Want Advice

Updated on March 16, 2008
P.D. asks from Virginia Beach, VA
26 answers

Hi, my two yr old son woke me up early this morning complaining of boogers so I got up and helped him blow his nose but then he was complaining about his eyes so I got a babywipe and cleaned his eyes. This morning I noticed that one eye is definitely red. He doesn't go to daycare, but yesterday we went to get his second Hep A shot. Otherwise there is no contact with sick children. I would know if he got hit in the eye. Does he need to see a doctor today or should I wait to see if it improves on its own? He hasn't been touching unless I happen to go and try to look at it.

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your responses. My son and daughter now have RX for eye drops of course, different doctors different drops, but my daughter's doctor said he doesn't like the drop that we prescribed for my son so he gave my daughter something easier on the eyes. Thank god neither one of them had ear infections too so we are on our way back to healthy eyes.

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L.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I would wait to go to the doctors because it could be allergies or something in his eye. I would only take him if goop starts coming out of his eyes or it swells up. Hope that helps L.:0)

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A.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Sounds like conjunctivitis, A very common yet contagious infection. You son will need antibiotic eyedrops, and should not be incontact with other children for a few days until it clears up.

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S.A.

answers from Washington DC on

P. - Look up information on the Hep A at www.nvic.org

If you think there is a connections please report it to vaers.

Take Care.

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M.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi P.!
Poor little guy. The eye problem might be pink eye(conjuntavitis- which I'm sure I didn't spell right). The problem is there is no over the counter meds for it. You have to get a prescription for the doc. Besides, since it is his eye, I wouldn't mess with it, I'd take him to the doc. The good thing, is meds for pink eye are cheap (putting it in his eye is anther thing), plus thank goodness the one thing Uncle Sam does do for our military families is give them health insurance.
Good luck!

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S.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Both of my kids have had rounds of Pink Eye and it sounds to me like that may be what your kids are getting. That is how both of my kids started. If you notice them watering more, iching, or them getting crusty in the morning I would take him to the doctor. It is very contageous and can spread very easy.

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S.F.

answers from Washington DC on

He could have given himself pink eye. If he has a runny nose or picking at his nose and then touches his eye or rubs his eye he could give himself pink eye. It's happened to both my kids now. Depeneding on his age you maybe able to just talk to the nurse at your doctor's office and they can prescribe eye drops over the phone. Hope this helps!

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S.A.

answers from Washington DC on

I'd watch the eye for another day and see if it gets gooey/crusty. He could have conjunctivitis (pink eye) - it can be caused by wiping your nose then rubbing your eyes. Since he had a problem with boogers before the eye became red, this could be the case. Keep the eye clean and don't let him touch it. If it develops a green-tinged gooey discharge or is crusted over when he wakes up, it's probably conjunctivitis. The pediatrician can give you eye drops for this.

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J.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi P.,

I am not sure how red his eye is, but he could have pink eye. Conjuntivitus is the technical term for it. Hope I spelled that right. If it bothers him tomorrow or gets any worse today, call your doctor to see if they want to have you bring him in. If he does have the start of pink eye it can get painful for him. Enjoy those little ones, they are amazing at that age! Good luck, J.

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A.T.

answers from Norfolk on

I agree that it sounds like pink eye. Someone with pink eye can touch something and it can be contagious for up to 14 days! Its EXTREMELY contagious. I would take him to the dr, they should be able to give you some eye drops or something to help.
Just make sure he doesn't rub his eye b/c it can be spred to everyone in your house and who comes in contact with your house for up to 14 days.. good luck!

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K.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I would definitely get him checked out. It could be pink eye which is VERY contagious. All it takes is for one person to sneeze or cough or whatever and touch something and then have your son touch the same thing (toy, shopping cart, ANYTHING). While it is extremely contagious it's also very easy to get rid of. Good luck to you.

K. - SAHM of 2 boys, 5 and 2

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N.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Allergy season is getting under way. Could it be that he has allergies? We had my daughter tested after a series of "colds" that wouldn't go away. Turns out she's allergic to several things - including our house cat.

Her eyes become red and puffy from pollens.

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C.L.

answers from Washington DC on

P., I would watch it closely. Not seeing him or his eye (background is RN/ER) I would say it almost sounds like it may be a reaction to the baby wipes. Depends on what type of wipes you have, if they are not homemade where YOU KNOW exactly what you put in them, there are alot of harsh chemicals in them. Still I would watch it carefully, if it starts drainging or he starts rubbing alot, I would get him in to be seen, you can never go wrong with getting eyes checked. Good luck.

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C.K.

answers from Washington DC on

It sounds like pink eye. Yucky! I hate hate hate going in for well checks because my kids always catch something like that. I would call your dr. and let him/her know what the symptoms are. I also have one that always gets pink eye in the spring because of allergies. He may have even got something in it playing outside. Pink eye can be caused by viruses or by bateria from what I understand. Definately call. Or at the very least rinse it with some drops. I think the make soome just for kids and I know they have an over the counter pink eye drops now.

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N.R.

answers from Norfolk on

It definatly sounds like Pink eye. Keep everyones hands clean, because it is contagious.

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J.W.

answers from Norfolk on

I would go to the doctor. even if it is nohting at least you would not have to worry about it.

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S.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

You may want to have him checked for pink eye. It is going around like wildfire. Keep an eye on it and if it continues to be red and starts to drain you need to take him in.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I would hurry to the doctor! You really don't know what it is and with the eyes it is better to be safe than sorry. We had a similar situation with my little one and ended up with eye drops. It was a horrible 10 days, but the sooner you start the sooner its over. He may have rubbed his eye after rubbing his nose or something. Could be nothing, but I wouldn't risk it!

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K.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Peace and Love P.,
It may just be allergies and the lack of moisture in his room. I have a daughter whose nose is FILTHY every morning around this time of year. I keep an air purifer (Sears $34) and a humidifer in her rooms that performs wonders this time of year. I put allergy eye drops in my daughter's eyes at night and again in the morning. I use over the counter drops now but originally the doctor prescribed her "Patonal" drops which were expensive and the packaging was small.

K.

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A.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Is it possible that the fragrance or solutions on the baby wipe u used irritated the eye? I was under the impression that they were for skin only not eyes. I suggest watch for pink eye, esp with discharge seek medical advice. Maybe only cleanse with clean room tempature water and a clean cloth.

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J.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi...sounds like a similar problem that my 6yr. old and 1yr. old had last month. Both had a yellowish crusty discharge around the eyes (kinda looked like boogers). My 6 yr. old's eye cleared within a day. 1 yr. old's eye turned red. She didn't seem irritated by it; but, I wanted to be cautious. I took her to the doc and it turned out to be an eye infection. NOT pink eye, though. He prescribed Gentramicin sulfate drops and her eye cleared up within two days. Her pediatrician said that an eye "bug" was going around. Hope this helps.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi P.. If your son's eye continues to be red, has drainage, and looks irritated, you may want too have him checked out by his PCP. It could be conjunctivitis(commonly known as "pink eye"). This will need eye drop antibiotics if confirmed by PCP. If it goes away after no more than 1-2 days, then he'll probably be fine. If it is "pink eye" it is highly contagious and you may want to be careful around your daughter and other children. Thanks and good luck!
M. C.(mom of 6 grandnmommy of 6 1/2!!, #7 pending)

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J.W.

answers from Washington DC on

sounds like pink eye. You'll need to go to the Dr. to get drops for it. I'ts highly contagious so make sure he's not rubbing his eye and touching things around the house.

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi P.,

Wait and see what happens. D.

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E.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I would definitely have it checked out, but what a lot of people don't realize is that it is possible to get just a cold in your eyes. I worked for an eye doctor for 6 years and you'd be amazed at how many people would come in thinking they had pink eye and turns out to be just a cold. Warm compresses/washcloths usually help and just keeping it clean. Try to keep your son from rubbing his eyes (extrememly hard I realize). But typically pink eye would get really crusty and puffy. If it's just red and some drainage, then most likely it's a cold. But, like I said in the beginning, with kids especially, have a doctor look at it. Better safe than sorry!!

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B.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I taught for 10 years before becoming a SAHM of a now 4-year old boy. I have certainly seen my share of pink eye. I've had it myself as well.
If he has a runny nose as well as the red eye, it may be allergies. Sometimes kids get pollen or dirt on their hands and then rub their eyes, which can make them red and irritated.
If it was very pussy in the morning, it may be pink eye- which is just a generic eye infection that kids can get anywhere. If it is pink eye, the meds work very quickly; it's really not a big deal.
Honestly, I don't know what happens to kids in their sleep! My 4 year old son wakes up with scratches on his face sometimes. It looks like he's been in a cat fight! All I can figure is that he doesn't realized how hard he's scratching himself when he sleeps. Maybe your son poked himself when he was sleeping too?

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T.H.

answers from Norfolk on

i'd wait a bit see if it wasnt just something in his eyes. wash your hands and his more often that normal today and if it's still red in the morning or starts bothering him i'd call and make an apt. in the morning.

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