Chalazion in Children – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

First time ever hearing about this condition?

Maybe your child has already experienced it but you aren’t exactly sure of what to call it. A chalazion in children isn’t something to worry about because It’s simply a bothersome eyelid condition that makes a slow yet dramatic appearance when one of the small oil glands (Meibomian glands) in the eyelid becomes blocked. However, compared to the usually painful Stye, which is caused by a bacterial infection, a chalazion is typically painless and is a result of inflammation.

What does it look like?

Take the above image as a reference. A Chalazion appears as a small, swollen bump on the eyelid that may start from a simple ich and due to scratching, has a chance of becoming more prominent. Depending on which oil gland is blocked, it can either be on the upper or lower eyelid. The lump may be irritatingly red and tender initially but usually becomes painless over time,

What causes a Chalazion in children?

Want to hear the technicalities of why Chalazion appears? It’s the blockage of the oil producing gland with a fancy name “Meibomian gland” which leads to the formation of what we call “chalazion”.

What happens here is that the said gland’s secretions start collecting, creating a lump, consequently giving the eye a post-punch look.

Another potential cause of the Chalazion in children is rubbing the eye which automatically passes bacteria. Our advice would be to stop your child from rubbing their eyes with dirty hands.

What are the symptoms to look out for?

• Swollen eyelids that can blur the vision
• Redness on and around the eyelids
• Mild discomfort or tenderness

What are the treatment options?

• Warm Compresses to soften the oil blockage slowly
• Gentle Massage to ease the glands
• In some cases Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments may be prescribed, if the infection or inflammation gives signs of being severe than normally.
• If the chalazion is having a stubborn time, does not reduce and keeps on making an appearance, minor surgical removal becomes the only option to get rid of it.

Prevention:

• Like we said before, keep your hands clean from any bacteria to avoid giving it a field day on your eyelid.
• Never been told that eyelid hygiene is important? Well, you know now. Keep it clean by regularly using a non-irritating cleanser, while also avoiding messing with the eyeballs
• Who knows there could be an underlying condition? Shoot your child’s doctor a quick text and talk about it to prevent recurrence of the Chalazion.

When to reach out to the doctor?

• Chalazion in Children not getting better with home treatment within a couple weeks
• If it grows unusually fast
• If your child starts expressing pain
• If they find it difficult seeing because of the stubborn swelling

Alarmingly noticeable redness, swelling, or discharge could hint at an untreated infection