Doctor Komarovsky on how to treat stye on a child’s eye

08/02/2020 981 Ophthalmology

Author: Elena

Situations often arise when a hordeolum forms on a child’s eye. The popular name is barley. If not treated promptly, the infection can spread throughout the body, ultimately leading to the formation of blood clots and the need for surgery.

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How does stye occur?

The causative agent of eye infection (hordeolum) is Staphylococcus aureus. 30-40% of the world's population are carriers of this infectious bacterium. She easily adapts to medications and constantly mutates. Therefore, modern medicine offers many new dosage forms for the treatment of infections - antibiotics, drops, ointments.

The eyelid is affected by staphylococcus, causing a neoplasm in the form of an abscess (boil) in the ciliary bulbs and in the adjacent meibomian glands.

Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted by airborne droplets through dirty hands, coughing, sneezing, as this bacterium settles on the nasal mucosa, in the nasopharynx and on the skin.

Causes of barley

The main reasons for the appearance of barley in a child are:

• failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
• hypothermia and drafts;
• undeveloped immunity or weakened due to illness;
• presence of gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes;
• prolonged use of antibiotics (the bacterial composition of the intestines is disrupted);
• unfavorable environmental conditions, air toxicity;
• stress due to school workloads;
• poor quality nutrition;
• deficiency of vitamins in the children's body;
• hereditary predisposition to eye diseases (blepharitis - inflammation of the ciliary part of the eyelid and demadecosis - proliferation of parasitic bacteria in the eyelashes) and colds (sore throat, tonsillitis, sinusitis).

All these reasons are favorable for Staphylococcus aureus.

Main reasons

A lump on the eyelid appears due to a physiological, but also mental state. In most cases, the development of the disease is provoked by the following:

• long hours in the cold, hypothermia;
• infectious diseases;
• sudden weight loss or weight gain;
• weakened immune system;
• overwork of the body;
• regular depressive states;
• constant unrest;
• parasite bites;
• regular or constant worry and fear.

The weak immunity of the human body is powerless against infection. Therefore, after hypothermia, you can see a small swelling on the eyelid. That is why all doctors recommend protecting your eyes in cold weather with a mask or goggles.

Everyone must regularly maintain their body on their own. This means you need to maintain personal hygiene, ensure proper nutrition and, if possible, avoid hypothermia. By implementing such simple advice, the risk of disease is significantly reduced.

A very common cause of the disease is poor-quality cosmetics. Very often, stye appears on the eyelid in teenagers. At this time, they undergo rapid hormonal changes. And it also happens that the cause is simply a hereditary predisposition to this disease.

People of any age simply need to wash their hands periodically, because dangerous bacteria and microbes that cause stye are found everywhere. In public transport, in shops, in public institutions. Avoid shaking hands with strangers and do not interact with them in public places. After all, no one knows how many citizens have suffered from infections throughout their lives.

This disease was assigned two degrees. The first is internal stye, and the second degree is external. If it comes out on the upper eyelid, then most likely the lesion will be external. Inflammation only sometimes occurs on the inside of the upper eyelid.

From the inside, the barley usually comes out only from the bottom. An abscess will form inside, and in a couple of days the head will be visible. After two days, the inflammation breaks through and pus and fluid flow out from inside. That is, it develops like a white eel.

Signs and symptoms of the disease

Signs of a stye begin with redness of the upper and/or lower eyelid, depending on the type. With external stye, the upper eyelid is inflamed, internal stye is located inside the lower eyelid. Then swelling appears and a pain and burning sensation is felt in the eye.

The next stage is swelling of the eyelid and the gradual manifestation of the disease in the form of a compacted clot - this is barley grain. In this case, there is an increase in pain and it seems as if there is a foreign body in the eye. The membrane of the eye turns red. This stage may be accompanied by an increase in temperature, as this is the most intense period of expression of the infection.

After 2-3 days, an abscess swells in the barley grain on the child’s eye, and if you know how to treat it, it opens up, pus flows out, and the disease gradually goes away.

How to recognize barley at an early stage?

If a child often rubs his eyes and feels uncomfortable (is naughty, sleeps poorly, has lost his appetite), you should pay attention to this, examine the eyes, and first thoroughly wash your hands and disinfect them.

Start the examination from the upper eyelid - the presence of redness will indicate the onset of the disease. Then examine the lower eyelid - move it down. On the inside, the presence of redness is evidence of the beginning of the development of barley. Evidence of the onset of the disease can also be spontaneous production of tears (eyes water).

It is important to know! The earlier the onset of stye appears on a child’s eye, the more effective the treatment will be – no more than 5 days. The appearance of edema is the second stage of the manifestation of stye on the eye. In the upper eyelid, swelling is more noticeable than in the lower eyelid, since the internal stye develops more slowly.

Important! If you skip the first stage and start treatment from the second, the disease may take longer and be more painful for the child.

The appearance of swelling is the threshold of the maturation of the abscess. During this period (2-3 days), it is necessary to carefully ensure that the child does not rub his eyes, otherwise the infection may spread to the other eye and also be transmitted to others. Conclusion: the sooner a stye is detected, the faster it can be cured.

Stye on the eye: causes

So what is this insidious disease? In medicine, the disease is called “gordelum” and attacks the upper or lower eyelid. In these places, the inflammatory process of the hair follicle of the eyelash rapidly develops. The sebaceous glands are located close to the bulb and it is these lobules that begin to become inflamed.

What does stye look like on the eye:

What are the symptoms of the disease? At the initial stage, when the inflammatory process is just developing inside, a person feels itching. It seems that a speck has got into the eye and you want to get it out, if you often touch the eyes with unwashed hands, rub and scratch, the inflammatory process quickly develops and the very next day a painful swelling will appear on the eyelid.

If the stye appears on the visible part of the eyelid, it is an external stye, and if inside on the mucous membrane, it is an internal stye.

Stye on the eye. Photo:

The cause of the development of the inflammatory process is staphylococcus, in almost 90% of 100, it is a bacterial infection. First, a barely noticeable thickening or, more often than not, redness, accompanied by itching, forms on the eyelid. After a day or several days, a painful lump appears, and after some time (from 3 to 5 days), a “head” of a different shade stands out against the background of the swelling. The skin in this place is thin and a yellowish seal can be seen through it - this is purulent contents that come out. As soon as the barley “breaks through,” it immediately becomes easier.

Signs of stye on the eye:

1. The itching in the eyelid area increases during the day.
2. A burning sensation appears.
3. A slight increase in temperature is possible.
4. Painful sensations appear in the eye area (even if you don’t touch the eyelid, the pain does not go away).
5. After 8-24 hours, swelling and redness appear in the place where the abscess will soon appear.
6. The cervical lymph nodes may become enlarged.
7. The inflammatory process increases every day, swelling increases.
8. After some time (from 3 to 5 days), an abscess appears at the top of the stye, and upon spontaneous opening, purulent contents are released.

What are the causes of stye on the eye? Many people believe that stye appears on its own, suddenly. Perhaps because your feet got wet, you ran until you stopped without a hat, or you didn’t want to wrap a scarf around your throat. For some, barley appears 1-2 times during their lives and never returns, and some are less fortunate, since barley “pops in for a visit” almost every 2-3 months. What is the reason?

Why does the inflammatory process develop:

• non-compliance with hygiene rules: using someone else's towel, cosmetics (brushes, tassels). Frequently touching your eyes with dirty hands;
• sudden hypothermia, especially for children;
• if there are problems with the functioning of the stomach and intestines;
• with a lack of vitamins and minerals;
• weakened immunity, when the body is unable to resist bacteria;
• blepharitis and demodicosis are favorable diseases for the development of bacteria;
• disruptions of the endocrine system, including diabetes;
• colitis, ulcer, gastritis;
• infectious skin diseases;
• boils (not only on the face, but throughout the body);
• infectious diseases (even if the disease has subsided);
• helminthiasis

How to get rid of stye on the eye? There are several ways to eliminate the disease, but you first need to figure out in which cases you can start self-treatment, and in which cases you need to turn to specialists.

When to see a doctor:

1. If your body temperature rises.
2. If the ripening of barley is accompanied by an unbearable headache and severe pain in the eye.
3. Vision is impaired or there is a “veil before the eyes.”
4. If the purulent process lasts more than 5 days and does not open spontaneously.
5. When, after one stye, another appears in the same place or in another place/eye.
6. When the inflammatory process develops into a chronic form of conjunctivitis.

Varieties of barley: external and internal

Stye on a child’s eye (how to treat it is described below) is divided into two types:

What is barley?

Barley is an inflammation of the hair follicle of the eyelash (external barley) or the meibomian gland (internal). This is a purulent formation that looks like a lump or swelling. It is not contagious, but is a consequence of the activity of all kinds of bacteria. The duct of the sebaceous gland is blocked, causing inflammation.

The occurrence of barley can be chronic - relapses of inflammation at any age. Based on the number of ulcers, multiple and single styes are distinguished, which occur in one or both eyes.

Causes

Inflammation of the baby's eyes is caused by bacteria such as streptococci and staphylococci. Some experts (for example, the famous pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky) believe that only Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of inflammation. Basically, bacterial infection can be caused by a number of reasons:

• dirty hands;
• hypothermia;
• weakened immune system;
• overwork;
• harmful environment (pollution, smoke);
• clothing not appropriate for the weather;
• inherited immune disorders that predispose to pustular diseases;
• difficult passage of natural fluids through the sebaceous and lacrimal glands;
• not fully cured colds, acute respiratory infections.

There are a number of more dangerous and serious reasons why stye on the eye does not go away for a long time and occurs constantly:

• poor nutrition;
• primary diseases: diabetes mellitus, intestinal disorders, metabolic disorders;
• the presence of parasitic worms in the body;
• vitamin deficiency, hypovitaminosis;
• eye diseases (conjunctivitis is especially common);
• chronic infections of the mouth and nasal cavity.

How does it look and appear?

Externally, barley becomes noticeable. The swelling develops overnight, but the bacteria have been multiplying at an active pace for several days. The following symptoms are characteristic of styes on the eyelid:

1. Swelling (often the entire eye “swimmers”).
2. Pain.
3. Burning and itching.
4. Redness.
5. Changes in behavior: tearfulness, sleep disturbances, eating disorders.
6. Afterwards, the abscess begins to mature, and then, on about 5 days, it ruptures. Sometimes the abscess resolves on its own.

Particular attention must be paid to cold barley, which is characterized by “freezing” at one stage of ripening. It may not last for a long time, outwardly resembling dense grain. In this case, immediate professional intervention is required. Internal stye is no less dangerous. The main risk is possible inward rupture and infection of the entire orbit.

Diagnostics

Barley is diagnosed by the presence of the above signs and location. External barley is a purulent formation at the base of the eyelashes, and internal (meibomitis) is an inflammation of the meibomian glands of the cartilaginous plate. Lack of treatment in such cases threatens chalazionitis, so it is recommended to take the necessary measures for immediate treatment:

• barley occurred in a one-year-old child, a baby under one year old;
• inflammation creates noticeable discomfort and reduces the functionality of the visual apparatus;
• noticeable increase in tumor size, redness and other primary symptoms;
• temperature increase.

In such cases, the doctor uses anamnesis to make an accurate diagnosis. This is the manifestation and course of the disease according to the parents, living conditions, heredity. You will also need the results of basic tests (blood for sugar, smear for the pathogen), ophthalmoscopy and additional tests - an immunogram.

What is dangerous and how is it transmitted?

Barley is fraught with many risks if there is inadequate treatment, its absence, or external intervention (mechanical opening of the abscess). Dangerous consequences that arise due to medical illiteracy of parents:

1. Vision problems.
2. Transition of an abscess into a cyst of the eyelid (cold barley).
3. Chronic nature of the disease.
4. Infection of the whole body.
5. Blood clot formation.
6. Meningitis.
7. The need for surgical intervention.

It is easy to become infected with stye from the environment, where the root cause is poor hygiene. The visual analyzer is a fragile, well-supplied organ, and any improper treatment can lead to vision problems or the rapid spread of infection to previously healthy areas. Therefore, in any case, you need to seek help from an ophthalmologist.

Is it possible to get infected with stye?

Staphylococcus aureus, being the causative agent of barley, is an infectious bacterium transmitted by airborne droplets. Therefore, barley is a contagious infection, but is transmitted directly through purulent discharge. If there are several children in a family and one is sick, it is necessary to ensure compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and safety when communicating with a sick child.

The rules are:

1. It is mandatory for each family member to have their own clean towel for their hands and separately for their feet.
2. Do not use a sick child's handkerchief.
3. Mom, wash your hands before applying cosmetics to your face and eyes.
4. Do not sleep with a sick child, because if the abscess breaks out at night, the pus can splash onto the face of a healthy family member, and when they open their eyes, an infection can occur.
5. Wash the sick child’s clothes and personal hygiene products and iron them.

Treatment of stye with ointments

A stye on a child’s eye (parents should definitely know how to treat it at home) can be successfully eliminated. One of the most effective therapeutic forms is ointment.

Stye on a child's eye. How to treat? Tetracycline ointment will help.

There are many eye ointments, but the most effective are presented in the table:

When treating with ointments, it is better to choose a pair (two types of ointments) and alternate them. Ointments are quickly and evenly distributed at the site of infection and are well absorbed. The sore eye receives the necessary treatment quickly and painlessly.

The process of treating an internal stye with eye ointment in a child: move back the lower eyelid and apply the ointment, squeezing it out of the tube directly onto the stye. Ask the child to blink his eyes. To treat external stye, apply ointment to the entire surface of the eye. Do not wipe off excess.

Drug treatment

When wondering how to treat barley, parents first begin to look for available medications.

Despite the fact that there are now a lot of medications that have a natural composition and cause minimal harm to health, it is extremely dangerous to prescribe them to children yourself.

Self-medication can lead to negative consequences and only worsen the child’s condition. After identifying the cause and stage of the inflammatory process, the doctor will prescribe one of the possible treatment options:

1. A course of antibiotics. Potent antibacterial drugs are prescribed to eliminate the underlying cause of the disorder and suppress the bacterial infection. The type of antibiotics and its dosage are selected based on the child’s condition and the symptoms of stye. Such medications are usually used in the presence of complications or in advanced cases.
2. Immunostimulants. Children with poor immunity must be prescribed vitamin complexes or other medications that will improve the body's protective functions.
3. Local medicines. Most often, treatment involves the use of drops or ointment. In some cases, several medications are combined at once to achieve a faster recovery. This method of therapy can significantly alleviate the patient’s condition already on the first day of treatment.

Treatment of barley in a child with drops

A stye on a child’s eye (the doctor will tell you how to treat it at home) can be eliminated by various means. The choice of treatment form is eye drops, which in their composition combine antibiotics and pain relief.

Antibiotic exposure is necessary to fight infection, destroy pathogens and pathogens that cause inflammation of the eyelid. Pain relief is important for the child, as stye causes pain.

The table shows the most effective eye drops for treating children:

Important to remember! It is necessary to strictly follow the dosage when using drops, carefully read the recommendations for use, which are in each box of medicine.

The process of treatment with barley drops in a child:

1. Read the instructions, precautions, take into account the dosage in accordance with the age of the child. Sometimes eye drops need to be shaken before use.
2. Before use, hold the drops in your hands and warm them to body temperature.
3. An adult should wash their hands with soap, then disinfect them with an antiseptic (Dettol, Velvet Hands hand gel) or any alcohol solution.
4. A child in a sitting or lying position throws his head back.
5. Pull back the eyelid and drop (the number of drops is dosed according to the instructions).

6. Ask the child to close the eye and open it several times so that the medicine is distributed throughout the eyeball.

Attention! Do not rub your eyes or wipe off excess medicine with your hands under any circumstances - use a clean, dry cloth.

Treatment options

The choice of treatment depends on the degree of development of the disease:

• infiltration;
• abscess formation;
• spontaneous breakthrough of the abscess;
• recovery.

During infiltration, treatment includes:

• lotions and treatment of barley with alcohol-containing solutions;
• applying eye ointments;
• UHF;
• antibacterial drops;
• compliance with hygiene rules.

With timely treatment, barley will not turn into an abscess and the inflammation will quickly go away on its own. But if a capsule with pus has already appeared, then treatment will consist of ointments and antibiotics.

What can't you do?

When hordeolum appears on the eye, you should follow certain rules to quickly get rid of it. With this disease you cannot:

• scratch your eyes;
• wear lenses;
• use cosmetics;
• cover with a plaster;
• warm up the eyelid area;
• It is better not to heat the area of ​​inflammation with salt or a tea bag;
• pierce the barley with a needle and open it in another way.

When should you visit a doctor?

If inflammation in the eye does not go away for a long time, you will definitely need to consult an ophthalmologist. You should also contact him if the hair follicle of the eyelid is severely inflamed, visual acuity worsens, or the inflammation does not go away for more than 7 days. If necessary, the ophthalmologist can refer the patient for additional diagnostics to an immunologist and endocrinologist.

Medicines

The first measure in the fight against the disease is the use of antibacterial agents. Doctors prescribe the following medications:

• "Tobrex". They contain tobramycin. It effectively fights barley and can be used by children under 1 year of age.
• Hydrocortisone ointment. Do not use without consulting a doctor, as the components contain a strong corticosteroid hormone.

Drops are used 4 times a day. 3 drops are dropped into an inflamed eye, 1 drop is enough for prevention into a healthy eye.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic methods are prescribed to provide an anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and analgesic effect. The best effect is achieved by UHF therapy in the area of ​​the diseased eye with a low-heat dose, lasting 8 minutes for 6 days. Microwave therapy is quite effective.

To provide a general strengthening effect and increase the body's protection, UV irradiation is used every other day according to the basic scheme and climatotherapy - aerotherapy and sunbathing.

Traditional methods

Among the folk methods of treating lingering barley, heating with dry heat is actively used. A boiled egg or a bag of heated salt works great.

It is important to know that this method can only be used with unripe barley. Otherwise, heating the abscess will lead to a breakthrough inside the eye and cause an abscess

Traditional methods also include compresses made from medicinal herbs: calendula, chamomile, cloves. You can use a simple tea leaves to wash your eyes at intervals of 20 minutes.

Traditional methods of therapy should be used together with pharmaceutical drugs and in consultation with a doctor.

What is more effective: drops or ointments?

It is impossible to categorically state that one or another form of medicine is better. This is due to the fact that a child can receive effective treatment if a complex treatment is used, which includes both drops and ointments. Drops are used during the day, and ointment is recommended in the evening. This is due to the fact that a child’s eye can stick together overnight (from lacrimation), and the ointment has a greasy structure and resists sticking.

Important to remember! Some ointments should absolutely not be applied to the inner mucous membrane of the eyes; you should carefully read the instructions and be extremely careful when choosing a dosage form for children, according to age.

Treatment with compresses at home

As soon as an infection is detected - stye on a child’s eye, you can choose what to treat later. In the first two stages - redness of the eyelid and the appearance of swelling (the first two days), you need to actively apply compresses for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 hours, alternating several.

For example:

• with chamomile infusion – chamomile is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent
• with strong tea brewing - tea acts as a tanning agent - helps reduce pain;
• with calendula infusion – disinfects and relieves pain.

Recipe for preparing an infusion with herbs: pour 1 tablespoon of the selected medicinal herb into one glass (200 ml) of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Cool. Soak a cotton pad in the infusion and apply to the affected area of ​​the eye.

In the first two days you can cauterize with alcohol solutions (iodine, brilliant green). Carry out the cauterization procedure very carefully - you can get burned.

When the abscess begins to ripen, do not apply compresses and stop cauterization. During this period of the disease, active drug treatment (ointments, antibiotic drops) is required. During the illness, you need to monitor the child, avoiding scratching and rubbing the eyes. Wear special gloves for the baby and explain to older adults that they should not touch their eyes with their hands.

Traditional methods of fighting barley

Folk remedies in the treatment of barley are mainly associated with heating with dry heat. It is believed that this reduces pain and accelerates the maturation of the abscess in barley grain.

Popular recommendations:

• salt (you can use sea salt or regular table salt), fry the sand in a frying pan, pour it into a sock (linen bag) and apply to the barley;
• Boil an egg, let it cool a little, wrap it in a handkerchief, apply it and heat the barley.

Other popular recommendations:

• show the patient “fig”;
• apply a used tea bag to the eye;
• apply a cut leaf of aloe;
• lotions with dill seed decoction - grind the seeds (1 tsp), add 200 ml of water, bring to a boil, cool.

Traditional methods of treating internal stye:

• mash ½ clove of garlic in a garlic press + ½ tbsp alcohol, apply on the outside to the swelling area;
• Apply a flatbread of rye bread with honey to the eye.

You should know! It is strictly forbidden to heat barley with dry heat while the abscess is maturing!

When should you see a doctor?

Barley is cured in 5-6 days. But if the following symptoms are observed: severe swelling of the eyelid (the eye does not open); fever and increased pain, you should contact an eye specialist (ophthalmologist).

Stye on a child’s eye (the doctor will decide how to treat it after an examination) must be eliminated comprehensively. Professional treatment includes a complex of medical techniques, such as: prescription of antibiotics, immunostimulants, physiotherapy and surgery with opening of the abscess.

Please note: an ophthalmologist must test for an allergic reaction in a child in order to select an antibiotic.

Prevention of relapse

Preventive measures to prevent inflammatory processes in the eyes of a child, including barley, are:

• teach hygiene procedures from an early age - wash your hands, face, take care of your nails;

• Protecting your child from hypothermia - dress according to the weather;
• strengthen the immune system - gradual hardening, mandatory morning exercises and taking vitamins.

Adviсe

A child prone to the appearance of boils does not need to be wrapped up, overheating or excessive sweating should not be allowed. Also, mothers should be more careful when choosing baby powder for washing children’s clothes and bedding for such a child - they must be hypoallergenic

It is important that such a baby learns to carefully clean his eyes every day - from the outer corner to the inner corner using a dry and clean gauze swab

If parents, at the suggestion of their grandmothers, really want to treat their child for barley with folk remedies, it is worth focusing on the most harmless of them.

From the entire arsenal of traditional medicine, Komarovsky includes prayer and spitting in a child’s eye, which is popular among the masses. If you really believe in the result, you can give a damn, but without fanaticism. You can point the fig towards the sore eye without restrictions - as much as you like.

If a child wears contact lenses, it is better to temporarily abandon them during treatment so as not to “spread” the infection between the diseased and healthy eye.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you more in the short video below.

Diet for barley

As soon as barley appears in a child, it is necessary to rationalize the diet, since during illness it is necessary to support the body.

The diet should contain natural sources of vitamins A, C, D, E, B2:

• cottage cheese;
• liver
• carrot;
• fruits - currants, strawberries, gooseberries, citrus fruits.
• natural freshly squeezed juices with the addition of celery.

Eliminate sweets from your diet and use honey instead of sugar.

Ophthalmologist's opinion

Here are the doctor's answers to the most frequently asked questions from parents about barley.

A child often develops stye: what to do?

Relapses of the disease are mainly due to weak immunity, and it, in turn, can be suppressed for many reasons. These may include chronic diseases, hypovitaminosis, latent virus carriage, disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, frequent respiratory diseases and endocrine disruptions.

It is also important not to forget about predisposing factors - helminths and demodicosis

The occurrence of relapses can be completely eliminated only by identifying and eliminating “trigger” factors. This requires detailed diagnostics.

Can I use tetracycline ointment?

Tetracycline ointment can be used to treat barley in children, but strictly under control of the body's sensitivity to the drug. The ophthalmic form of the ointment containing 1% of the active substance should not cause concern. Treatment tactics should be selected by an ophthalmologist.

Why did the lump appear after stye?

A lump on the eyelid after a stye is a chalazion. Most often it appears when the capsule with pus is not sufficiently cleansed. The remaining pus and secretion of the gland become denser, the duct channel becomes clogged, causing the formation of a nodule.

If such a formation is detected, you should visit an ophthalmologist. The main treatment is instillation of eye drops, placing mercury ointment behind the eyelid, UHF therapy, massage and heat compresses.

According to pediatricians, children who are taught hygiene rules from an early age are least susceptible to infections. This can be done in the form of an exciting game, during which the basics of daily hygiene and the rules of behavior in everyday life and society will be clearly explained to the child. Barley can be prevented, and at the same time limit the child from the risk of complications.

How long does it take for a stye to go away?

The entire process from the onset of the disease to the child’s recovery lasts no more than five days:

• 1d – appearance of redness, burning and itching
• 2d – swelling of the eyelid is observed
• 3d – the abscess begins to ripen, the barley grain becomes denser and burgundy in color
• 5d – breakthrough of the abscess with the release of pus.

Important to remember! A stye on a child’s eye can be cured in five days if complex treatment is carried out using compresses, lotions, cauterizations, ointments, and drops.

What not to do when barley appears

When treating barley in a child, it is strictly prohibited:

• squeeze out an abscess – you need to wait for the breakthrough itself. When squeezed, the infection may spread deep into the eyeball;

• heat the abscess - when heating the abscess, a purulent “explosion” may occur with pus entering the cartilage of the eyelid, which will cause severe complications of the disease with increased infection of not only the eyes, but also the brain (meningitis).
• cauterize the internal stye - alcohol-based solutions will cause a burn to the eyeball;
• spit on barley, wipe with urine - you can cause infection with other infections, which will aggravate the course of the disease and lead to complications;
• interrupt treatment - this will lead to the adaptation of infectious microorganisms and pathogens to the drugs.

Useful video

From the video you can find out why you should not squeeze out barley and what consequences await you if you take this wrong step.

Complications

If measures to eliminate barley in a child are not taken in a timely manner or if there is no treatment, complications may arise due to the increased bacterial effect of Staphylococcus aureus on the body.

The most possible complications are:

1. Meibomitis - purulent inflammation spreads to the cartilage of the eyelid - a very dangerous disease, since a breakthrough of an abscess in the cartilage can cause sepsis (blood poisoning) and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain);
2. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyeball, accompanied by suppuration inside the eye;
3. Phlegmon of the orbit - damage to the optic nerve occurs, which can lead to loss of vision and, in the worst case, the eye itself.
4. Chronic stye - a manifestation of the slightest cold or hypothermia

Symptoms of complications in a child after barley:

• weakness and lethargy;
• heat;
• headache;
• increased signs of inflammation in the eyes.

If these symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.

Stye on a child’s eye is a serious problem, since children are more likely than adults to be at risk of developing this infectious disease. This is due to the lack of development of the immune system due to young age, and as a result, hypothermia and lack of daily hygiene lead to eye disease.

But you can easily treat barley yourself at home - the main thing is to detect the onset of the disease in time and begin complex treatment, using drops, ointments and recipes for folk remedies.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Causes of stye on the eye in children

The causes of stye on the eye in children do not always lie in hypothermia, as is commonly believed.

Important! And even hypothermia itself cannot be considered the root cause of the appearance of such inflammation: basically, a decrease in body temperature only contributes to the suppression of the immune system, as a result of which it is easier for bacteria to enter a weakened body.

In addition, if you find stye on the eye, the reasons for the appearance in children may be as follows:

1. Some diseases seriously weaken the immune system, resulting in the spread of various inflammatory processes, including barley. For example, with stomach diseases, the body is not able to extract from food all the necessary microelements to fuel the immune system.
2. In children with diabetes, the risk of developing the disease is much higher, since with this disease the walls of the blood vessels become thinner. The eyelids, which are also nourished by such vessels, are defenseless against infection, since nutrients and protective elements enter this area unstably.
3. When hormonal imbalance occurs, which occurs during adolescence, the human endocrine system undergoes transformations that prevent the normal production of protective secretions by the sebaceous glands of the eyelid, and bacteria freely penetrate the body.
4. If the rules of personal hygiene are violated, it is easy to introduce an infection into the eyes with your own hands in the literal sense of the word: children have the habit of scratching and rubbing their eyes with dirty hands, hence frequent styes. But the infection can be brought in from the outside by getting dust particles and other debris into the eyes, and even adults are not immune from this.
5. If there are carriers of pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus in the family, there is a high probability of the disease occurring in children. It has been noticed that in such families, barley occurs in children more often and several times in short periods of time.
6. This disease can be the result of a hereditary predisposition, in which children can be susceptible to various infectious diseases, and barley belongs to this type of disease.

Also, outbreaks of eye disease are observed among children wearing contact lenses.

Important! By removing and putting on lenses with dirty hands, children introduce infection into the eye, from where staphylococcus, unable to cope with the protection of the conjunctiva of the eyeball, moves into the eyelash follicles.