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Eye issue redness and swelling
From yesterday my son is having redness on top of his eyelid only 1 eye & swelling. He keeps rubbing his eye. What is advised? Home remedy or to visit paediatrician. He has slight cold & cough too. Is it eye infection or what?
Answers (22)
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Redness and swelling of the upper eyelid in one eye with frequent rubbing—it is most likely a stye (hordeolum). It commonly occurs due to a mild bacterial infection and can be associated with cold, cough, or low immunity in children.
Next Steps
Apply warm compress (clean warm cloth) over the affected eyelid for 5–10 minutes, 3–4 times daily.
Avoid rubbing or touching the eye.
Keep the eye clean.
Health Tips
If swelling or pain increases
If pus discharge appears
If redness spreads or child has fever
If no improvement in 2–3 days
consult ophthalmologist/pediatrician
For proper evaluation and treatment.
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It may be a stye
Consult an ophthalmologist
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It's looks like stye or chalazion .
It's an eyelid infection usually caused by staphylococcus aureus ( bacteria )
Next Steps
Eye hygeine ( not sharing towels )
Hand hygeine
Avoid rubbing of eyes
Warm compress over eyes
Start gentamicin eye drop 3 drops 6 hourly
SYP cetrizine 1.5 ml in night if less than 5 year
Health Tips
Maintain hydration
Avoid rubbing of eyes
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Visit an Eye Specialist. For the treatment of eyes it is better to consult an Ophthalmologist rather than a Paediatrician.
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Hot fomentation...it may be stye or chalazion.kindly consult an ophthalmoligist to rule out uveitis tooo.. internal swelling shud be ruled out...erythromycin ointment tds for 5 days..
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From what you’re describing, this looks more like local eyelid inflammation or allergy (like a stye / insect bite / rubbing-related swelling) rather than a serious eye infection. Mild cold and cough can also trigger eye irritation. Since it’s only one eye and on the eyelid, it’s less likely to be conjunctivitis.
Next Steps
You can start with cold compresses and stop him from rubbing the eye. If swelling, redness, or pain increases, or if discharge starts, get him checked by a pediatrician or eye doctor.
Health Tips
Do not apply any eye drops or home remedies without advice. If swelling spreads, eye opening becomes difficult, or fever appears → consult immediately.
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Better to consult with eye specialist.
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Please consult with ophthalmologist physically asap.
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If you want to discuss your problem in more detail, feel free to message me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine for a detailed free discussion
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I totally understand your concern. Before suggesting treatment, I would like to ask a few questions to ensure the correct management can be provided.
Contact me on Practo or WhatsApp chat.
92469306sevenfour
Dr. Harichandana,
MBBS, MD (General medicine)
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Is the redness in the eyelid only or also in the eye? This description seems to be like a stye which is caused by blockage of certain glands in the eyelid. Almost like a pimple. Stye can be treated with just warm compresses softly over the eyelid, using a damp cloth. It should go on its own in a few days. If the eye is also involved he will need further evaluation by an ophthalmologist
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Your son’s redness and swelling on top of one eyelid (only one eye), plus rubbing the eye, along with a slight cold and cough, is most likely an eye infection or related issue.
Common causes in kids include:
• Viral conjunctivitis (pink eye) linked to his cold/cough — often causes redness, mild swelling, and irritation (rubbing).
• Preseptal (periorbital) cellulitis — a bacterial infection around the eyelid, which can start after a cold (from sinus spread) and causes noticeable redness + swelling on one side.
• Or a stye/hordeolum or allergy/irritation.
Since it’s only one eye, started suddenly, and he has cold symptoms, it’s probably not just normal and needs checking to rule out something needing antibiotics (like bacterial infection). Rubbing can make it worse or spread it.
Next Steps
• Visit a paediatrician today or tomorrow (don’t wait longer than 1 day) — better safe than sorry, especially with swelling + redness in kids. The doctor can examine the eye, check if vision is okay, and decide if it’s viral (just supportive care) or bacterial (needs antibiotic drops/ointment or oral medicine).
• Go to emergency/urgent care sooner if: swelling gets much worse quickly, eye becomes very painful, fever starts, he can’t open the eye well, or vision seems affected.
• Do NOT use any eye drops or ointment at home without doctor advice — some can make it worse.
Health Tips
• Stop him from rubbing the eye — keep hands clean and distract him.
• Apply a clean, cool compress (wet cloth with cool water) gently for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times a day — this reduces swelling and soothes irritation.
• Gently clean the eyelid with warm water on a clean cotton ball if there’s any crust/discharge.
• Keep him resting, give plenty of fluids, and use saline nose drops if nose is blocked (helps with cold).
• Wash hands often — viral pink eye spreads easily!
For the best advice after seeing how the eye looks and his full symptoms, please consult with me online — I can guide you more or help explain what the doctor might say.
Hope he feels better very soon!
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Need more details please connect me throgh practo or wattsap nine zero seven two twozero seven zero nine three
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If you want to discuss your problem in more detail, kindly pay online consultation fee and feel free to message me on WhatsApp at nine zero four four five one one two nine nine for a detailed discussion ,
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For any eye related issues you should always consult an ophthalmologist. U can connect me through practo so I can help you with that. For cough and cold you can visit your pediatrician.
Health Tips
No home remedies for eyes. DO NOT INSTILL ANYTHING to eyes without consulting to an ophthalmologist.
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Dr. Shaikh Huzaif
General Physician
20 yrs exp
Mumbai
Please consult
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Dr. Sajid Ali
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Kanpur
It's stye or Chalazion
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Ophthalmologist
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Dr. Navajit Hatibaruah
General Physician
30 yrs exp
Guwahati
Probably stye/chalazion
Ointment ciplox twice daily for 5 days
If pain
Tab brufen/NSAIDS
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Ashita Kuruvilla
General Practitioner
8 yrs exp
Kolkata
Need few more details for further evaluation. Kindly consult
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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