Conjunctivitis in 2 year old - advice please

[MamaG]

Any sufferers online, or Mums or sufferers?!

My DS had "gunky" eyes yesterday and when he woke up this morning, he couldn't open them, they were encrusted with brown gunk (nice, happy mother's day!). I'll take him to the Docs tomorrow, but have just been cleaning them with cotton wool and warm water. Just wondered if there was anything else I could/should do.

Sorry, should read mums of sufferers

I think my DS1 had a bit of conjuntivitis a few months back. Cleaning them with cotton wool and water helps. If you're bf, a bit of milk in the eye seems to help (and, according to DS1, doesn't hurt at all).

Thank you NQC - I don't bf anymore, sadly, or I would have done that - miracle cure for many things IMO. Don't suppose a bit of cows milk would work...!

No, cow's milk won't do it.

You can get drops from the GP, I think. There may be an OTC ointment? Talk to a pharmacist?

I was joking about cows milk

I'm going to take him to GP tomorrow, they aren't too bad at the mo, but if they get worse I'll go to the pharmacy. :)

Apparently they often sort themselves, too. Is he getting through a nasty cold at the moment?

Yes he is, he's had it for nearly 2 weeks now.

Apparently that's normally how it happens. Particularly when they stick a finger in their snot and then in their eye. (nice!)

How lovely. He was picking bits from his eyelashes this morning and trying to put them on mine! What a nice DS!!

Breast milk can clear conjunk but guess it has to be your own.Not sure if it will help but thought i would mention it.

MamaG - DS1 has had this a couple of times now. First time got drops from GP and trying to get them in his eyes was a nightmare so we gave up.

Pharmacist suggests using cooled salt water and cotton wool - boiled water, dissolve salt and let cool - worked like a dream! Cleared it up nice and quick and last time he had it - just a couple of months ago - he did it himself (he's 4yrs) and it was gone within a couple of days.

I think anyone's breastmilk would do the trick, it's the antibodies or antibacterial properties, I think? But it does need to be fresh, I'd think, so the living bits of the milk are still alive, iyswim.

Pfr - that's interesting as DS1 is constantly getting conjunctivitis and ends up with oral antibiotics each time ... so, what ratio of salt to water? A pinch or a lot? Thanks!

Millie, I just made up about 6/7floz of boiling water and put about 1/2tsp of salt in it and left to cool. I won't bother doctors anymore with this.

Also Optrex do drops for this now - from the chemist, DS didn't like this either, but it worked quick on me.

Thanks very much, I'll try the salt water, he's getting some drops later but I think he'll scream blue murder if I put them in. I'll try it though.

Thanks again.

if this is proper conjunctivitis (not just sticky eyes from a cold) then you need to wash hands regularly, make sure if ds touches his eyes and then touches something else afterwards that you clean that as well, and I am by no means a paranoid parent but conjunctivitis is extremely contagious.

I would treat this with drops, always. I'm sorry but I think it's madness to try and clear it at home. It is so infectious to other kids and it can be dangerous. My dd's conjunctivitis when she was a baby caused her to develop menengitis and she has recently had it again and was very ill with it. It caused a throat infection and high temperature. Why do people have such an objection to treating things medically? If it does the job.......

I got the drops last night and although he hates having them put in - it's tough! Hopefully they'll clear up soon. I had the worst night with him, crying constantly from 1.30am to 5.30am and then again from 6.20am. Nightmare.