One year old with conjunctivitis

[CapaldiL]

DD has got green gunky eyes today. We keep wiping it away with a damp cloth but she is meant to be in nursery tomorrow. I've read online it's viral but don't know if she should see a doctor or needs eye drops? She's one so I think the over the counter drops are for older children?

Does anyone know if she needs a doctors appointment? She's had a bit of a stomach bug and a cold recently but getting over both so it's just the eyes now and don't know if that merits a GP appointment or not. Also I'm not sure if nursery policy around this?

It can also be bacterial. You need to treat it, not just wipe the pus away. I would go to the chemist if I were you.
If it’s bacterial change her bedsheets every day otherwise she will reinfect herself.
She might need to stay off nursery for the first day of treatment to avoid infecting others.

Check with a pharmacist. If you google ‘illness name and nhs’ you get reliable information.

Nurseries will have different policies on it but all nurseries say to off for 48 after last episode of sickness and diahorrea.

We went to a pharmacist recently, also with a 1 year old, who could not prescribe anything and advised our of hours Dr. Dr advised that the advice is now to keep cleaning the eyes with cooled boiled water with a small amount of salt dissolved, using fresh cotton wool for each eye. They would only prescribe if this didn't work after a few days. It worked fine. Like you, it was viral. Hope this helps!

DS got it at 1. The advice we received was to keep wiping with cooled boiled water (we were told no salt) several times a day with fresh cotton pad for each eye.Then only to see gp if the whites of his eyes went red, which for DS they never did.
You can ask a pharmacist but I don't think you can use over the counter stuff for under 2s.
Public Health England guidance to nurseries is not to exclude kids with conjunctivitis but I know some do anyway so you'll need to check with your specific nursery.

My son has had both and the bacterial was completely different. Constantly oozing, very bloodshot and he was miserable. The viral was just a bit gunky. I called the doctor and he gave same advice as above and he could go to nursery. Nursery said no...

The pharmacy won't be able to help if dc is under 2. My youngest has recently had conjunctivitis. The gp did prescribe us drops just incase, but asked that I only collect the prescription if I felt that her eyes weren't improving after a day or so. (I was regularly wiping them with cooled boiled water on cotton wool). They did clear up so I didn't bother getting the drops.

Best to ring the nursery to check, but the one I work at used to follow the standard advice that they require children to have started the eye drops before they can attend. They now accept children with conjunctivitis regardless. I guess as gps are now not always prescribing drops.

Breastmilk?

Definitely if your breastfeeding breast milk is ideal for conjunctivitis.

Cleaning gently with salt water also good and cooled chamomile tea bags on they eyes.

Always worth seeing a doctor if you're worried.

You might want to google breastmilk and eye infections and make your own decision because everything I’ve read says that’s a really bad idea.

Thanks everyone I spoke to a doctor this morning who prescribed antibiotic cream over the phone and said it should clear it up in a couple of days. Nursery said she can go in regardless but I'll keep her at home until tomorrow.