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Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version
Stye
DESCRIPTION
- a tender, red bump at the base of an eyelash
- a small pimple at the base of an eyelash.
CAUSE
A stye is an infection of the hair follicle of an eyelash,
usually caused by Staphylococcus bacteria.
EXPECTED COURSE
It usually comes to a head and forms a pimple in 3 to
5 days. In a few more days, it usually drains and heals.
Recurrences are common in children who rub their eyes.
HOME TREATMENT
- Antibiotic eye ointment
These ointments do not cure styes, but they may keep
them from spreading and recurring. Your child needs the
eye ointment prescribed by your physician.
- Cleansing and warm compresses
Wash the eyelids daily with an antibacterial soap (like
Dial or Safeguard). Apply a warm washcloth to the eye
for 10 minutes four times a day to help the stye come to
a head. Continue to cleanse the eye several times a day
even after the stye drains.
- Opening the pimple
When the stye does display a center of pus, open it by
pulling out the eyelash that comes out of the pimple
with a tweezers. Your other option is just to continue
using warm compresses. Most styes will drain
spontaneously in a few days after they come to a head.
- Prevention
Ask your child not to touch his eyes because rubbing can
cause spread of the infection to other eyelashes.
CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY IF:
- The eyelid becomes very red and causes a fever.
CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN DURING OFFICE HOURS IF:
- The stye is not draining or improved by 3 days.
- The stye is not completely healed by 10 days.
- Styes recur.
- You have other concerns or questions.
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