White gunk & bloodshot eye 15m old

[Walnutshell]

I know this one has cropped up before and I've searched a few old posts, but I'm asking anyway...

DS has white soft gunk in the corners of his eyes plus one eye is very bloodshot in the outer corner with a little lump on it. Is this conjunctivitis? Should we go to the emergency docs tonight or leave overnight and go to the pharmacist first? Rang NHS Direct but the message is warning people 'emergencies only' - looked on their website and anythign defined as an emergency you'd ring a bloody ambulance for, so what's the point of the hotline. Grr.

Really appreciate wise thoughts xx

yep sounds like conjunctivitis to me - try bathing his eye regularly with cotton wool/cooled boiled water until you get him to your GP
HTH

I'm sure they say that every friday!!!

It does sound like conjunctivitis especially as its in both eyes - have you got an out of hours service - I don't think the pharmacist will give anything over the counter for a 15mth old so the only other thing I'd suggest is saturday morning clinic if you've got one. Just make sure you're regularly cleaning it and not sharing towels etc. It takes 48hrs after treatment begins for them not to be contagious. If its bothering him, I'd try to go to the emerg docs.

sounds like conjuncitivits. White gunk normally indicates a viral/allergic form rather than bacterial so it may not need drops. If the gunk goes yellow/green then it will probably need treating with drops.

Bathe in cooled boiled water this evening and see how it is in the morning. You can get some drops called Golden Eye over the counter, if you need them, which aren't very strong but should see you through until you can get to the GP.

What I find very good for my dd when she has conjunctivitis is a homeopathic remedy - Pulsatilla - you can get in Boots.

Thanks guys, knew I could rely on MN (DH is so impressed with speed of response, bless him).

Gunk definitely white, just got him to sleep and he's rubbing but doesn't seem unduly bothered. Feel sorry for him in case he's itching and uncomfortable. Would try and stick a bit of breast milk in there (read on old post that it was worth a try) but just not coordinated enough!

This Pulsatilla - I presume tablet form???

Oh, another thing, Mil said sometimes measles or chicken pox can start with bloodshot eyes - true???

Pulsatilla will be in a little green tube, they are tiny little granule type things so easy to swallow. Worth a go, it definately works for my dd when her conjunctivitis is not too severe.