Eye pain medication is generally needed to treat red eye complaints in children. However, giving this eye pain medication should not be arbitrary, because it must be in accordance with the causes and symptoms of red eye experienced by the child.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that lines the surface of the eyeball and the inner eyelid. This condition can be experienced by children under the age of 5 years.
Conjunctivitis in children is usually caused by viral and bacterial infections. In addition, red eyes can also occur due to an allergic reaction to dust mites, pollen, animal dander, or air pollution. To treat red eyes in children, you can use a special eye pain medicine for children.
Red Eye Pain Medication for Children According to the Cause
If your little one has red eyes, you are advised to take him to the doctor to find out the cause. The following is the treatment and medication for eye pain for red eye conditions according to the cause:
viral infection
Pink eye caused by a viral infection will generally go away on its own without treatment. To reduce pain in your little one's eyes, you can relieve the symptoms by giving a warm compress.
Bacterial infection
Red eye due to bacterial infection can be recognized by yellow discharge from the eye, so that the eyelids stick together in the morning, the eyes look swollen, and crusts appear.
Handling red eyes in children due to bacterial infection can use eye pain medication in the form of eye drops or antibiotic ointment. There are two alternative medicine for children's eye pain that doctors usually prescribe, namely:chloramphenicol and fusidic acid (fusidic acid).
ChloramphenicolIt is usually given in the form of eye drops or ointment. When treatment with chloramphenicol If it doesn't work, the doctor will prescribe fusidic acid.
Fusidic acid is also safe to be given as eye pain medication for the elderly and pregnant and lactating women. Chloramphenicol and fusidic acid have side effects, such as a stinging or mild stinging sensation in the eyes for some time.
However, it should be emphasized that both types of antibiotic eye pain medications must be obtained through a doctor's prescription and their use must be in accordance with the provisions on how to use them and the recommended dosage.
Allergic reaction
The main step to dealing with pink eye in children due to an allergic reaction is to know the trigger. You can help your little one to avoid the trigger factors that often cause red eyes.
If your little one feels uncomfortable because of the red eyes he is experiencing, you can take him to the doctor. Doctors will usually prescribe eye pain medication in the form of eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis.
However, if there are other allergic reactions, the doctor can give you an antihistamine that is taken orally or additional eye pain medication to reduce itching and swelling in your child's eyes.
Tips for Giving Eye Pain Medicine to Children
Sometimes, it is not easy to give eye ointment or eye drops to children. The following are ways you can do to give your little one red eye pain medicine:
Ointment
Ointment may be easier to administer as eye pain medication in children. To apply the ointment to your little one's eyes, you can ask him to sit on a chair and tilt his head or let him lie down.
If you are already in a comfortable position, gently pull your little one's eyelids down, then apply the ointment in a thin layer between the meeting of the two eyelids. When the little one's eyes blink, the ointment will absorb into the eyes.
eye drops
Just like when applying ointment, ask your little one to lie down or raise his head, then put eye pain medicine into the inner corner of the eye. When the child opens his eyes and blinks, the eye pain medicine that has been dropped will enter the eye.
In addition to giving eye pain medication, you also have to keep your little one's eyes clean. You can clean your little one's eyes with warm water before giving eye pain medication to make the treatment more effective.
Keep in mind that the use of antibiotic eye pain medication must be completed according to the dose given by the doctor to prevent the possibility of repeated infections.
Don't forget to wash your hands before and after giving eye pain medication to your child. Wash used towels or cloths in warm water separately from the rest of the family's laundry to avoid conjunctivitis contamination due to bacterial infection.
If your little one's red eyes get worse or don't get better after using eye pain medication, it is recommended that you take him to the doctor for further examination and proper treatment.