Quick question - does this need a doctor appnt or a pharmacy visit?

[FreeBritnee]

Five year old has a virus. I’ll be doing another LFT this morning but assuming the result is negative his main symptom aside from standard cold symptoms are red bloodshot eyes that are weeping. I think he might be rubbing them hence them being very red but I’m not sure. They are definitely sore and weeping though. Conjunctivitis I’m assuming. Does that require a doctors appnt or should I just get myself to the pharmacy?

Id phone the pharmacy and see what they say. They may not sell you anything for a child. Has dc had a pcr? Some gp won’t do f2f without them.

No he hasn’t.

My GP did set up video appointments over lockdowns so I’m hoping they’re still available

My parents just used to do salted cooled boiled water rinses of my eyes for conjunctivitis

Pharmacy. It’ll be an eye cold. My Ds gets it with every cold. Our pharmacist gives his some great drops. Usually clears it up within 24 hours.

If bathing hasn't worked, it's probably GP. My local ones won't give drops for children, only adults.

It may clear up on its own but if he has symptoms he actually needs a pcr not lateral flow....

Cooled boiled salt water to wipe them.
And hand washing - the coughing on hands, rubbing snotty noses and then rubbing eyes can cause it.
I’m not sure a chemist will give something for a child, so I’d go with ringing the GP at 8am as if you wait to speak to the chemist and they advise GP you’ll be too late for an appointment.

My local pharmacy sell antibiotic eye drops for conjunctivitis for anyone over 2 years old. So I would go to the pharmacy first if it were me. You can get the treatment started much quicker that way. Conjunctivitis is horrible so I'd want to nip it in the bud xx

Great advice. I’m keeping him off school today but I’m assuming they won’t want him back till it’s gone so I feel like I need to try and be proactive in trying to source some medicine/advice.

They can sell drops for bacterial conjunctivitis for anyone over the age of 2. Definitely doesn't need a GP appointment.

Conjunctivitis v common in Covid however. Maybe get a home PCR test? LFT notoriously unreliable, particularly if symptomatic.

Hope your LO feels better soon. Conjunctivitis is miserable.

You can buy chloramphenicol over the counter for children over 2. Sounds like he may need a PCR test too.

@FreeBritnee

Five year old has a virus. I’ll be doing another LFT this morning but assuming the result is negative his main symptom aside from standard cold symptoms are red bloodshot eyes that are weeping. I think he might be rubbing them hence them being very red but I’m not sure. They are definitely sore and weeping though. Conjunctivitis I’m assuming. Does that require a doctors appnt or should I just get myself to the pharmacy?

I had eyes like this and found that an eye ointment works better than the drops. It's thicker in consistency and you rub it along the inside water line. If your son could manage that, it worked far better than the drops. Got it from the pharmacy. Hope He's better soon

The doctor wasn’t concerned but we have gone for a PCR. fingers crossed it’s negative 🤞

🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼