Patient's question:
25 daysDuration of this illness and its persistence: two months
Doctor's answer:
Hello:1. For normal children, when they are 2-3 months old, they may have some eye discharge in the morning upon waking. This is because eyelashes tend to grow inward during this period, causing friction and irritation to the eyes, which leads to discharge. Around the age of 1, eyelashes naturally grow outward, and the discharge gradually decreases. In this case, treatment is not necessary. A warm towel can be used to clean the eyes, or a cotton swab dipped in a 2% boric acid solution can be gently wiped from the inner to the outer corner of the eye.
2. If a child has a layer of grayish-white substance on their eyes at birth, it is not eye discharge. This substance is medically known as " vernix caseosa," which serves to protect the skin and prevent heat loss. It can be absorbed on its own, so it should not be removed casually. Another reason for excessive eye discharge is the accumulation of internal heat in the child, commonly referred to as "fever."
3. This is often caused by a diet high in fish, shrimp, meat, and other calorie-rich foods, with a lack of fruits and vegetables. In addition to excessive eye discharge, the child may also experience symptoms such as sensitivity to heat, easy sweating, dry stools, and thick tongue coating. The best treatment is to adjust the unhealthy diet, drink more water, and take some traditional Chinese medicine that clears heat, purges fire, and aids digestion if necessary.
4. If a child suddenly has a lot of eye discharge and also experiences eye irritation, redness, or itching, they should be taken to the hospital for a checkup to see if they have developed "pink eye." In addition to using chloramphenicol eye drops and erythromycin ointment locally, personal hygiene must be emphasized. The child should be reminded not to rub their eyes with dirty hands, and to avoid sharing face bowls, towels, and other bathing items with others to prevent transmission.