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Conjunctivitis or something else?

3 replies

6strings1song · 04/12/2024 14:56

My DS (age 1) has had the classic yellow/green eye discharge since Saturday. His eyelids were very slightly red rimmed, but not the whites and he only itched them a few times. By Monday his eyes were brighter and no itching, but the discharge seemed to be a little more constant. Knowing what our nursery is like, I asked the GP to prescribe chloramphenicol ointment (asked for drops, but there you go), which they did, as they also suspected lingering bacterial conjunctivitis. He has had 2 days worth of treatment so far, started on Monday afternoon. As it seems such a mild case I thought it would knock it out within 24-48 hours.

Fast forward to Tuesday, he wakes up with completely clear eyes, no crust, no discharge, no redness...nothing. Based on this, I sent him into nursery and by mid-morning I was picking him up as his eyes started discharging again. Again this morning, no sign of conjunctivitis and so off we pop to nursery. Just had to just pick him up at midday as they started discharging again. Our nursery has a policy of green/yellow discharge then you cannot attend...even if being treated.

Does this actually sound like bacterial conjunctivitis? He has had a constant runny nose since September due to all the bugs, and I wondering if this is just another cold which causes blocked tear ducts, or it is some sort of viral conjunctivitis? It certainly doesn't seem classic. There have been other "conjunctivitis" cases at the nursery last week, so he has picked up whatever it is from there.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Eyes discharging, but really on/off and no other signs of infection.

OP posts:
GreenFlamingo11 · 04/12/2024 14:59

I'm fairly sure conjunctivitis would always have some redness in the eye. Not being funny but it sounds like my three month old's eye - tear duct not fully open yet. Yellow/green discharge that comes and goes, gets worse when exposed to cold weather or allergens like grandparents open fire.

6strings1song · 04/12/2024 16:40

@GreenFlamingo11 This is what I am starting to suspect also, but triggered by inflammation from his cold or something. He hasn't suffered with his tear ducts up to now, so I am hoping it will just disappear as the cold goes. Discharge has been less this afternoon, but we are still persevering with the antibiotic ointment (will obviously finish the course). Do you massage the tear duct or anything to help it clear?

OP posts:
GreenFlamingo11 · 04/12/2024 17:58

I don't massage it as often as I should tbh, when it disappears for a few days I kind of forget about it until it comes back again! I find wiping it a few times a day with cool boiled water and cotton wool helps a lot.

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