Treatment consists of using hot compresses or occasionally incision and drainage to get the pus out.
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If the stye is particularly large, painful or if the skin around the eye is red and swollen, you should take your child to the doctor.
What is a stye?
A stye is an abscess in the eyelid. The abscess forms in glands of the eyelid.
What causes styes?
The usual cause is a bacterium called Staphylococcus areus. This bacterium is a natural organism of the skin but may invade the glands.
Who gets styes and who is at risk?
Styes are common in children but can occur in people of any age.
What are the symptoms and signs of a stye?
The margin of the eyelid becomes painful, tender and red. A small pimple forms, the eye may tear a lot, and the child may complain of light hurting the eye.
Eventually, the pimple comes to a head, the pus is released, the pain settles and the stye heals. If the stye becomes large or painful, or if the eyelid skin around the eye gets swollen and red, the patient should see a doctor urgently. Occasionally the infection may spread and affect the brain and related structures.
How is a stye treated?
Hold a wet cloth or other heat retaining object (e.g a boiled egg or baked potato wrapped in cloth) on the eyelid with the eye closed. The object must be as warm as possible but not warm enough to cause a burn of the eyelid. This will speed up the process of the pimple coming to a head, called pointing. Once this has happened and the pus is expelled the stye should get better on its own.
If the stye is becoming very large and painful, see your doctor, since it may need to be opened up by the doctor, and an antibiotic ointment given. If it is not treated at this stage, the infection may spread to the eyelid and the tissues around the eye, and oral antibiotics may be needed.
When to see your doctor
If the stye is:
Large
Painful
Not settling
Associated with red and swollen skin around the eye.
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