Styes and chalazions in babies
6-minute read
Key facts
- A stye is a small and painful cyst that can develop at the base of your baby’s upper or lower eyelid when an oil gland becomes blocked and infected.
- A chalazion is a small, usually painless lump that slowly grows inside your baby’s eyelid when an oil gland gets blocked and can’t drain.
- A stye can be painful, tender and make your baby’s eye swell, while a chalazion does not cause pain and your baby may not have many symptoms.
- Your baby’s doctor can diagnose a stye or chalazion by checking their eyes and asking you about your baby's symptoms and medical history.
- Usually, a stye or chalazion will heal on its own and does not need treatment, unless the skin around it becomes infected.
What is a stye?
A stye is a small and painful cyst filled with pus that is caused by an infection at the base of your baby’s upper or lower eyelid. A stye is also called a hordeolum.
Styes are more common in adults than children. If your baby gets a stye, their eyelid will be red, swollen and tender if you touch it.
What is a chalazion?
A chalazion is a small, smooth, usually painless lump that grows slowly inside your baby’s eyelid. The plural of a chalazion is chalazia.
Chalazia are common in children. If your baby has had a chalazion before, there is a chance that it will come back.
What are the symptoms of a stye or chalazion?
If your baby has a stye, they may have a painful eyelid or swelling of their eyelid. Your baby’s eyelid might be tender to touch. If your baby has a chalazion, they may not have any symptoms. Unlike styes, chalazia are not painful or tender to touch. If your baby’s chalazion becomes big enough, it can block their vision or affect their ability to see.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes a stye or chalazion?
Your baby may develop a stye when an oil gland in their eyelid becomes blocked and infected by bacteria.
Unlike styes, chalazia are not caused by an infection. Your baby may develop a chalazion when an oil gland in their eyelid becomes blocked. This stops the natural oils from draining properly. A lump can form because of the swelling and irritation of the blocked gland.
When should I see my doctor?
You should take your baby to see their doctor if:
- you are worried that your baby has a stye or chalazion
- you are worried that the skin around your baby’s stye or chalazion is becoming infected
- your baby has had a stye or chalazion for a while and it is not healing on its own
Read more about how to tell if your child is sick.
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How is a stye or chalazion diagnosed?
Your baby’s doctor can diagnose a stye or chalazion by examining your baby's eyes and asking you about their symptoms.
As part of diagnosing chalazia, your doctor will review your child’s medical history, including any repeated infections, both general infections affecting the whole body and any past cases of chalazia.
How is a stye or chalazion treated?
Most styes and chalazia will heal on their own without needing any treatment. Antibiotics are not usually needed to treat styes and chalazia.
Here are some tips to help your baby’s stye and chalazion heal:
- Place a warm compress over your baby’s closed eye for 2 to 5 minutes a few times a day. Your baby’s skin may be more sensitive to heat than yours, so take care that the compress is not too hot.
- If you use a warm water compress, always use clean water and a new or clean compress.
- After placing the warm compress, gently massage your baby’s eyelid over the area of their stye or chalazion.
- Make sure your hands are clean before touching the warm compress or your baby's face.
In rare situations, your baby may need to see an ophthalmologist (a specialist eye doctor). For example, if your baby’s stye or chalazion does not heal within 3 months, they may need a minor procedure to drain it. Your baby’s doctor (general practitioner or paediatrician) can advise you if you need specialist care.
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What are the complications of a stye or chalazion?
In rare cases, the skin around your baby’s stye or chalazion can become infected. This infection is called cellulitis. Cellulitis around your baby’s eye is a serious and potentially dangerous infection if it is not treated quickly and correctly.
Your baby’s doctor may suggest antibiotic ointments, drops or syrup if the skin around your baby’s chalazion or stye looks infected or painful. If they have cellulitis and are getting treatment, they need to be checked again by their doctor within 1 to 2 days.
Can styes and chalazia be prevented?
You can prevent your baby from developing styes and chalazia by keeping good hygiene. Wash your baby’s face and hands regularly.
Read more about personal hygiene for children including how to wash their hands properly.
Read more about how to wash your hands properly.
Resources and support
- Learn more about chalazia on the Children’s Health Queensland website.
- The Centre for Eye Research Australia has a collection of eye health resources for people of all ages.
- The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network has information on common eye problems in children, including chalazia.
- Good vision for life is an Optometry Australia website and has useful resources about children’s vision.
- You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital has a collection of fact sheets about eye health in many community languages.