11 augustus 2023, 12:00
If your child has an eye infection, the mucous membrane in his eye is inflamed. This mucous membrane covers the eyeball and the inside of its eyelids. There are small blood vessels in the mucous membrane, which expand due to the inflammation. The whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids look red as a result.
You usually notice that your child has an eye infection because his eye is watery, the whites of the eyes are red and there is yellowish pus in the corners of the eyes. When you get your child out of bed in the morning, his eyelids are stuck together with pus and scabs. The eyelids may also be swollen and red. With eye inflammation caused by an allergy, there may be dry spots or eczema around the eye. Because an eye infection can cause itching and a burning sensation in the eyes, your child keeps rubbing his eye.
Read also: All about allergies in babies and children
There can be several causes for an eye infection in your child:
A virus. Usually eye inflammation is caused by a cold virus, which spreads from the nose or throat to the eyes. The eyes are especially sensitive to the adenovirus. A bacteria. For example, haemophilus influenza or pneumococci. The complaints of eye inflammation are often more severe if a bacteria is the cause. In very rare cases, an eye infection caused by the meningococcal bacteria can lead to meningitis. An allergie. For example, for house dust mites, pets, certain substances in cosmetics (contact allergy) and hay fever. Irritation. For example, through cigarette smoke, dry air or chlorine in the swimming pool. Something in the eye. Like a speck of dirt or an eyelash.
Read more: 11 questions + answers about colds in children
Eye inflammation caused by a virus or bacteria is very contagious. The infection spreads through pus from the eye. Your child’s other eye may also become inflamed, or the virus or bacteria may spread because your child rubs his eye.
If you have a toddler, you have probably had to deal with an eye infection in your child. Or you see it in children around him, such as at the nursery. Small children often have a cold and often have their hands on their nose, in their mouth and on their eyes. For example, the cold virus can easily spread to the eyes and cause an eye infection. And there is a good chance that children will infect each other, for example while playing or through contaminated objects.
Also read: All teething problems in a row
If your child has an eye infection, he may also have a fever and feel sick. This is not due to the eye infection, but due to the cold virus that causes the inflammation.
An eye infection usually clears up on its own. This can take a few days to two weeks. Medications are usually not necessary. Antibiotics do not work on a virus, and an eye infection caused by a bacteria usually clears up on its own. Sometimes the GP prescribes an ointment or drops with antibiotics for children with a reduced immune system and an increased risk of serious complaints due to an eye infection. For example, if they have had surgery on their eye.
There’s not much you can do to help your child’s eye infection heal. It is good to clean your child’s eyes a few times a day. This is how you do this:
Take a clean washcloth or cotton pad. Wet it with tap water. Gently wipe from the outer to the inner corner of the eye (towards the nose) until the dirt is gone. Discard the cotton pad or put the washcloth in the wash. Also wash your hands to avoid getting infected. Use a clean towel for your child every day and do not use this towel for other family members.
If your child suffers from itching or burning eyes, eye drops (also known as artificial tears) can reduce the symptoms by keeping the eyeball moist. But most children are not a fan of eye drops and produce enough tears themselves. The eye inflammation also does not pass faster because of these drops.
Usually an eye infection is a lot less or over after a few days. But it can also take a week or two weeks. If you don’t see any improvement or if you don’t trust it, call your doctor.
A newborn baby can have an eye infection due to the herpes virus or an STI, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. If the mother has genital herpes or an STI, it can be passed on to the baby during birth. Also, if one of the parents or maternity visit has a cold sore, the baby can become infected during cuddling and get an eye infection. The symptoms then usually appear within ten days. If the whites of your newborn baby’s eyes are red, call your doctor immediately. Eye inflammation caused by an STD or the herpes virus can damage your baby’s eye and needs to be treated.
Read also: When is a cold sore dangerous for your baby?
Many babies have narrow tear ducts, so the tear ducts quickly become clogged when they have a cold. With a cold, the mucous membranes in the nose and near the eyes swell a little, causing them to close the narrow tear ducts. Tears can then no longer drain properly, but become thicker and dry up. This looks like mucus, pus or scabs. Dirty, watery eyes in a baby are therefore also called tear eyes or pus eyes.
You can clean your baby’s eyes a few times a day by gently rubbing a cotton pad with tap water from the outer corner of the eye towards the nose. When the cold is over, the pus eyes will also pass. Nearly all babies have outgrown the narrowed tear ducts by the age of one.
Please note: if the whites of your baby’s eyes are red, if he seems to have pain in his eye or if he cannot stand light, call the doctor. Do this even if your baby is less than ten days old.
Read more: All about tear eyes in your baby
The varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox in children. When the chickenpox is over, the virus retreats to the nerves in the body. It remains there, and it can become active again later at a lowered resistance. You will not get chickenpox again, but the virus will cause shingles or an eye infection. But this mainly happens in adults.
Read also: Shingles in children
Usually you do not have to go to the doctor with an eye infection in your child. But we’ll list when you should call the doctor (and don’t wait to do so). Call the doctor if:
Your baby is less than ten days old. Your baby or child cannot stand light. Your child’s eye hurts. The complaints are not over after one to two weeks. Someone with a cold sore has hugged your baby. The complaints are getting worse and you don’t trust it.
Sources: Thuisarts.nl, Oogfonds.nl, Oogartsen.nl
2023-08-11 09:43:21
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