Do I need to see GP about baby with conjunctivitis?

[RogueV]

NHS website says you should if under 2 but I always thought it’d clear up on its own.
She’s had it for 3 days now, it’s only just sticky these last 24 hours.
She’s 13 months

Thank you

I would yes but only because with dd1 we didn't initially thinking it would clear.

It didn't and we went and got anti biotics but she has a damaged cornea and reduced vision as a result. Worse case scenario but I do regret it a lot

Thank you @fairyfingers

Sorry to hear about your daughter

Are you breastfeeding? I remembered breast milk helping eye stickiness. Otherwise best to get it checked.

Not breastfeeding.

Her eye is actually not bloodshot, the membrane is a nice white colour. Her eyelid is however red and her whole eye is smaller. It’s also affecting the eye where she’s had a blocked tear duct in the past. She’s currently full of a cold hence me not worrying about it until this morning

Fuck! @fairyfingers is that a likely side effect? I’ve had viral conjunctivitis for 3 weeks now 😱 the dr said it would clear up in its own but it’s taking ages! I can’t take the medicine as I’m breastfeeding.

Yes I would, why risk possible eye damage that could be prevented by a few drops?

Ahhh puds I don't think it's normal tbh.

When we did go to the drs I asked multiple times if her sight could be damaged and was told absolutely not so no one was expecting the outcome. It was only when it was picked up at her reception eye test and we got referred to the eye hospital that the consultant said it was the likely cause but she was unlucky.

She's 10 now and this happened when she was 3. She had a few years of patch therapy which helped a tiny bit as the eye was still so young and the scar is dormant.

Her other eye is super sharp so she doesn't even notice, it's just that she'll never be a fighter pilot (which is frankly just as well as she'd get distracted by chatting the enemy to death). She doesn't even have to bother with her glasses anymore as they don't really make much difference

I would go for the drops prescription

If she's full of a cold it's most likely to be viral, so the drops won't do anything.

However, it's not normal for the affected eye to look smaller - so yes it needs checking out (it may not be conjunctivitis).

Conjunctivitis itself cannot damage the cornea, but can occasionally become a keratoconjunctivitis which can then damage the cornea, if untreated. This is more likely if people continue to wear contact lenses if they have conjunctivitis.

@puds11 as far as I know the eye drops that you would commonly take for a viral conjunctivitis are safe to use when breastfeeding. They can take a while to clear, but you need to go back and get it checked if it's not getting better.
The majority of people have very dry eyes after a bout of viral conjunctivitis and it may be partially that that's causing your eyes to feel sore still.

Thanks @fairyfingers and @underneaththeash. They definitely feel dry! I think I’ll pop back to a pharmacy.

@underneaththeash
Thanks that’s really helpful

Do take the baby and ask to speak to the pharmacist themselves.

That way you'll get most approriate OTC product, or they'll tell you if you need to see Dr. If so, saying that the pharmacist said baby must be seen, may just make it easier to get Dr appointment?

Pharmacist won’t see baby as under 2 years of age

@puds11 that's bollocks you can use both chloramphenicol and fucithalmic acid when pregnant and breastfeeding. Both are used for conjunctivitis. Chloramphenicol drops and ointment are available over the counter.

OP both my kids are prone to conjunctivitis. I saw the GP the first time with both but then bought the ointment over the counter for subsequent bouts - had to tell the pharmacist it was for DH as they won't ell it for under 2s, but as it's been previously prescribed for my 4week old I wasn't worried!

@99problemsandthecatis1 thank you. I’ll go and ask for it. The dr told me the medication could cause bone density issues in DD so to only take it if I was in pain with it which I haven’t been.

Chloramphemicol is banned in food producing species (vet in family) because it has had some really nasty effects in a very limited number of people... so best to be cautious...

@99problemsandthecatis1 what ointment is that?

Asking as DS 13 months has mild conjunctivitis.

GP refused to give an appointment as its not oozing pus and he's over a year & told to go and see pharmacist.

Went to see pharmacist who advised just to keep it clean and push for GP appointment only if not cleared within a week (only 3rd day now).

I don't want to do anything just now if it doesn't get worse and I think it's most likely viral. However, with the weekend coming if it gets worse, would rather avoid waiting hours and hours at OOH.

@99problemsandthecatis1 - chloramphenicol is ineffective against viruses, it's for bacterial conjunctivitis. Fusathalmic acid is only effective against certain bacterial too (and protozoans).

The majority of bacterial conjunctivitis clears up by itself without using any medication and in our days of growing bacterial resistance, inappropriate use isn't good. All medication too has potential side effects, chloramphenicol, for example isn't used in the states as there is a exceptionally rare side effect that affects bone marrow.

Just to update if anybody is actually interested.

Made an appointment for baby before school run yesterday, got one for 10am. However as we got him after the school run I looked at babies eyes and they seemed less irritated, so I cancelled the appointment.

She’s woken up this morning and her eyes are pretty much back to normal. So I guess it was to do with the cold she had/viral conjunctivitis so drops wouldn’t have been effective.

This was a useful thread as well www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/1162216-Baby-with-viral-conjunctivitis-need-treatment