Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a persistent, recurring problem for a child that’s characterized by swelling of his eyelid. There is often a secondary infection of his eye and a loss of eyelashes.

• Blepharitis starts early in childhood and may last throughout a child’s life.
• Blepharitis may be caused by an infection or increased oil production in the sebaceous glands; it may also be associated with seborrhea. Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammation of the top layers of skin that’s characterized by red, itchy skin that sheds scales.
• Complete resolution of blepharitis is difficult, so the goal of treatment is to decrease the severity of the symptoms. Severe cases may need to be managed by an ophthalmologist or eye care specialist.