoms is not known, but there is no evidence that these symptoms are due to ongoing infection with B. burgdorferi. Studies have shown that continuing antibiotic therapy beyond four weeks is not helpful and can be harmful for people suffering from these symptoms.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Early symptoms of Lyme disease can appear from 3 days up to a month after being bitten, and include:

• Round, red rash that spreads at the site of the tick bite
• Flu-like symptoms (tired, headaches, sore muscles and joints, fever)

If untreated, more serious symptoms can develop over time, including:

• Swelling and joint pain (arthritis)
• An interruption of normal heart rhythm (heart block)
• Weakness or paralysis in your face muscles or other examples of problems with individual nerves

In British Columbia, you can call HealthLink BC (at 8-1-1) or visit healthlinkbc.ca if you need advice or are unsure of the best course of action.

• HealthLink BC: Lyme Disease
• BCCDC: Lyme Disease

Do I Need Antibiotics for a Fever?

Fever is a raised body temperature, often due to illness. Skin that is red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits, is a sign of fever. Your temperature or your child’s temperature depends on where it is measured.

Management of Fever

• Fever helps the body fight infection. Fever can happen with both viral and bacterial infections, so antibiotics may or may not be needed.
• Consider using acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) if the person with the fever is uncomfortable. Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age without first speaking to your health care provider. Please follow dosing instructions on the box or speak to a doctor or pharmacist for more information.
• Dress yourself or your child in lightweight clothing so that you are cool but not shivering, as shivering generates more heat. Keep room temperature about 20° C or comfortably cool.
• Drink plenty of cool fluids. Offer cool fluids or popsicles to your child every hour when awake.

If a person of any age has a fever and rash and has been in an area where measles is circulating, contact HealthLink BC (dial 8-1-1 in BC) to receive advice on the best course of action.

When to See a Health-Care Provider for a Fever

See a health-care provider if:

1. A child under 3 months has a fever.
2. A child of any age has a fever and seems unwell.
3. A child of any age has a fever for more than 3 days.

In British Columbia, you can call HealthLink BC (at 8-1-1) or visit healthlinkbc.ca if you need advice or are unsure of the best course of action.

Speak to your primary health-care provider if you are worried by the way your child is behaving. For more information on when to seek additional medical advice please see HealthLinkBC:

• HealthLink BC: How to Take a Temperature: Children and Adults
• HealthLink BC: Fever or Chills, Age 11 and Under
• HealthLink BC: Fever or Chills, Age 12 and Older

Do I Need Antibiotics Prior to Dental Procedures?

Why You Probably Don’t Need Antibiotics Prior to a Dental Procedure

The best available scientific evidence now shows that antibiotics are not necessary for most patients prior to dental procedures. If you have a prosthetic joint or a heart condition, consult with your dentist:

• Always update your dentist on any medical conditions, medications you may be taking, recent surgeries and/or changes to your health.
• Provide permission for your dentist to consult with your primary care physician in advance of treatment to determine if antibiotics are needed.

For more information, visit Antibiotics and Dental Care.

Do I Need Antibiotics for a Toothache?

Most toothaches are not caused by infection. Even when the cause is an abscess near the root of the tooth, the best treatment is drainage of the abscess (pus) by your dentist. This should be done as soon as possible to prevent the spread of the infection to other parts of the head and neck.

Why You Probably Don’t Need Antibiotics for a Toothache

Antibiotics are generally not needed if the pus is drained. In fact, scientific studies have shown that antibiotics are unnecessary for treating simple tooth abscesses.

NOTE: Antibiotics are NOT recommended to settle the infection before draining the abscess – drainage as soon as possible is the therapy of choice.

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