Is this your symptom?
- Yellow or green discharge (pus) in the eye
- Eyelids are stuck (matted) together with pus after sleep
- After being wiped away, the pus comes back during the day
Symptoms of Bacterial Eye Infection
- Lots of yellow or green pus in the eye that keeps coming back during the day
- The eyelids and eyelashes are stuck together after sleep
- Caution: a little dried pus on the eyelids and eyelashes can be normal with a cold
- The whites of the eye may or may not be red or pink
- The eyelids are often puffy
Causes of Eye with Pus
- Viral Pink Eye is a viral infection of the eyes and is the most common cause of pink eye in adults. Main symptom is pinkness of the white parts of the eyes. The eyes are also watery. Most often, there is no pus or small amounts after sleep. Usually affects both eyes.
- Bacterial Pink Eye is a bacterial infection of the eye. The main symptom is eyelids stuck together with pus after sleep. Also, the pus keeps coming back while awake. Can be present in 1 or both eyes.
- Normal Discharge. A small amount of dried mucus only in the corner of the eye. A collection of mucus can be cream colored. Often due to an irritant that got in the eye from dirty hands. Needs no treatment except wiping it away with warm water.
- Herpes Simplex/Cold Sore Virus (serious) can cause eye infections, long term changes to sight, blisters and pain. May cause a painful ulcer on the cornea (clear part at the front of the eye), the eyelid and deeper tissues inside the eye. Often happens to adults who have had cold sores. Seek care from a doctor right away to prevent vision damage.
- Foreign Object in Eye (serious). Small bits of sand, dirt or sawdust can be blown into the eyes. The grit often gets stuck under the upper eyelid. If not removed, the eye reacts by making pus. The main clue is an eye infection that does not get better with using antibiotic eyedrops.
- Eyelid Cellulitis (serious) is a deep infection of the eyelid and tissues around it. The main symptom is a red, swollen, very tender eyelid. The eye can be swollen shut; usually just on one side. This can be a problem caused by bacterial conjunctivitis. The eye infection spreads inward. More often this is caused by a sinus infection. That type occurs without any pus in the eye.
When to Call for Eye - Pus or Discharge
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
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Go to ER Now
- Painful swelling and redness surrounding the whole eye
- Can't open the eye due to pain
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Eyelid is very red or very swollen
- Severe eye pain
- Vision is blurred (other than just due to pus or watering of the eye)
- Eye pain and you are more than 50 years old
- Fever or chills; feeling hot or shivery
- Nonstop tears or blinking
- Weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, kidney problems.
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Eye pain is more than mild
- Fever has lasted more than 3 days
- Using antibiotic eye drops more than 3 days and pus is still there
- Symptoms get worse over 1-2 days
- Headache
- Pus in the eye, but none of the symptoms above. Reason: you may need antibiotic eyedrops to treat it.
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
