Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Pinkness under the Eye | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My 10-month-old had a large pink area under her eye that I thought was a result of pink eye. I took her to her pediatrician, and she diagnosed the condition as periorbital cellulitis. She said if not treated this could cause muscle damage in her eye. My daughter has been done with her antibiotics for almost a week and I still notice a very small-discolored area under her eye. Also, this is the same eye that had a clogged tear duct at birth, and since her birth I noticed this same eye is slightly more squinted and her lid is a little bit droopier than the other. She also has had pink eye once and her eye was swollen shut for a day over a holiday weekend while we were out of town, and when we returned home her eye was fine so I didn't take her to the doctor for it. Should I be concerned that there may be other problems with her eye and see a specialist? — Raina in Brick NJ | | | ANSWER |
July 22, 2002 | | | Dear Raina,
It sounds as if your daughter has had her share of problems with that eye! Although it's possible her blocked tear duct, pinkeye, and periorbital cellulitis are not related, it is a little suspicious that all three have involved the same eye. I don't know what is going on since I haven't seen her for any of these problems, but I wonder if there is a chance that her two infections were related to her blocked tear duct. If there is any residual partial blockage of the duct, it could permit a build-up of bacteria leading to infection of that area. The treatment she got for periorbital cellulitis would probably also work well for an infection of the tear duct.
Since she does have some squinting and drooping of that eyelid still, I think it would be a good idea for you to share your concerns with your child's pediatrician and ask if she thinks there is enough going on to have your daughter checked by an eye doctor who has experience caring for young children (a pediatric ophthalmologist).— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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