Patient's question:
My baby (130 days old) has had a lot of eye discharge in one eye recently. I'm not sure if it's due to sun exposure, heatiness, or an eye infection (the eye isn't red). Could you please advise on what medicine to use and what precautions to take? Thank you.Doctor's answer:
Hello:Normal children, at 2 to 3 months old, may have some eye discharge in the morning. This is because eyelashes tend to grow inward during this period, and the friction stimulates the eyes, causing discharge. Around the age of 1, eyelashes naturally grow outward, and the discharge gradually decreases, so treatment is not necessary. A warm towel can be used to clean it, or a cotton swab dipped in a 2% boric acid solution can be gently wiped from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye.
If a child has a layer of grayish-white substance on their eyes at birth, it's not discharge. This grayish-white substance is medically known as " vernix caseosa," which has the function of protecting the skin and preventing heat loss. It can be absorbed on its own, so it should not be removed casually.
Another reason for excessive eye discharge is internal heat accumulation in the child, commonly referred to as "having a fever." This is often caused by a diet high in fish, shrimp, meat, and other calorie-rich foods, with less consumption of fruits and vegetables. In addition to excessive discharge, symptoms may include aversion to heat, easy sweating, dry stools, and thick tongue coating. The best treatment is to change poor dietary habits, drink more water, and take some traditional Chinese medicine that clears heat, expels fire, and aids digestion if necessary.
If a child suddenly has a lot of eye discharge and also experiences eye itching, redness, or irritation, it's important to see a doctor to check for "pink eye." In addition to using chloramphenicol eye drops and erythromycin ointment locally, personal hygiene must be emphasized. Children should be reminded not to rub their eyes with dirty hands, and to avoid sharing face bowls or towels with others to prevent cross-infection.