Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Out of hours doctor? Please read!

27 replies

Galena · 13/02/2011 11:52

DD (22mo) has a bit of a cold - chesty cough, slightly snotty (but not very) - and gunky eyes. Shes never had gunky eyes before (not even when tiny) and so I'm being a bit useless and not sure what the protocol is! She seems ok about them, until she rubs them at which point she cries. They don't look overly red, but are very gunky. Should I phone the out of hours doctor, should I try to get an emergency appointment with the GP in the morning or should I make a normal appointment later in the week?

Sorry to be useless!

OP posts:
CharlieBoo · 13/02/2011 11:54

How long have her eyes been gunky for? With my dd, I leave it a couple of days and keep bathing them, if it doesn't clear on its own I go to drs... Hope that helps

Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 11:55

Since yesterday. Yes, that does help - thanks.

OP posts:
CharlieBoo · 13/02/2011 11:56

Maybe get her looked at tomorrow, you can get her chest listened to then too if she's a bit chesty. Hope she's better soon.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/02/2011 11:57

I would bathe the eyes with cooled boiled water. Use a seperate bit of cotton wool for each eye and go from the inside (nose) edge of the eye to the outside. If still gunky tomorrow then see your GP.

Imnotaslimjim · 13/02/2011 11:57

when bathing them, use cooled boiled water with a tablespoon of salt added to it. Wipe from the nose outwards and use a fresh piece of cotton wool each time. There has been a high incidence of sticky eyes with a cold round here but it is self limiting and should clear up in a couple of days

activate · 13/02/2011 11:58

wipe them

salted warm water, cotton wool

advice is to wipe inwards from outer edge in one sweep then discard then do again

although if still breastfeeding do it with breastmilk is far superior

Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 12:00

Cool, thanks. I wasn't looking forward to a trip to OOH. It'll have to be a phone consultation and emergency appointment tomorrow - there are no free appointments till Friday! The GPs at our surgery know DD well though, so I'm sure they'll see her...

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 13/02/2011 12:02

The chemists are open (boots/supermarket), you could ask them?

morethanyoubargainfor · 13/02/2011 12:09

i always used cooled cammomile tea on my ds gunky eyes, you can always use the teabags to do the wiping.

I might be teaching yo to suck eggs as it were but make sure you use different 'wipes' on each eye or you might cross infect.

Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 12:14

Thanks for that. Could go to Boots... Good thinking.

OP posts:
activate · 13/02/2011 12:15

you don't need a pharmacist for gunky eyes

belledechocchipcookie · 13/02/2011 12:16

They are good for advice and sell eye drops. Confused

activate · 13/02/2011 12:27

but you don't need eye drops unless you have a real infection

the salt water wipes can fix it in 90% of cases where they've just started gunking

just saying

belledechocchipcookie · 13/02/2011 12:33

A pharmacist is useful for advice.

activate · 13/02/2011 12:37

er ok then (I knew that before you said it the first time you know let alone the repetition)

most people would prefer not to drag a sick kid out of the house for something minimal that doesn't need a pharmacists advice - I'm just saying

Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 12:37

Activate, thanks for your advice, I will probably just do the wipes. However, if I happen to be passing Boots or if DD becomes more distressed this afternoon before closing time, it's a good idea to remember that a pharmacist would be able to give advice and/or drops if needed without having to go to the Out of Hours service or using an emergency GP appointment tomorrow.

(Gosh, a long sentence there!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 12:40

She's not a 'sick kid' as such - she has a bit of a cough and gunky eyes. She's fine in herself and we'll probably be going shopping once she's up from her nap and had lunch. If we happen to pass a pharmacist, I might pop in to reassure myself it's fine, as it will take moments of a pharmacist's time,

OP posts:
IngridBergmann · 13/02/2011 12:45

Wow, Belle was 'only saying' too I think..

Galena I hope she is feeling better soon.

Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 12:47

Thanks, Ingrid, didn't mean to start an argument! :(

OP posts:
IngridBergmann · 13/02/2011 12:49

noo, I know. Smile It's odd how things can become so confrontational on here sometimes.

belledechocchipcookie · 13/02/2011 12:49

It was a suggestion. Clearly I know nothing Hmm

belledechocchipcookie · 13/02/2011 12:51

Galena, I don't always go to the GP if it's something that the pharmacist can help with. It saves everyone time as I don't need to book an appointment. If it's something the GP needs to see then the pharmacist will say so. Don't buy any brand over the counter medication though, the own brand stuff is a lot cheaper and just as effective.

I hope she feels better soon.

Original poster
Galena · 13/02/2011 12:52

Thanks Belle. Will see what we do.

OP posts:
pink4ever · 13/02/2011 12:57

I agree with the suggestions on here re salty warm water.My dcs get gunky eyes alot with colds and with my pfb used to be always rudhing off to the doc!(now I have 3 dcs cant even remember last time we went!).
With regards to the pharmacy dont think they will prescribe eye drops to a child that age without prescription?.
Would give it a couple of days with the salty water and then go to docs but am sure it will clear up really quickly.

vinvinoveritas · 13/02/2011 13:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Swipe left for the next trending thread