Can I give Polysporin to my 11 month old who still has symptoms of conjunctivitis?

Question

My 11 month old baby was treated for bacterial conjunctivitis with polysporin qid x6 days! He finished his treatment on March 2nd! This morning (March 5th) yellowish secretions with watery and red eye are back. The prescription was for 5 to 7 days. We stopped at 6 days, because it became infernal to put him. We also did our best during the treatment and at daycare too but I suspect he didn't always get his drops right.

Sarah-Yan Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello, First, it is important to remember that bacterial conjunctivitis is a minor eye infection. Thus, it is an infection that we do not have to treat and that resolves itself in 2 to 5 days. It is an infection that often occurs during a cold and is very contagious especially in environments such as daycare or school. Therefore, it is quite possible that your child is reinfected. Here are my recommendations to reduce the symptoms: Boil water, cool it down and compress the eyelids to relieve discomfort. Wipe secretions with a clean washcloth and do not reuse it, as it is contaminated. Wash your hands well before and after touching your child's eyes to avoid contaminating yourself. If you really want to treat your child, which can reduce the duration of the symptoms, usually 1 day, and a little bit of the contagion, it would be possible to get an antibiotic eye ointment at your pharmacy. Ointment is sometimes easier to apply than drops. However, be aware that this is still exposing your child to an antibiotic, which increases the risk of resistance to future treatments for other infections. Here is the article from the Naitre et Grandir website on the subject: https://naitreetgrandir.com/fr/sante/naitre-grandir-sante-enfant-oeil-paupiere-conjonctivite/ Finally, if the symptoms persist continuously for more than 14 days, I recommend that you go see an optometrist (for example at Visique, New Look, Doyle, etc.) who is the eye specialist and will be able to make a clearer diagnosis. We hope we have helped you, Sarah-Yan Chagnon, pharmacist