Eye Infection, Bacterial: Brief Version

What is an eye infection?

When your child has an eye infection, you may see:

• Yellow discharge (pus) in the eye.
• Eyelids stuck together with pus.
• Redness or pinkness of the white part of the eyes.
• Puffy eyelids.

Bacteria cause eye infections with pus. Pink eyes with no pus are caused by a virus.

How can I take care of my child?

Clean the eye.

• Take away all pus with warm water and wet cotton balls.
• Do this before you put in any medicine. This will give the medicine a chance to work.

Put in eyedrops or ointment.

This kind of infection must be treated with antibiotic eye drops. Your child’s doctor must prescribe these drops.

For eyedrops:

• Put 1 drop in each eye every 4 hours while your child is awake.
• Gently pull down on the lower lid and place the drops inside the lower lid.

For ointment:

• Use the ointment just 4 times a day. It stays in the eyes longer than eyedrops.
• Open the eyelids.
• Put a ribbon of ointment along the lower eyelid from one corner of the eye to the other.

How can I prevent my child from spreading the infection?

• Give your child his own washcloth and towel.
• Wash your child’s hands often.

Call your child’s doctor right away if:

• The outer eyelids get very red or swollen.
• The eye is painful.
• Your child’s vision is blurred.
• Your child starts to act very sick.

Call your child’s doctor within 24 hours if:

• The infection hasn’t cleared up after you’ve treated it for 3 days.
• Your child gets an earache.
• You have other concerns or questions.