A stye is usually the result of an inflammation of the eyelid, but there are other causes as well. This inflammation is acute and purulent, and direct contact with the discharge is contagious. We explain what to do if it comes to your child.
- Stye in children: when should you go to the doctor?
- Why do styes come out?
- Stye in the eye: how it evolves
- Stye on the eye: treatment and natural remedies
Styes in children are common. Stye is a pus-filled pimple that hurts when pressed, on the edge of the eyelid, which is usually red and swollen. Moving your eyes doesn’t usually hurt, but it feels like grit when you blink. It is a mild problem that with proper care heals itself and does not pose a risk to the eye.
STYE IN CHILDREN: WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR?
If the child has a fever, a general feeling of sickness or swollen lymph nodes, if the stye lasts more than a week or if the pain increases, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
A small incision may need to be made in the lump to allow pus to drain. This can only be done by a doctor, never try to puncture or burst the stye with a pointed instrument, the infection could spread.
If pain increases, inflammation worsens, or conjunctivitis occurs, the child is usually prescribed antibiotic eye drops or ointments for about a week, usually used three times a day. Within 48 hours of starting therapy, the child is no longer contagious.
Stye is the second most common disease that ophthalmologists see in their practices and in most cases, the disease goes without complications.
WHY DO STYES COME OUT IN CHILDREN?
A stye or hordeolum develops insidiously and is caused by inflammation of the sebum or sweat glands at the edge of the eyelid, in the eyelash area, or on the inside or outside of the eyelid.
The culprits are bacteria (staphylococci) found on the skin. They are more common in young children because they rub their eyes with dirty hands.
STYE IN THE CHILD’S EYE: HOW IT EVOLVES
Most often, a stye heals only after a week or two. It opens suddenly and disappears. Although it is tempting, do not try to open the stye, because it can favor a further spread of the infection.
It is essential to explain to children that they should not touch their eyes or rub it, even if the sensation it produces is unpleasant because contact delays healing.
In addition, a stye is contagious and if children touch the affected eye and do not wash their hands well afterwards, they can transmit the bacteria. That is why it is desirable that the little ones stay at home until the acute phase passes.
If the inflammation spreads, the conjunctiva or even the eye socket may be affected, although this is very rare. In these cases, you should always go to the doctor.
Moreover, a stye that has not been completely healed can develop into a chalazion or Meibomian cyst, an inflamed nodule with blocked discharge, without pus formation, which does not go away.
STYE IN THE CHILD: TREATMENT AND NATURAL REMEDIES
- Warm, dry compresses for the eyelid accelerate healing and stye rupture. Heat a clean washcloth on the lid of a saucepan over a saucepan with hot water
- Don’t apply wet compresses because they can spread the infection.
- In the initial phase, an eye ointment with eyebright and calendula can also help, although if the inflammation worsens, these ointments are not the remedy of choice.
- Homeopathic remedies Apis D12 and Staphysagria D12 may be helpful.
- If the pain is severe, cold, dry eye compresses have a soothing effect.
- Hygiene is essential, because the stye can be transmitted by an infection of the smear from the affected eye to the healthy one. Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly, change towels daily, and clean scabs and eye secretions with paper towels.
- Contact lenses are unfavorable for a stye on the eyelid. It will be better for the child to wear glasses while the infection persists. After infection, contact lenses should be carefully cleaned before being replaced.
