Conjunctivitis in toddler. Should he see a docyot?

[starsareshining]

I think my son has conjunctivitis. He's almost three and has watery, sticky eyes which are producing lots of goo and look red. I happen to have a doctors appointment booked for myself tomorrow. I'm torn between going and taking him with me so they can have a look and cancelling the appointment and keeping him at home. We'd have to go out in the snow and the buses aren't running too regularly so we could be waiting for quite some time. I think he's also teething at the moment so really isn't happy.

Do people generally take toddlers to see a doctor for conjunctivitis? Do they give you anything for it?

[starsareshining]

Oops! Obviously, the title was supposed to read 'Should he see a doctor?'

[ivykaty44]

I would actually bypass the gp and go to a&e as they have the equipment to actually look at his eyes and see what is really wrong.

[starsareshining]

A&E for conjunctivitis? Really? Isn't that a little extreme? I had it a few months ago and just cleaned my eyes daily until it had gone.

[scoutliam]

Dd has just had a bout of conjunctivitis, although the gp thought it was viral he gave her a course of chloraphenical eye drops as a precaution as her eyes were very very swollen.

Ivy, I think you'll find watery sticky eyes are neither an accident or emergency and a long wait in a+e is not a fun way to spend a day/night.

[ivykaty44]

is it conjunctivitis? if you know what it is then fine just treat it etc.

I can only go by my own experiances.

[festivefriedawhingesagain]

You can get chloramphenicol (Eg Optrex Infected Eye) over the counter for children over two. So I would nip to the chemist rather than GP unless there are any other concerns.

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

Our GP (and I know of others who do too) who advises batheing the eye with a very weak solution of johnsons baby shampoo.

Also works on hamsters with eye gunk, for your future reference!

[BikeRunSki]

I am v suscpetible to conjunctivitis and DS has inherited this.

Could be a case for A&E if it is not conjunctivitis. I have been sent to A&E twice with other types of eye infection (Ivitis, Blepharitis).

Wash his eyes in a solution of 1 pint boiled water and 1tsp salt, allow to cool for now and take him to a pharmacist in the morning. They will advice what to do.

[scoutliam]

Now that's good to know Festive, dd is only 13 months but if there is a next time and she's old enough I'd def save myself a trek to the gp.

[BikeRunSki]

Iritis even

[CrispyTheCrisp]

I would go and see the pharmacist rather than GP. A french pharmacist gave us some amazing drops for DD (3)

[starsareshining]

Hmm. I was just wondering whether it was worth continuing with my doctors appointment and asking them to take a look, meaning that he will be out in the snow and feeling rubbish, or just cancelling it and keeping him warm.

What would you do?? I can't decide!

[ThatVikRinA22]

it wont get better without antibiotic drops but you could just get a telephone appointment with your gp and go pick up prescription or use pharmacy link - the chemist could give you the script and get the doc to sign it off without you having to go, you just take your child to the chemist instead.

sticky conjuctivitis is bacterial and wont go away on its own

[scoutliam]

Are his eyes swollen and is he well in himself?

Dd was cranky, tired and already had a bad cold, that and eyes so swollen she couldn't see out of them made me go.
If she had just had a mucky eye and was otherwise fine I'd stay in.

[ivykaty44]

iritis

conjunctivitis

Blepharitis

sorry but I wouldn't want to diagnose

[doozle]

Also agree, if bacterial, you need anti-biotic drops.

If you have to get the drops, ask the doc for the ones where you only have to put them in once a day.

Doing the drops 4 times a day on 2 year old is hellish.

[MrsDingDongMerrily]

Maybe phone the Gp in the morning. a Dr or nurse might be able to advise you over the phone. Salt water def. helps.

[ivykaty44]

you can get a frame to put drops in to make it easier - then the drops go right into the center of the eye each time without any bother

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

Think bacterial conjunctivitis can go on it's own?

See here

[starsareshining]

I cross posted with a lot of people there! He does seem a little bit ill, but I think he may be teething. He has that awful burn-like rash on his cheeks and a runny nose. It started out with his eyes looking a little watery and then he had some goo in his eyes, so it doesn't really seem to fit those other things you linked to ivy. I think I'll continue with the appointment (since I do need to go anyway) and put up with the hellish journey!

[starsareshining]

Maisie, I can't view that article you linked to because I'm not a member.

[ThatVikRinA22]

not usually bacterial - viral goes on its own but bacterial needs help the same way most bacterial infections do, i worked in optics for 10 years. with eyes i wouldnt hang around - you know when its conjunctivitis - iritis is very painful and youd be screaning blue murder. blepharitis is just crusty eyelashes on their own - no other symptoms usually. kids are very prone to conjuctivitis - if the stuff is snotty and green, and sticking their eyes together its bacterial. if its just red eyes with a cold its viral. but check with a gp or chemist. a chemist could deal with it or our gp would give a script voer the the phone

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

Now that's weird - I just did a google search for Clinical Evidence and got the link that way, but it states that "One systematic review (search date 2004) found clinical cure or significant improvement with placebo within 2 to 5 days in 65% of people"

Is bacterial the same as infective btw?

[ThatVikRinA22]

believe google then, i only worked in opticians for 10 years!

there are 2 types of conjuctivitis, one is viral which goes on its own and the other is bacterial which usually needs antibiotic drops if you dont want to be cruel and make someone suffer...

after i left the opticians i worked for a gp surgery for a year. they would happily prescribe over the phone for kiddies with bacterial conjuctivitis symptoms, either drops or ointment (i found ointment easier to get in with my two)

i would not leave bacterial conjuctivitis untreated due to it being highly contagious. seperate towels, etc are needed. treatment is easy and quick.

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

No, I don't believe in google, I used google to look for Clinical Evidence because I couldn't remember the URL off the top of my head. The reference to the review I referred to is Sheikh A, Hurwitz B. Topical antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis update. Br J Gen Pract 2005;55:962?964.

Is bacterial the same as infective?