Conjunctivitis in toddler. Should he see a docyot?

[starsareshining]

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?

i dont understand your question?

there are two types of conjunctivitis. bacterial is highly contagious. it requires treatment usually.

viral is viral. cant be treated with anything bacause its a virus. it often accompanies a cold. it goes on its own.

I've seen references to infective conjunctivitis - is this the same as bacterial conjunctivitis?

dont know....sorry. maybe im a bit old school - i was told there are two types. one needs treatment and one doesnt. the sticky gunky gooey kind needs treatment. the red eye only kind that comes with a cold doesnt...

i dont work in optics anymore but our optoms would not test someone with the sticky gunky gooey kinds for cross infection - it spreads like wildfire.

id just see a chemist or phone a doctor. they will advise and treat accordingly.

Our GP (and many others as well) don't prescribe antibiotics anymore, because the evidence doesn't back up their use. When the older 2 were at nursery they had to be kept at home - now they've changed their treatment guidelines, children can attend nursery.

NHS Choices patient guidelines back this up

here

I'm a researcher for the NHS btw - don't just spend my time googling for the hell of it!

If the weather / bus service is good enough for you to get to the doctors, I'd take him along with you and just ask if they can suggest anything.

I did take him to see the doctor this morning and they gave me some eye drops. The doctor told me that it would clear up within three days.

I'm now a little worried about this as I've just received a leter telling me that he has an appointment for blood tests on a paediatric ward on Monday morning. Obviously, I can't take him if his eyes are still gunky or if he's still infectious.

Should I try to rearrange the appointment (bearing in mind that I already asked them to change the time of the appointment and completely forgot to mention this at the time) or just hope for the best?

4 days and it should all be gone, so i shouldn't worry

His eyes should be clear by then.