Conjunctivitis in pregnancy: symptoms and treatment

During pregnancy, the female body is particularly vulnerable to a variety of viruses, as immunity decreases dramatically. Often you can meet a future mother, whose eyes are infected. Conjunctivitis in pregnancy, can affect the eyeball at any time. This article will deal with the peculiarities of this illness, the methods of treatment, and also how dangerous it is for a future mother and child.

• Conjunctivitis, what is it and the reasons for its appearance
• Types of conjunctivitis and symptoms
• Is it dangerous in pregnancy?
• Than to treat a conjunctivitis
• Treatment with folk remedies

Conjunctivitis, what is it and the reasons for its appearance

Conjunctivitis is a viral pathology that affects the eyeball. The main pathogens of the disease are viruses and bacteria. An illness can affect a person in any circumstances. Infection lasts for 4 to 8 days, and both eyes immediately fall ill. Causes of infection for all groups of people are the same. Among the most common sources of damage, physicians have established the following:

• a variety of viruses and bacteria;
• direct contact with infectious agents of allergy (pollen of flowers, animal hair, chemical agents);
• foreign bodies penetrating the mucous eyes;
• colds;
• decrease in the number of vitamins necessary for the eyes;
• pronounced nearsightedness;
• chronic and acute ENT diseases;
• hypothermia of the body;
• contact lenses, if they are not properly monitored and not followed instructions for their use;
• harmful microorganisms (chlamydia).

Important!It is interesting to know how the conjunctivitis is betrayed, read with us.

During pregnancy, the immune system decreases, so the woman is even more susceptible to infection. All of the above causes quickly affect the weakened organism, causing an unpleasant disease.

Types of conjunctivitis and symptoms

In medicine, there are several varieties of this infection of the eyes. All of them depend on the method of infection.

1. Viral conjunctivitis in pregnancy. Infection affects both eyes at once and except for the main symptoms, there are signs of a cold (general malaise, weakness, aches in joints, cough, headache, body temperature rises, chills appear). In the course of the disease, the eyes suffer greatly, they become very red and itch, and there are significant tears.
2. Allergic conjunctivitis in pregnancy. The disease is actively manifested in the spring or early summer, as the sensitivity to a variety of allergic pathogens is exacerbated. Each organism has its own characteristics, so all have different reactions to certain allergens. Infection causes severe itching, redness and tearing. All these unpleasant symptoms are observed simultaneously from both eyes. Sometimes the ailment causes additional complications, such as skin rashes, runny nose, coughing and sneezing.
3. Bacterial conjunctivitis in pregnant women. Infection simultaneously affects both eyes, although there are cases when only one eye is sick. The ailment is accompanied by very severe and unpleasant symptoms, among the main physicians, redness, itching, swelling of the eyelids, as well as white and green discharge are prominent.

Conjunctivitis of the eye during pregnancy is a very unpleasant disease that can affect any person. If such unpleasant changes are observed, it is important to urgently consult a doctor. The ophthalmologist will carefully examine the eyeball, if necessary, take tests. After the examination, the doctor will be able to prescribe the correct treatment regimen.

Important!The most effective methods of treating conjunctivitis at home can be found here.

Is it dangerous in pregnancy?

As a rule, conjunctivitis does not endanger neither the woman herself, nor the future child. The illness is quite easy to treat, so after a few days there comes a complete recovery. With proper treatment, the disease does not provoke any complications and does not cause serious consequences for the fetus. During lactation, mom should not worry that the infection can hit the baby. However, it is worth knowing if the disease is caused by adenoviruses, it is important to protect the child from infection.

Important!Learn more about adenoviral conjunctivitis and its treatment.

Conjunctivitis often causes chlamydia that are in the body. It is this infection that badly affects the fetus, as well as the pregnancy itself. Pregnant women who are infected with this virus are prone to intrauterine infections, premature birth and rupture of amniotic membranes.

If conjunctivitis is diagnosed because of chlamydia, then newborns have severe consequences. At 25-50% of newborn babies, in a few days there is this unpleasant ailment. In 30% of children in a week or several months there is pneumonia, which is difficult to treat and provokes complications.

Important!Want to know which doctor is treating conjunctivitis? Read in our article.

Than to treat a conjunctivitis

Therapy of the disease in pregnant women is complicated by the fact that they are prohibited from using a number of medications. The doctor prescribes treatment from what is possible, but with the help of such medicines one can achieve excellent results. As a rule, drops and ointments fight against infection perfectly:

1. Albucid. Drug drops are prescribed for pregnant women, they will not harm the fetus. They should be used as directed by the doctor, since the dosage depends on the severity of the disease. During a severe inflammation, it is necessary to drip 3 drops of medicine into each eye, the procedure can be performed up to 6 times a day. As recovery, the rate of instillation should be reduced until a full recovery is achieved.
2. Tetracycline ointment. The drug is used to treat a variety of eye infections, it has antibacterial effect. In a small amount, the ointment is applied to the lower eyelid, and rubbed over the entire surface of the eye. The procedure should be repeated 3 to 5 times, as therapy recovers, it is necessary to reduce the therapy.
3. Furacil. How is conjugivitis treated with furacilin? Tablets have a wide spectrum of action, they actively destroy infections and restore the work of the affected organs. It is necessary to prepare a solution, in 125 mg of water, dissolve one tablet. Wipe your eyes with a solution several times a day, while it is important for each eye to take a clean cotton pad.

Important!During pregnancy, you should not self-medicate. It is important to consult a doctor and get competent recommendations. An ophthalmologist will monitor the course of therapy, and, if necessary, make changes to the treatment.

Treatment with folk remedies

Medicamentous treatment of conjunctivitis, can be supplemented with folk methods, but only with the permission of the doctor. There are many "grandmother" methods that allow you to quickly cope with the disease. How to treat eye infection at home:

• root of the althaea 3 tbsp. Spoon it is necessary to pour 250 mg of boiling water and let it sit for at least 8 hours. Received decoction make lotions;
• it is necessary to connect 2 hours. spoonful of rose hips and a glass of boiling water, give 30 minutes, so that all is well brewed. After that you can make lotions or just wash your eyes;
• An effective tool is the treatment of tea. For this, you can use sachets of black or green tea. They must be imposed on the eyes.

Important!Conjunctivitis during pregnancy in the early stages, it is better to treat folk methods, so as not to harm the child. However, you should always consult a doctor.

To avoid conjunctivitis, it is important to regularly change the towel and pillowcase, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and do not put your fingers in your eyes. Such simple preventive measures will protect a pregnant woman from this unpleasant disease.