My daughter is 6 months old and is working on her second tooth. Her first one just broke through an week ago, we weren't even sure she was teething because she had come down with a cold, had an eye infection and excema all at once. I went to the Dr's (didn't see my own, saw a guy that I don't like) he said she had pink eye, her eye never turned pink, the symptoms were clear discharge, seemed to be really itchy, red, dry and irritated all around the outside of the eye. He prescribed Polysporin drops which were terrible to give her (my mom said they sting) It was 2 weeks ago today that I went to the Dr's and she now has a full on eye infection again, the exact same thing. It did clear up last time but I am not sure if it was because of teething or the drops, I don't want to put her through that again if I don't have to. Has anyone ever heard of eye infections from teething? Is it pink eye? Or is it something else?
If you are nursing, squirt breastmilk into her eye and wipe it clean a few times a day. it should clear up within 1-3 days.
Sorry that your little one is having such a tough time with all those different issues like teething, eczema, eye infection and a cold on top of that. Because you mentioned her having a cold, I am thinking that she is probably rubbing her nose and then her eye(s) which is one of the ways a child can get pink eye or conjunctivitis (just a fancy word or an eye infection). It stands to reason that she is so young that she would natually wipe her nose with her hand or fist or put her hand in her mouth and then to the eyes at some point. No amount of hand sanitizer and hand washing can prevent those things from happening with such a small child, so it is likely that you will just have to ride this out and do your best to keep her comfortable until her cold subsides. Also, kids who are teething will produce more saliva and have a clear, runny nose which could make you think she is still having a cold even though the normal 9 days of a cold have passed. The best thing you can do is use a warm, wet wash cloth (a soft one) to wipe her eyes a few times each day, especially after she sleeps. Make sure you use a different area of the wash cloth or even a different cloth for each eye to prevent transferring the infection from one eye to the other. You can freeze a wet wash cloth to put on her gums to sooth the teething as well. The other thing you may wish to try for the eczema is switching to Dove Sensitive Skin rather than baby wash or soap which usually have fragrance to irritate the skin. Use a cream moisturizer without fragrance or lanolin after you wash your baby and anytime she needs extra moisture for her skin. Babies who have eczema sometimes have redness under their eyes and may even have scaly skin under their eyes which can mimic eye infections in the early stages, but if it is an infection, you will know it soon enough. Just keep in mind that this will pass and enjoy the opportunity to snuggle and comfort your baby while she is going through the teething discomfort. In fact, my 11 year old is cutting her 12 year molars now, and I have been giving her lots of hugs and pampering her when she complains that they are hurting. I think I am enjoying the hugs even more than she is! Keep up the good mothering by asking advice from other moms, doctors and trusting you own good instincts. You and your little one will get through this together!
If she had a runny nose, touched the mucus, then touched her, viola, eye infection/pink eye.
They do offer an over the counter pink eye medication, but I'll bet it will not instruct you to give it to her at the age of 6 months.
I'm not sure what would feel worse, the eye drops or eye infection.
My daughter's early teeth came in pretty early, but when it came to her molars, she had a fever, severe diaper rash, I forget what else, very miserable horrible symptoms, but DEFINITELY related to the teething. I think you can wait a day or two, and see if the symptoms worsen (although it is Friday, you might want to go to the dr while you can).
My daughter would get gloppy, crusty eyes if her sinuses were congested. I think because their sinuses are so small and they spend so much of the day sleeping, the mucus has to come out where it can. I don't remember her having this problem while teething, which, other than the molars, produced a steady stream of drool. But, she definitely had it with some colds and/or nasal allergies.
My daughter used to get an eye infection (not pink eye though) every time she got a cold. The first time the dr diagnosed her with pink eye, but when it reoccured every time she got a head cold the dr said it was sinus related. I think dr said it was a cold in her eye? Anyway, I stopped giving her the pink eye medicine after that, since it wasn't contagious. It resolved as she got older, so it was just that one cold season. Good luck!
Poor little girl! Great suggestions for eyes with warm wet washclothes -- wipe from nose out, don't reuse area and keep water warm; you can also hold close to tear-duct area for added steam. Breastmilk's like water or even OTC eyedrops for redeye -- would flush area. Maybe try allergy eyedrops? My son had that for awhile at that age with allergies and they helped.
He and my daughter tend to excema, so we use Arm & Hammer Free for washing, and steer clear of any fragrance or sulfite/sulfate ingredients. For baby wipes, I used moist Viva paper towels, and even in wipe warmer:)
All the ducts for eyes, ears, mouth are connected at some point, so could be mixture of those and rubbing around on face. Be sure you wash all the lovies in case that rubbing is also attribution... Try the wet clothes and eyedrops a day or 2, but if no resolution, might need Polysporin anyway.
Best of luck!
Breast milk will most likely clear it. Squirt generously into eyes each time you breastfeed. Should be gone within 2-3 days.
Breast milk is a natural antibiotic specifically designed not just for your baby's nutritional and protection from disease, but also as antiseptic and will work for all kinds of infections. Eyes, ears and skin.
Try it. Worked for me.
