Treatment of pink eye in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by CKI Doctor Nguyen Thi Bich Nhi - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital
The changing seasons are favorable conditions for many diseases to break out. Among them, pink eye is a benign disease, but if not treated promptly and properly, the disease will lead to dangerous complications such as inflammation, corneal ulcers and possibly blindness. So how to treat children with red eyes?

1. What medicine does the baby take with red eyes?

1.1 Over-the-counter medicines
Eye drops
0.9% sodium chloride eye drops each time 2 drops in one eye: help soften the eye drops when waking up, prevent dry eyes and eliminate viruses (usually small drops) every 2 hours).
Medicines to improve health, increase resistance
Vitamin A + D (adults do not exceed 5,000 UI vitamin A/day + 500UI vitamin D3/day), use continuously for 10 days and then take a break. Use more vitamin C tablets, vitamin B2. In case of severe eye pain that has not been cured for more than 20 days, additional eye drops containing vitamins of group B and chondroitin or eye drops containing vitamins A, E and B6 should be used.
1.2 Medicines prescribed by a doctor
Antibiotic eye drops
Antibiotic eye drops such as: chloramphenicol, tobramycin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, neomycin... only use up to 7 days, if not cured change medicine. 4 - 6 times a day is effective in preventing bacterial superinfection causing corneal ulcers. These drugs do not work to kill the virus
Children with red eyes need to follow the doctor's prescription, absolutely do not use them on their own.
Corticoid-containing eye drops
Corticosteroid-containing eye drops such as dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, fluoromethasone, prednisolone... have anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the flow of mucus to blur the eyes, 4-6 times a day. Do not use for more than 10 days (banned when there is corneal ulcer. Long-term use will increase the risk of cataracts, glaucoma). These two drugs are often manufactured by manufacturers in one brand name (there are many brand names such as chlorocid-H, dexacol, pandex, polydexa, neodex...).
Artificial tears have the effect of attracting and retaining water, maintaining moisture on the surface of the eyeball, increasing mucus, and avoiding dry eyes. But because there are many different brand name drugs in terms of pharmaceutical ingredients (dozens of types), patients do not know to choose the right one for themselves, so it is necessary for a doctor to prescribe them to choose, preferably one without the preservative benzalkonium. chloride.
If used for a long time, this substance will accumulate on the surface of the eyeball, break down the lipid structure, and lose the stability of the tear film. Severe cases of conjunctivitis must be checked regularly 5-6 times a day. Use only when dry eyes, do not use continuously for many days.

2. Things to avoid while treating pink eye

Do not go to school or work until your condition improves. If pinkeye is caused by bacteria, your child can go to school or work after being treated for 24 hours with antibiotics and symptoms are slowly improving. Children must take the medicine exactly as directed by the doctor. Prescriptions may include eye drops and ointments applied around the eyes. For allergy-related pinkeye, an antihistamine such as Loratadine (Claritin) or Cetirizine (Zyrtec) can help ease symptoms. However, antihistamines should not be given to children unless directed by a doctor.

3. Note when treating pink eye in children

Do not use other people's prescription or old prescription drugs, as they may not be suitable for the child's current condition.
When preparing eye drops to treat pink eye in children, ask the child to lie down on a flat surface, have the child close his or her eyes slightly, and slowly drip water into the inner corner of the eye next to the bridge of the nose, and let Water slowly flows into the child's eyes. When the child opens his or her eyes, the medicine will gently move into the infected mucous membranes without the need to blink continuously.

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