Blame it on harmful environments or poor habits, but eye infections in kids are increasing daily. In such times, seek medical help promptly. If left untreated, these infections can lead to corneal ulcers, vision loss, or permanent eye damage. The symptoms of such problems can vary from child to child and depend on the type of eye infection. Early diagnosis and proper care are crucial to protecting a child’s eyesight.

To protect your little one’s eyes, it’s important to watch for symptoms of eye problems. Keep an eye out for signs like:

– Red or watery eyes

– Heavy discharge

– Squinting or rubbing eyes

– Trouble seeing clearly

– Itching

If these eye infection symptoms get worse, like heavy discharge or poor vision due to infection, it’s important to reach a pediatric specialist near you right away. Early treatment can prevent more serious issues and protect their eyesight.

Symptoms and causes

Causes of eye infection in kids 

Keeping your child away from dirt is hard. Just a second of distraction, your kid will play in sand or dirt. Sometimes dirt causes infections, but other times it happens because of:

• Viruses like adenoviruses, are common in school-aged kids.
• Allergies occur when the eyes react to things like pollen, dust, or pet fur. In children, allergies can cause red eyes, itching, and watery eyes.
• Blocked tear ducts in babies, can cause infections in the tear sac.
• Small things like dust, sand, or makeup can scratch the eye and lead to infection.
• Rarely, fungal infections, usually if there’s an injury or contact with dirty things.

These are some of the common causes of eye infections in kids. However, environmental factors like smoke, chemicals, and pollutants can irritate the eyes. They can also increase the risk of infection. Touching their eyes with dirty hands or sharing items like towels, washcloths, or makeup can transfer bacteria or viruses to them. This can also cause eye infections.

Common Symptoms of eye infection in kids 

Here are the most common symptoms of a pediatric eye infection.

• Redness in the eye: Red eyes in kids is a common symptom. Here, the white part of the eye may look pink or red.
• Itching or burning: The child may rub their eyes often.
• Tearing or watery eyes: The eyes may produce more tears than usual.
• Swelling: The eyelids may look puffy.
• Yellow or green discharge: The eyes may have sticky or crusty discharge, especially after sleep.
• Light sensitivity: The child may avoid bright lights.
• Blurry vision: They may complain about not seeing clearly.
• Pain: The child may say their eye hurts or feels uncomfortable.
• Difficulty opening the eye: The eyelids may stick together due to discharge.

Signs Calling for medical emergency 

Sometimes, when an eye infection in kids appears, we use eye infection drops thinking they’ll help your child feel better. They might give temporary relief, but if the problem is more serious or has become worse, these regular eye infection drops won’t help. In that case, you need to search for the “best pediatric eye specialist near me” and go right away. 

Here are some severe signs of eye infection in kids that can’t be treated with just eye drops!

• Severe pain – If the child has intense pain that does not go away.
• Vision problems – If they have trouble seeing clearly.
• Swelling that spreads – If the swelling moves to other parts of the face.
• Fever with an eye infection – A high fever along with eye symptoms could mean a serious infection.
• Pus or thick discharge – If the eye has a large amount of thick yellow or green discharge.
• Injury to the eye – If an object scratches or hurts the eye.
• Light sensitivity – If bright light causes extreme discomfort.

If you notice any of these signs of eye infection in your child and they last more than 24 hours, even after using pills or eye drops for kids, get in touch with the best eye doctor at ABO eye clinic in Nagpur. 

Eye Infection in Kids Treatment 

The treatment for kids’ eye infections depends on the type of infection. Here are some common treatment options that a pediatric eye specialist may recommend.

The treatment for eye infections in children depends on the type of infection. It may include specially formulated eye drops for kids, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections and antiviral medications for conditions like HSV keratitis and viral conjunctivitis. These medications help block virus replication and reduce symptoms. Eye drops may also contain antihistamines, decongestants, or lubricants to relieve discomfort and promote healing. For effective treatment, ABO Eye Clinic in Nagpur offers various options to help your child recover quickly.

Conclusion 

Eye infections in children are common and usually not serious, but recognizing the symptoms and taking the right steps for treatment is essential. Severe symptoms require immediate medical attention. If your child experiences emergency symptoms, visit an eye hospital in Nagpur without delay. Encouraging proper hand hygiene and discouraging eye rubbing can help prevent infections. By understanding the signs and treatments, parents can play a vital role in keeping their children’s eyes healthy and safe.