conjundtivitis....in an 11yr old....are these the symptoms?

[cutekids]

Night before last,she started with an itchy eye.Yesterday morning,very blood-shot and itchy and sore.Used Golden Eye ointment and intermittently bathed with tea (does actually soothe it for a while!).Her eye started to water while she was in bed last night.This morning,she has better looking eyes...not red...but both itchy.Does this mean it's getting better or worse?I've sent her to school....not sure whether I should have done or not.

[cutekids]

anyone?

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Conjunctivitis is very contagious, maybe you should have kept her at home. Could it be hay fever? I had never had it before we moved to Switzerland but the numbe of trees and the acres of field around our house mean that I need to take anti histhamine daily.

[ShowOfHands]

Yes conjunctivitis is very contagious indeed. She needs to be careful about touching her eyes and then washing her hands. It should clear up on its own but if it worsens or doesn't improve it sometimes needs antibiotics. You can get chloramphenicol over the counter now if it needs it. The pharmacist would be happy to have a look for you.

[cutekids]

yes well i've been using chloramphenicol cream (g.eye) but will i be able to buy drops over the counter for her containing this without her being with me (at school)?

[Bucharest]

Yes, Goldeneye and Brolene (I always use the latter) both available in drops over the counter.

[ShowOfHands]

My pharmacist won't sell drops over the counter if the person infected isn't there.

[Bucharest]

How odd, I bought some just last week to keep in my medicine cupboard. (boots) I suppose it must be in case a person with an eye problem has something potentially more serious which a pharmacist would be able to advise on.

[ShowOfHands]

Maybe, they wouldn't sell it to dh a while ago as it was me with the infection. I hadn't gone with him as I was crying with pain/itchiness and wanted to keep my eyes closed. Had to schlep down there and drip pus on him before he'd sell it to us.

[cutekids]

managed to get some Optrex chloramphenicol eye drops.Have put x 2 drops in each eye but apparently it is an antibiotic so need to watch I keep up with the course otherwise it could get worse! Just worried now as she doesn't have the "gunky"type of conjunctivitis.....just wet,itchy and stingy.

[ThatVikRinA22]

if its not the gunky type it will be viral but that usually occurs with a cold. the gunky one is bacterial and highly infectious.

tbh i would pop her to the gp before putting anything else in her eyes - it might not be conjuctivitus at all. if they are sore and itchy it could be an allergy.