Is There Anything I Can Do To Alleviate The Itching In My Child's Eyes And Keep Him/Her From Rubbing Them?

— -- Question: My child's allergies cause his/her eyes to itch. Is there anything I can do to alleviate the itch and keep my child from rubbing his/her eyes?

Answer: Allergic conjunctivitis certainly causes itching and it's hard to discuss this and reason with a child, you need to provide an immediate fix.

One thing that can work quite well is use a cold compress. Basically you take a wash cloth and have it under cold water, and then apply it to your child's lids. This reduces swelling, reduce the redness in the eyes, and alleviate the itch, and make your child more comfortable.

Obviously, this is not a practical, long-term fix but can work immediately when the patient has bad itching.

You need to contact an allergist to determine what your child is allergic to so you can avoid exposure. Also get access to effective eye drops that reduce allergic inflammation as well as medication you can take by mouth to reduce all these problems and avoid future eye rubbing.

Next: When Do I Need Prescription Medicines For Seasonal Allergies, What Are They, And What Are The Side Effects?

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