Question
A five-year-old child has been diagnosed with a stye. Is surgery necessary?
Answer
For pediatric styes, surgery is usually not required. Regional heat therapy is an effective non-surgical treatment that promotes the maturation of pus and may cause mild inflammation to disappear completely after heat therapy. In addition, systemic and regional antibiotic treatment can also help in the subsidence of inflammation. Another effective treatment method is to use alcohol swabs to clean the base of the eyelashes, especially in the early stages when there is itching, swelling, or pain around the eyelids. Gently rub the alcohol swab back and forth at the base of the eyelashes (be careful not to get it too wet, and squeeze out any excess alcohol), which can effectively alleviate symptoms.