Recurring styes and eyelid infection in 3yo - why??

[stottiecake]

My little boy has been getting styes pretty constantly for the last 3 weeks. His eye lid has also swelled up a couple of times. I started off using n eye gel from boots for styes and conjunctivitis which seemed to clear it up and then his sore eyelid came back. I toook him to the drs and the nurse prescribed anti-biotics which he has been having for the last 5 days but has spat some out. The eyelid has stopped being red but I noticed another stye just now. I am just really worried about it - why won't it go away?

Anyone been through similar? Thanks

Could be belpharitis. Treatment is warm compress and washing eye lids with diluted baby shampoo.

Was going to suggest the same as icyblue.
Wash eyes daily with baby shampoo. Use a clean cotton wool pad to sweep the shampoo from inner corner of eye to outer corner of eye once then throw away. Repeat.
Never rub backwards and forwards and don't re-use pads - it can spread bacteria.
Also keep a close eye on his diet and make sure he has enough rest. Repeated styes can be a symptom of being run down and/or malnutrition.
If it gets worse take him to the GP ASAP

Thanks for your replies it seems to have cleared up for now (fingers crossed) he may have been a bit run down - a few later nights with it being holiday time. His diet is good - eats tons of fruit and veg - loves all food! I think it was bacterial as the anti-biotics seemed to have nailed it (altho he didn't get the full dose due to spitting it out!) Will keep an eye on it (haha) thank you

Just to say that some children/people are more prone to styes than others, and it's just possible (though not definite, obviously!) that he may get them again at some stage. I got my first when I was three and I've periodically got them throughout my life ever since. I've been diagnosed with chronic mild blepharitis, but cleaning my eyelids with mild shampoo or special wipes only ever seemed to make things worse (I think because it can have a drying effect, though I know a lot of sufferers find them very helpful). Warm compresses followed by very firm massage often help when I have a stye, and I have sometimes had success with antibiotic ointments if applied very early after the stye had first come up. They definitely tend to appear when I'm run down, though it's not systematic, and anything that can cause my eyes to dry out (such as to much laptop use, etc.) makes it more likely.

Anyway, all that said, fingers crossed the antibiotics have sorted it out for good for your DS!

Dd had these, and I followed the above religiously - when one day I noticed a large pea sized lump underneath her upper eye socket (which scared me half to death!). Turned out to be a cyst that eventually drained out of her eyelid.

It looked like a sporners dream - but there have been no problems since.