Health Resources

Eye, Pus or Drainage

Symptom Definition

• Yellow or green discharge or pus in the eye
• Dried pus on the eyelids and eyelashes. The eyelashes are especially likely to be matted together following sleep.
• The whites of the eye may or may not have some redness or pinkness
• The eyelids are usually puffy due to irritation from the infection
• Main Cause: bacterial infection on top of a cold in the eye

See More Appropriate Topic

• If no pus in eye, see EYE, RED (WITHOUT PUS) 
• If main symptom is itchy eyes, see EYE ALLERGY 

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Eyelid is very red or very swollen
• Blurred vision reported
• Fever > 104^oF (40^oC)
• Age < 12 weeks with fever > 100.4^oF (38^oC) rectally
• Age < 1 month old (newborn)

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• Yellow/green discharge or pus in the eye, but none of the symptoms described above (Reason: probably needs prescription antibiotic eyedrops to treat it)

Home Care Advice for Pus in the Eye (Pending Talking with Your Doctor)

1. Reassurance: Bacterial eye infections are a common complication of a cold. They respond to home treatment with antibiotic eyedrops and are not harmful to vision. Until you get some antibiotic eyedrops, do the following:
2. Remove Pus: Remove the dried and liquid pus from the eyelids with warm water and wet cotton balls at least every hour. Once you have antibiotic eyedrops, they will not have a chance to work unless the pus is removed each time before they are put in.
3. Contact Lenses: Children with contact lenses need to switch to glasses temporarily (Reason: to prevent damage to the cornea)
4. Contagiousness: Your child can return to day care or school after using antibiotic eyedrops for 24 hours, if the pus is minimal.
5. Expected Course: With treatment, the yellow discharge should clear up in 3 days. The red eyes (which are part of the underlying cold) may persist for up to a week.
6. Call Your Doctor If
   • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms

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