to take my daughter swimming if she has mild suspected conjunctivitis?

[seoladair]

We thought our 19 month-old daughter had a lot of sleep in her eyes yesterday morning but every time we cleaned her eyes, more crusts would appear. Her eyes were crusty again this morning, although there's definitely less than yesterday.
The pharmacist thinks she's too young for chloramphenicol eye drops so I have just been wiping the crusts with very weakly salted cooled boiled water. I forgot to ask the pharmacist whether it would be OK to take her swimming so am turning to the wisdom of Mumsnet. I'm assuming there's no risk to other children as the water is chlorinated, but am not sure about this, and am also unsure whether it would be bad for my daughter.

The chlorine will irritate her eye even more. I wouldn't.

I agree ^^.

OK thank you - we will give it a miss!

It's not going to help your daughter. The chlorine may well sting her eye.

I'm sure I've used chloramphenicol when the dc's have been very young so I'm not convinced your pharmacist has looked that one up!

As for conjunctivitis it's is easily tranmissiable, not necessarily in the water. I don't think it's fair on others to take your dd swimming. It will not harm her to miss a week.

Thank you - I've decided not to go now.
Re the chloramphenicol - my mum (ex-nurse) recommended it though she advised me to check with a doctor or pharmacist as it's years since she nursed.
The pharmacist said it can be sold over the counter for children aged over 2, but it's prescription only for babies, so she thought it would be best to avoid it and make do with cool salted boiled water unless the crustiness gets worse.

I really don't think salt should be used with eyes! My doctor said warm water only. I certainly wouldn't put salt water in my eyes. Was

Katosaurus I've used salted water...a very mild solution but it was fine. It's what sea water is!

Conjunctivitis very rarely needs antibiotics.

Just keep cleaning with cooled boiled water and using a separate piece of cotton wool or cloth for each eye. It will resolve on its own.

Ds(13) had conjunctivitis at 15 months (i remember as he caught it while in hospital for brochilitis, and it was dn 1st birthday) and he got drops. Dn is 26 months and currently has drops.

As long as his eye isn't sore/red, Id try to keep clean with warm water only for a week or so and if it doesn't clear take to GP.

Yes. The chlorine will make her eyes sorer.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

Zombie thread.