Stye (Hordeolum) | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of a stye?
Each child may experience symptoms differently, but the most common symptoms of a stye include:
- Swelling of the eyelid
- Redness at the edge of the eyelid
- Pain over the affected area
- Tenderness
Because the symptoms of a stye may resemble other conditions or medical problems, you should always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
What causes a stye?
A stye is caused by an infection in the oil-producing sebaceous or sweat glands in the eyelid. The infection is usually caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus.
Stye (Hordeolum) | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is a stye diagnosed?
A stye is usually diagnosed based on a complete medical history and physical examination of your child. Additional tests are not usually required to confirm the diagnosis.
How is a stye treated?
Treatment may include:
- Applying warm, wet compresses to your child's eye for a period of approximately 15 minutes, several times throughout the day
- Instructing your child not to squeeze or rub the stye
- Having your child wash his or her hands frequently
- Applying antibiotic ointments for the eye, which doesn't make the stye go away faster but can help stop the spread of the infection to other parts of the eye
- Having your child wash his or her face daily, including the eye
- Having your child refrain from wearing makeup until the infection heals
