Your child has a kuliti! Should you worry? Did paninilip cause it? Here’s a quick guide on what you need to know about styes. Remember, always talk to a doctor for any concerns about your child’s health.
What is a stye
A stye, or kuliti in Filipino, is a red lump (similar to a small pimple) along or on the edge of an eyelid. Sometimes they also occur inside the eyelid but this is less common. Often, styes are filled with pus (nana) so you may notice a yellow center in your child’s kuliti. Usually, one eye is affected, but it’s also possible to have them in both eyes or to have multiple styes on one eye.
Though they may cause an eyelid to swell and the affected eye to tear up in some cases, styes don’t affect vision. Self-care measures and home remedies can be enough to make a stye go away. “They may be painful or annoying, but they are rarely serious,” says WebMD. Complications brought about by a stye are also uncommon.
BabyCentre advises that if this is the first time your baby or child has gotten a lump on his eyelid, take him to his pedia for a quick diagnosis and for your peace of mind.ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWWhat causes stye in eye?
In order to know how to cure kuliti, you need to understand what causes it. Styes are caused by a bacterial infection of the oil glands in the eyelid, which grows in the root of an eyelash. “The bacterium staphylococcus is responsible for most of these infections,” says Mayo Clinic.
"Chalazion" is a condition similar to styes. They also cause a red lump in the eyelid, usually near the inner side of the eye, and they occur when an oil gland gets blocked up by old oil or dead skin cells. Liquid then builds up inside, causing the bump. They’re usually less painful than a stye but treatment for both is similar.What other parents are reading
Treatment
Most styes get better on their own within one to three weeks, especially if the stye has already burst and released pus, says the National Health Service of the U.K. But, because they can be painful, treatment can help alleviate symptoms and encourage de-clogging of blocked up glands.
For both styes and chalazion, wet a clean washcloth with warm water and place on the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes. Do this for several times a day. This will help relieve the pain and may encourage the stye to drain on its own. If you want to clean your child's eye, Dr. Raissa Paje-Bayawa, a practicing pediatrician based in Cagayan de Oro, advises getting the green light from your child's pediatrician first.
If your child wears contact lenses, have him wear glasses until the condition goes away. “Clean the contacts thoroughly before your child wears them again,” says KidsHealth.
If the stye gets very large, your child's doctor may decide to pierce the stye to let out the pus and help it heal. Don’t try to pop the stye on your own, as it can cause the infection to spread.CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowPrevention
Kids who get one stye are at a higher risk of getting another one. You can lessen your child’s risk by avoiding the bacteria that causes it. This includes never sharing towels with someone who has it. If the person rubbed his infected eye with it, the bacteria can transfer to your child.
Also, discourage your child whenever you see him rubbing his eyes. “A child can get the infection is she rubs her eyes with dirty hands,” says Dr. Paje-Bayawa. In the same line, make handwashing a habit to keep them free from harmful bacteria and viruses.When to worry
A stye should improve over a few days and go away within a week. If it doesn’t, contact your child’s doctor. He may prescribe antibiotic cream or antibiotics, or as mentioned above, pierce the stye to help it along. Your doctor will also be able to tell you if the problem is not a stye, and will advise you on what will happen next.
Sources: Mayo Clinic, NHS, WebMd, KidsHealth, BabyCentreADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
