QUICK - Help!

[UnderTheStars]

Yesterday my kids' eyes were very red and watery, they both had runny noses - I assumed a run-of-the-mill cold. Today when they woke up, their eyes were REALLY red and DD's eyes looked swollen, so we kept them home from daycare in case it was pink eye. Tonight, I got home from work and she was already in bed. I went to check on her and her eyes are still very swollen and they were crusted shut completely, I had to get a warm washcloth to open them up for her. DS's eyes are very red and swollen too.

Is this ER worthy? Or can it wait until the ped's office opens up in the morning? I've honestly never dealt with pink eye in my kids (what it sounds like they have) but when I remember having pink eye myself it was NEVER like this...just a little redness and irritation.

[babylove921]

My eyes get like that with allergies, as does my DS. His eyes run so bad they crust together and thn get really swollen.. I'm sure its allerges.

[Melinda29]

That does not sound ER worthy to me. I would call the on-call pediatrician and see if they can send an antibiotic drop prescription to your closest 24-hr pharmacy. If not, go to a pharmacy or walmart and get an allergy eye drop and try that. If it does not look any better by noon tomorrow, then make an appt for tomorrow afternoon.

If you cant get eyedrops tonite, give them some ibuprofin to reduce inflammation, and go to the doc in the morning.

[keen1981]

Not ER worthy. She has a virus and it's in her eyes or the snot from her nose infected her eyes. Happens here, a lot, with DS #2. Warm compress and dr in the morning.

[UnderTheStars]

Thanks, I figured the ER was probably overkill but I panicked a little bit when I saw her, because I was so shocked at how red and swollen her eyes and the area around her eyes had gotten since I saw her this morning. My son has the red swollen eyes but his look more like it would with allergies...though neither have ever had allergies before, least of all to this extent and so suddenly, that's why I thought pink eye.

Guess we'll see how they are in the morning!

[keen1981]

Super crazy. I had it happen to ME during a really nasty sinus infection :/ they'll give u drops for sure and it will clear fast Motrin and Tylenol at the same time and then rotate every 4 hours helps.

[UnderTheStars]

Originally Posted by keen1981 Super crazy. I had it happen to ME during a really nasty sinus infection :/ they'll give u drops for sure and it will clear fast Motrin and Tylenol at the same time and then rotate every 4 hours helps.

Eye drops? With toddlers?

I feel like they should revoke my parenting card this week, I feel so incompetent. How in the world do you get toddlers to cooperate with eye drops? I can't even do eye drops and I'm almost 30!

[keen1981]

Originally Posted by seeinstarrz Eye drops? With toddlers? I feel like they should revoke my parenting card this week, I feel so incompetent. How in the world do you get toddlers to cooperate with eye drops? I can't even do eye drops and I'm almost 30!

Lol. Well there is an ointment instead. Which I prefer, it's easier, I put it on my finger, sticking out, and then only have to rub on the lower eye lid. You get good at it. Me? I lay toddler down on back. Head in my crotch, pin arms under my legs, wrap my legs over waist. But that's only in severe cases where they are refusing to take meds. The ointment bothers them, but a chocolate chip buys a lot with my kids. Lol. They rarely get candy

[ashley84]

I'm not sure where you are, but I'm in NE Iowa and pink eye is going around really bad. My cousin came down with it on Friday. She went to the doctor and they said they had already seen 17 people with it that day.

That said, I wouldn't go the ER for pink eye. I'd wait until morning and call my primary care physician as soon as they opened.

[UnderTheStars]

Originally Posted by ashley84 I'm not sure where you are, but I'm in NE Iowa and pink eye is going around really bad. My cousin came down with it on Friday. She went to the doctor and they said they had already seen 17 people with it that day. That said, I wouldn't go the ER for pink eye. I'd wait until morning and call my primary care physician as soon as they opened.

You are probably pretty close to me, I'm on the IA/IL border. I haven't seen or heard of anyone with it, so I'm not sure where my kids may have contracted it but who knows.

Thanks for the advice!