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Original poster

Swollen eye / face - conjunctivitis?

29 replies

lochmaree · 13/10/2023 22:39

DS is 16mo. He saw a GP yesterday as a little patch under his eye swelled suddenly. the GP wasn't particularly concerned and said bring him back if it gets worse. Overnight last night it seemed to get puffier and it would barely open this morning. The fluid dispersed a bit during today so his eye could open more but it was then sitting over his forehead, cheek, nose etc. Saw a (different) GP today who again wasn't concerned and prescribed an ointment for conjunctivitis. DS has had a virus for a couple of weeks, but has been improving all this week. He has no temp, is recovering from the virus but is otherwise generally fairly happy. the swelling areas don't seem to cause him pain, even when pressed.

it just doesn't really look like conjunctivitis, and the amount of swelling I feel is concerning (the GP today acknowledged it looks bad but its OK really). Anyone seen conjunctivitis like this before? Or any other ideas / what to try?

(Queried pre orbital cellulitis with todays GP who said it doesn't present like this)

Swollen eye / face - conjunctivitis?
OP posts:
featherlampshade · 13/10/2023 22:47

Hi. This is most probably periorbital cellulitis you're right! My daughter had this last week and the GP sent us straight to the hospital, directly to our children's ward. They were almost going to give IV antibiotics but sent us home with oral anyway but the threshold for keeping us in was very very small. If I were you, I'd take them to a&e immediately xx

Didyeaye · 13/10/2023 22:49

Yup I’d be concerned about peri orbital cellulitis too. I’d want to get that checked out again. At A&E and tonight. This is not to be messed with

Whatapickle78 · 13/10/2023 22:55

Our son has just had peri orbital cellulitis alongside a sinus infection and this is what it looks like! We were sent to an and e for antibiotics. Told if not improved within 48 hours go to the eye hospital. I would def get checked out in a and e. Hope he makes a swift recovery

Gunpowder · 13/10/2023 22:55

Not disagreeing with the a&e shouts at all, but could be worth asking GP of it could be an allergic reaction. DD is 11 so much older and therefore our threshold for seeking help was higher, but she had a similar swollen eye and piriton really helped. It was either an insect bite or a reaction to a new shampoo.

whalewise · 13/10/2023 22:57

Definitely an a and e job.

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 00:16

thank you everyone just driven down to our nearest A&E and heading in now

OP posts:
Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 01:00

just been seen by the triage nurse but she seemed confused why we are here and that it couldn't be cellulitis because his face isn't red. and it's going to be a long wait to see a doctor 😪

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 14/10/2023 01:38

Definitely right to get checked out. The swelling would make me think of preseptal cellulitis, though I agree it would usually be more red. Has he been in contact with anything unusual? I've seen similar from a child lying on their side on something they were allergic to. In which case antihistamines might help. Absolutely needs face to face assessment though, as so hard to tell over the internet.

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 01:57

sometimes it looks more red than others, it seems to change a lot but in general the swelling is increasing. no contact with anything unusual. also the swelling was very sudden yesterday morning. one moment he was fine (I'd just changed his nappy) then a couple of minutes later he had a swelling under his eye. he didn't bash it though. and since then it's just increased.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 14/10/2023 02:20

It looks like conjunctivitis, but if you need the reassurance of another opinion, then you're in the best place. Good luck!

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 02:23

I wish I didn't need the reassurance but the swelling is what is worrying me! it is just spreading.

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Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 02:25

omg I am going to feel so silly if they say its conjunctivitis!

OP posts:
Punxsutawney · 14/10/2023 02:29

Hope your wait isn't too long.

My Ds had peri orbital cellulitis at 19 months (he's 19 now!). We'd seen a GP for a slightly swollen eye and given oral antibiotics but told we must come back if no improvement. Next day returned to different GP as eye was swollen shut. He told us to wait another 48hrs for the oral antibiotics to work. Thankfully I ended up ignoring him and two hours later I took Ds to A and E as he was so poorly. The hospital doctors were not happy that we'd been sent home by the GP.
He was admitted and on IV antibiotics for a week as the infection markers in his blood were really high.

His eye was swollen shut and very red and he presented as really unwell, but his face wasn't swollen.

SD1978 · 14/10/2023 02:30

@lochmaree- even if they do say that, you were worried, so I'd hope that would be enough for them to not be arsey with you!!!

ForgotTheBiscuits · 14/10/2023 02:40

It’s definitely better to be safe than sorry. My daughter actually had the same last night and I feared periorbital cellulitis as she’d had that before.

I called 111 and was later called by out of hours GP who advised watch and wait as she didn’t have any other symptoms of the periorbital cellulitis, thankfully.

She was fine this morning, but it’s always best to be very careful with this as it’s a condition that needs prompt treatment, anything with eyes is just not worth taking any chances.

Mu daughter is sensitive to skin allergens and we’ve not figured out exactly what upsets her skin, but whenever she comes out in blotches or gets a puffed up eye, first thing is a bath, dose of oral antihistamine and antihistamine cream on any blotches and this seems to sort her out.

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 02:46

thank you for the reassurance at this time in the night! if his eye itself looked red or sore I'd probably have stuck with thinking conjunctivitis but his eye itself looks absolutely fine. he's had a horrible cold for 2 weeks or so, and that together with the swelling has made me worried about the peri orbital cellulitis.

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 14/10/2023 02:49

Does his eye have yellow pus in the corners?

Poor little mite

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 02:52

no yellow pus.

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ForgotTheBiscuits · 14/10/2023 02:53

You’ve definitely done the right thing by going to A&E. Always trust your instincts if you’re not sure.
I hope you get your lovely boy sorted and back home very soon.

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 03:06

thank you @ForgotTheBiscuits 🥰

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Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 04:45

the swelling has gone down loads literally in the last hour or so. Still not been seen and wondering if I should stay 😭

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letspartytomorrow · 14/10/2023 06:07

We had this yesterday and my child is teething. He reacts very badly to teething it seems.

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 06:52

someone else mentioned teething but he doesnt have his other usual teething signs.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 14/10/2023 07:08

If the swelling goes up again, you'll have the same concern. The only way to assuage it is to wait I would say.

Original poster
lochmaree · 14/10/2023 07:44

they weren't going to do his obs again until 9.25, I'm not waiting that long. I came home.

OP posts: