Question
My child is four years old. Lately, the tip and the entire edge of his tongue have been red and slightly purple, with thick, greasy tongue coating. The key issue is that he’s been producing a lot of eye boogers today, and they come back after wiping them away. This has never happened before, and I’m really worried! Could it be that my child is overheated? How should I treat it? What medicine should I give him?
Answer
Hello: Excessive eye boogers can also be caused by internal heat in a child, which is commonly referred to as “being overheated.” This is often due to a diet high in fish, shrimp, meat, etc., with less consumption of fruits and vegetables. In addition to excessive eye boogers, symptoms may include aversion to heat, excessive sweating, dry stools, and thick tongue coating. The best way to treat this is to change poor eating habits, drink plenty of water, and consider taking herbal medicine for clearing heat, reducing fire, and aiding digestion if necessary. If your child suddenly has a lot of eye boogers and also experiences itchy eyes and redness, it’s advisable to go to the hospital for a check-up to see if they have “red eye disease.” This condition requires not only local application of chloramphenicol eye drops and erythromycin ointment but also emphasizes personal hygiene. Remind your child not to rub their eyes with dirty hands, not to share face basins, towels, and other bathing items with others to prevent cross-infection.