Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

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

Original poster

Conjunctivitis in toddler. Should he see a docyot?

33 replies

starsareshining · 01/12/2010 22:10

I think my son has conjunctivitis. He's almost three and has watery, sticky eyes which are producing lots of goo and look red. I happen to have a doctors appointment booked for myself tomorrow. I'm torn between going and taking him with me so they can have a look and cancelling the appointment and keeping him at home. We'd have to go out in the snow and the buses aren't running too regularly so we could be waiting for quite some time. I think he's also teething at the moment so really isn't happy.

Do people generally take toddlers to see a doctor for conjunctivitis? Do they give you anything for it?

OP posts:
Original poster
starsareshining · 01/12/2010 22:11

Oops! Obviously, the title was supposed to read 'Should he see a doctor?'

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 01/12/2010 22:12

I would actually bypass the gp and go to a&e as they have the equipment to actually look at his eyes and see what is really wrong.

Original poster
starsareshining · 01/12/2010 22:14

A&E for conjunctivitis? Really? Isn't that a little extreme? I had it a few months ago and just cleaned my eyes daily until it had gone.

OP posts:
scoutliam · 01/12/2010 22:17

Dd has just had a bout of conjunctivitis, although the gp thought it was viral he gave her a course of chloraphenical eye drops as a precaution as her eyes were very very swollen.

Ivy, I think you'll find watery sticky eyes are neither an accident or emergency and a long wait in a+e is not a fun way to spend a day/night.

ivykaty44 · 01/12/2010 22:18

is it conjunctivitis? if you know what it is then fine just treat it etc.

I can only go by my own experiances.

festivefriedawhingesagain · 01/12/2010 22:20

You can get chloramphenicol (Eg Optrex Infected Eye) over the counter for children over two. So I would nip to the chemist rather than GP unless there are any other concerns.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 01/12/2010 22:22

Our GP (and I know of others who do too) who advises batheing the eye with a very weak solution of johnsons baby shampoo.

Also works on hamsters with eye gunk, for your future reference!

BikeRunSki · 01/12/2010 22:23

I am v suscpetible to conjunctivitis and DS has inherited this.

Could be a case for A&E if it is not conjunctivitis. I have been sent to A&E twice with other types of eye infection (Ivitis, Blepharitis).

Wash his eyes in a solution of 1 pint boiled water and 1tsp salt, allow to cool for now and take him to a pharmacist in the morning. They will advice what to do.

scoutliam · 01/12/2010 22:23

Now that's good to know Festive, dd is only 13 months but if there is a next time and she's old enough I'd def save myself a trek to the gp.

BikeRunSki · 01/12/2010 22:24

Iritis even

CrispyTheCrisp · 01/12/2010 22:24

I would go and see the pharmacist rather than GP. A french pharmacist gave us some amazing drops for DD (3)

Original poster
starsareshining · 01/12/2010 22:25

Hmm. I was just wondering whether it was worth continuing with my doctors appointment and asking them to take a look, meaning that he will be out in the snow and feeling rubbish, or just cancelling it and keeping him warm.

What would you do?? I can't decide!

OP posts:
ThatVikRinA22 · 01/12/2010 22:27

it wont get better without antibiotic drops but you could just get a telephone appointment with your gp and go pick up prescription or use pharmacy link - the chemist could give you the script and get the doc to sign it off without you having to go, you just take your child to the chemist instead.

sticky conjuctivitis is bacterial and wont go away on its own

scoutliam · 01/12/2010 22:29

Are his eyes swollen and is he well in himself?

Dd was cranky, tired and already had a bad cold, that and eyes so swollen she couldn't see out of them made me go.
If she had just had a mucky eye and was otherwise fine I'd stay in.

ivykaty44 · 01/12/2010 22:30

iritis

conjunctivitis

Blepharitis

sorry but I wouldn't want to diagnose

doozle · 01/12/2010 22:31

Also agree, if bacterial, you need anti-biotic drops.

If you have to get the drops, ask the doc for the ones where you only have to put them in once a day.

Doing the drops 4 times a day on 2 year old is hellish.

MrsDingDongMerrily · 01/12/2010 22:33

Maybe phone the Gp in the morning. a Dr or nurse might be able to advise you over the phone. Salt water def. helps.

ivykaty44 · 01/12/2010 22:34

you can get a frame to put drops in to make it easier - then the drops go right into the center of the eye each time without any bother

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 01/12/2010 22:34

Think bacterial conjunctivitis can go on it's own?

See here

Original poster
starsareshining · 01/12/2010 22:49

I cross posted with a lot of people there! He does seem a little bit ill, but I think he may be teething. He has that awful burn-like rash on his cheeks and a runny nose. It started out with his eyes looking a little watery and then he had some goo in his eyes, so it doesn't really seem to fit those other things you linked to ivy. I think I'll continue with the appointment (since I do need to go anyway) and put up with the hellish journey!

OP posts:
Original poster
starsareshining · 01/12/2010 22:51

Maisie, I can't view that article you linked to because I'm not a member.

OP posts:
ThatVikRinA22 · 01/12/2010 22:51

not usually bacterial - viral goes on its own but bacterial needs help the same way most bacterial infections do, i worked in optics for 10 years. with eyes i wouldnt hang around - you know when its conjunctivitis - iritis is very painful and youd be screaning blue murder. blepharitis is just crusty eyelashes on their own - no other symptoms usually. kids are very prone to conjuctivitis - if the stuff is snotty and green, and sticking their eyes together its bacterial. if its just red eyes with a cold its viral. but check with a gp or chemist. a chemist could deal with it or our gp would give a script voer the the phone

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 01/12/2010 23:01

Now that's weird - I just did a google search for Clinical Evidence and got the link that way, but it states that "One systematic review (search date 2004) found clinical cure or significant improvement with placebo within 2 to 5 days in 65% of people"

Is bacterial the same as infective btw?

ThatVikRinA22 · 01/12/2010 23:07

believe google then, i only worked in opticians for 10 years!

there are 2 types of conjuctivitis, one is viral which goes on its own and the other is bacterial which usually needs antibiotic drops if you dont want to be cruel and make someone suffer...

after i left the opticians i worked for a gp surgery for a year. they would happily prescribe over the phone for kiddies with bacterial conjuctivitis symptoms, either drops or ointment (i found ointment easier to get in with my two)

i would not leave bacterial conjuctivitis untreated due to it being highly contagious. seperate towels, etc are needed. treatment is easy and quick.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 01/12/2010 23:11

No, I don't believe in google, I used google to look for Clinical Evidence because I couldn't remember the URL off the top of my head. The reference to the review I referred to is Sheikh A, Hurwitz B. Topical antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis update. Br J Gen Pract 2005;55:962?964.

Is bacterial the same as infective?