Question
Why is my baby (130 days old) suddenly having excessive eye discharge in one eye? The eye is not red. Could it be due to too much sun exposure and heat stroke, or an eye infection? What medication can be used, and what precautions should be taken?
Answer
Normally, 2 to 3-month-old babies may have eye discharge on their eyes when they wake up in the morning, which is because eyelashes tend to grow inward during this period, and the friction stimulation of the eye ball can produce discharge. Generally speaking, around the age of 1 year, the eyelashes will naturally grow outward, and the amount of discharge will gradually decrease. If the excessive discharge is accompanied by symptoms such as feverishness, excessive sweating, dry stools, and thick tongue coating, it may be due to a lack of fruits and vegetables in the child’s diet, leading to internal heat caused by excessive intake of high-calorie foods, which is known as ‘upfire’. This situation can be improved by changing dietary habits, drinking more water, and taking some herbal medicine for clearing heat and removing dampness when necessary. If the child’s eye discharge suddenly increases and is accompanied by symptoms such as eye itching and redness, it may indicate ‘pink eye’. In this case, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly and pay attention to personal hygiene to avoid cross-infection.