Mucus in Toddler's Eyes

Updated on December 28, 2009
S.A. asks from Saint Petersburg, FL
15 answers

My toddler daughter had the usual cold, but this time she has pus coming out of her eyes. I do not think it's pinkeye, because the eyes itself are not red or inflamed or anything. She just has mucus coming from the inner corners of her eyes. Sometimes she is complaining that her ears hurt. Should I take her to the doctor or wait it out? She is in very good spirits and seems to be well, but I just want to be sure.

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So What Happened?

We just came home from the doctor's office. She tested negative for strep and the flu. It was not pinkeye, either. My doctor is great because he's not too keen on giving a lot of meds, but prescribed an antibiotic for her sinus infection. It was nothing too serious, but I will lessen her dairy consumption and see if that helps. He said most likely it's an adenovirus. Thanks to all the mamas out there for giving me a piece of mind and great advice.

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K.G.

answers from Tampa on

My daughter has had the same thing and when I took her to the doctor, she had an ear infection. Her doctor explained that the mucus in the eyes is drainage from the ears. I would definately get her into the doctors and on some antibiotics quickly!!!
Best of luck,
K.

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S.W.

answers from Miami on

Of course call your doctor and take her in for a visit.

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B.C.

answers from Ocala on

i would get her to the dovtor it it some sort of infection and she needs the atibiotics as soon as possible.

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A.C.

answers from Miami on

Hi S., this is more than likely an ear infection. My son has had 2 and one that was actually a double ear infection showed itself through his eyes. as one of the other mothers stated, Ear, nose and throat are all connected, and as a toddlers their canals are still straight not slanted where mucus, and excess liquid can drain, so according to the pediatrician its not rare at all to see mucus come out of the eye. For me it was - i had never seen that before, but sure enough i went to the ped and he actually had an ear infection that within a few days time had progressed to a double ear infection and in turn the pus from the eyes... he is almost 3 now and we came to find that he had allergies since a few months old that caused this initial double ear infection just from the amount of congestion he always had. Definitely get him checked out if his eyes are pussing and over crusty in the morning, more than just regular morning eye stuff... hope this helps!

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L.N.

answers from New York on

could it be a stye or a cherize (sp?). if i were you i'd check it. good luck

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J.B.

answers from Daytona Beach on

I would take her in to the pediatrician soon. My daughter had the same symtoms and she had an ear infection and an eye infection (called conjuctivitis). They sometimes go together, she was put on antibiotics and eye drops. Everything cleared up really fast. Hope this helps, good luck!

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T.E.

answers from Miami on

Morning - my daughter experienced very similar symptoms that you have described but never complained her ears hurt. She was in such high spirts that we didn't take her in for a week or so after her cold. We did end up taking her in to the ped after a few restless nghts and it turned out she had a double ear infection. I would suggest taking her in especially if she is complaining about her ears. Guess the puss was coming out the eyes becuase it couldn't make it out the ear - according to the ped.

Best of luck.

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D.R.

answers from Daytona Beach on

My two kids and grandson have had same experience like that. they just had eye infections and ear infections same times, Their dr put them on antibodies. Pinky eyes and eye infections are different kind of infections. maybe your girl may have ear infections same time or ear wax. I dont know, I am not doctor. Please, best way for you to take her doctor soon as possible,let dr look at her ears and eyes. Dr probably will give her some antbodies.

good luck

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S.S.

answers from Tampa on

Don't wait. Take her to the doctor right away. My son had this when he was around that age, too. It was yellow to green in color and the doctor told me it was definitely an infection. Little kids have such weird reactions to colds/flu, like the check/back rashes. If her ears hurt, she might have an ear infection. Don't risk it, especially when they are so little.

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J.S.

answers from Miami on

My pediatrician told me that eyes, ears nose & throat are all still literally connected at that age and when sick, mucus can be everywhere! My son had it in his ears!!

So just dry it all up the best you can, try to avoid all dairy (But to get protein & fat try giving soy milk w/nutritional supplements, like Boost or Pediasure....almonds, peanut butter, cashews.... edemame is a great source...) and don't be afraid to give the baby medicine if DR says it is ok.

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L.C.

answers from Lakeland on

probably the cold has progressed to her eyes:( which can be yucky, annoying, and sometimes scary for the little ones when they wake up and can't open their eyes(since they've sealed shut from the mucus!) I have used Similisan's pink eye relief for treatment (if you look up pink eye on webmd.com it lists pink eye as a broad term for viral,bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis)those drops do work quite well at relieving symptoms of all 3...but only a dr can tell you what it really is(remember a cold is a virus and it can affect the eyes!) but you might want to rule out the other two and have her ears looked at too.....If your daughter has complained that they are bothering her there's a pretty good chance there is fluid there too! :( Good Luck! I know its frustrating to have to go to the dr, especially when you know its a cold(which they can do nothing for...just gotta ride it out!) but as someone who delayed a drs visit by a day since I thought I "knew" my daughter was teething molars, turned out she has strep! The guilt stings a lot harder when i could have let the dr play dr and not assumed that just because my daughter was telling me her tongue hurt not her throat, it couldn't have been more serious than teething or a cold! Good Luck! You cn get the drops anywhere....Walmart, drugstore. etc....they are awesome!!

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F.A.

answers from Tampa on

When in doubt, take them in to see the Dr. I know it's a pain--the crowded waiting room and the long wait but you don't want to risk your daughter's vision or health. I had a similar situation with my son who is almost 2. He had "leaky" eyes but they weren't red so I was sure it wasn't pinkeye. I finally took him and and guess what--there are forms of pinkeye where the white of the eye does NOT get red or pink. If I had let it go untreated indefinitely, it could have resulted in serious eye problems. So I would say take her in--you'll be glad you did.

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D.P.

answers from Miami on

Dear S.,

Take her to the DR.!!!!!!

you can also try Pediatrics.com.

God bless you all,
D. P.

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K.M.

answers from Tampa on

Usual cold?
Nothing usual about that.
Possibly she is allergic to what she is eating?
Check out Fiengold diet- it is amazing, and if that is the problem that will handle that.
The body gives symptoms in order to say something is wrong- that is what the "cold" was saying. Usually that is the body trying to get rid of something it cannot handle.
If we ignore or try to mask a symptom with drugs then bodies give another symptom to try to indicate what is wrong.
Check with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Assn for a referral.
Your daughter's immune system is trying to tell you something.
best, k

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R.W.

answers from Tampa on

Sounds like allergies to me. Take her to the doctor

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