Advice on 14 Month Old with Crusty Lower Lid

Updated on July 13, 2008
K.M. asks from Aubrey, TX
11 answers

Hi Mammas!

Any of you had any experience with crusty lower lids? I noticed earlier this week that my 14 month old started getting what looked like little bumps on his lower lids. I gave it a day or 2 to see if they would clear up. His right eye seems to be getting better, while his left eye has developed a crusty area pretty much all along his lower lid there. It is red a little at the corner of the lower lid. His eye ball itself is not red at all. Just the lower lid. And it's not a sleepy kind of crusty...it's a yellow looking crust. I tried looking info up online to see what it could be...and to see if needed to get him in to doc, or if its something that would just clear up. Still not sure on what it could be. We have taken the approach of bathing him good every night...wiping his eyes down real good in the process...and also making sure his hands are wiped down real good with wipes after each feeding. I was hoping it would start to clear up after starting this process, but it seems to be getting even more crusty on that left eye lid. I think I am going to give it until Monday to see what more it does. If worse, will get him in. Was just curious though if any of you guys had experienced anything like this? What was it? Did it clear up on its own? Or did you have to get them in to the doctor to get it to clear up. Also...not sure if this has anything to do with it...but this is the eye that when he was born he had a clogged tear duct in. So...dunno. Just wish it would start getting better as opposed to getting worse. Thanks in advance for any responses. Have a great weekend!

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C.E.

answers from Dallas on

Have you thought about allergies?? My kids go through this every once in a while. Sometimes one eye is worse than the other. Usually they have just been exposed to something they are allergic to. I give them benadryl or children's claretin for a couple of days and it clears up. Also, if it was pink eye the eye itself would be pink and irritated. My pedi said the best way to tell pink eye from allergies is to pull the lower lid out. If the tissue is red and irritated as well as the eye than it's pink eye. If the tissue inside the lower lid is not red and irritated than it's not. I hope this helps!

Warm Regards,
C.

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

My son had what we thought were allergy eyes at first, then we thought it was pink eye, then after 2 er visits and a doctor visit we found out it was herpes simplex. I doubt that your son would have it - it's not too common to get it around the eye, but it's possible. If he has a high fever with it, then it's a real possibility. The only reason I mention it is that if he has little bumps - like pox or something - plus the fever, if he gets antiviral medication for it within the first 24-48 hours, he'll be fine. If you want to see what my son's eye looked like to compare it with yours, you can check out my husbands blog.

http://jebix.homelinux.org/cgi-bin/blog_single.pl?b=jacob...

If we had been able to get my son properly diagnosed early on it wouldn't have gotten as bad as it did. Anyway, I sincerly hope it's nothing bad - just allergies or something. If it does look anything like my son has, then you should take him to the ER and ask them about the possibility of being herpes.

Remember, mother's can tell if there is something wrong. If you have a serious concern about it, do something. If nothing else, you can always call your dr. and ask their opinion.

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S.A.

answers from Dallas on

Hi K., it could be something relating to his past clogged tear duct; but it sounds like the pink eye. My daughter had the same symptoms (yellow-like crust)and when i took her to the doctor that's what it was. Be very carfeul becauce if it is pink eye as you already know it is HIGHLY contagious. After you bring your son to the doctor you may want to wash ALL of his bedding so that he won't get it from the germs from when he had it.

Good Luck!!

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

hmmm other moms are very concerned with pink eye but I would probably disagree. If your child had pink eye the crust would be very very thick, probably would have trouble being able to open his eye because it would be crusted shut. Also if he's had the crust for a while the eyeball would be really red and he'd be itching it all the time.

Now, as an adult, I've had a stye on my eye and I cleared that up by putting a very warm moist washcloth on my eye and letting the warmth (steam) work on the tear duct. Also in the shower I let the warm water run over my eye. Both of those don't seem do-able for a 14-month-old, but you could try.

Anyway, I just wanted you not to worry - whatever it is I would still be very careful with your other son until you find out what it is. But it really doesn't sound like Pink Eye. Sounds to me like exactly what you mentioned - a plugged tear duct. Good Luck!

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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds a lot like pink eye. Be very careful until you get him checked b/c it's very catchy.

Good luck!!

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L.

answers from Dallas on

My son had crusty and flaky skin on his upper lid and corner of eyes, and patches much the same on other areas of his body. Pediatrician at the time treated it like eczema, and then I finally got a referral for a pediatric dermatologist Dr. Fred Ghali. He took one look and told me my son has a type of psoriasis that most kids outgrow. We use a medicine called protopic when it flares up and it clears it up in no time. I hope this helps.

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

I'd have the doc check it (call the nurse and see if he needs to be seen or not). Sounds like pink eye which can be either viral or allergy related.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Go to the Dr. Sounds like Pink Eye and it is contagious.

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R.C.

answers from Dallas on

Well My son had this for awhile and we have finally gotten rid of it it will have to be treated with antibiotic yes. i have a couple diffarent one but very hard to put in a child's eye my son was hospitalized for a virus and he was on antibiotics through iv and that is what cleared it up but yes he needs to see the doctor and the meds. i have are Erythromycin eye ointment it is cream that goes in the eye very hard to apply and the drops which are so much easier seeing i have an 9 month old are Vigamox my son also had a blocked tear duck and which it got infected causing the same crust in the eye And none of my other children got it so it was not pink eye but i would not risk it with a 2 month old i hope this helps

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G.G.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like pink eye to me too also known as conjunctivitis. Has to be treated with a prescription eye drop that is an antibiotic. Very contagious so watch your other little one for the same symptoms.

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J.A.

answers from Dallas on

Don't go jumping to conclusions, but look up "eyelid mites" on the internet. Try the American journal of Medicine . Most Doctors have never heard of it. My Dr. makes a habit of reading up on everything!
The hardest things to diagnose are those which we don't consider because they are rarely found.
I don't believe conjunctivitis would leave the eye white.
A stye would be swelled locally befor crusting.
Mites could be determined with a swab under a microscope.

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