Viral conjunctivitis symptoms and treatment at home

Viral conjunctivitis is an inflammatory disease of the mucous membrane of the eyelids (conjunctiva), caused by a virus or infection. Today is a fairly common problem, especially in the season of colds. Viral conjunctivitis is most often transmitted through infected objects and physical contact, less often by airborne droplets.

Forms of the disease and causes

The disease can manifest itself in 2 forms:

• Forms of the disease and causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• Treatment of viral conjunctivitis in pregnant women
• Treatment of viral conjunctivitis with folk remedies
• Eye wash mixtures
• Complications
• Prevention

• isolated, that is, developing as an independent disease;
• Concomitant, which manifests itself against the background of a viral infection.

Isolated form can provoke: enterovirus, adenovirus (transmitted by airborne droplets), Kosaka virus, Kokha-Uyssa (transmitted by contact), various "cocci", herpes. Very often isolated children are conjoined with conjunctivitis in schools and kindergartens. Due to the fact that the virus is very easily and quickly transmitted, the disease can be epidemic.

Important!How the conjunctivitis and its species are transmitted, you can find out here.

The accompanying inflammatory process manifests itself against the background of:

• mumps;
• measles;
• rubella;
• chicken pox and other viral infections.

Viral conjunctivitis begins to develop immediately after infection on the mucous membrane of the eye. For more details on the reasons, see the video.

Symptoms

Manifestations of the disease vary slightly depending on the "provocateur", however, one can distinguish a general picture of the symptoms:

• tear;
• mucous discharge;
• itching;
• redness of the eyes and eyelids;
• swelling of the eyelids;
• increased photosensitivity.

As the eye of a person with conjunctivitis looks, you can look at the photo below.

Very often the disease affects first one eye, and only then spreads to the second. By the nature of the course, the following forms of viral conjunctivitis can be distinguished:

1. Herpetic. The symptoms manifest gradually, the disease is characterized by a prolonged and lingering course. Usually on the eyelids there are herpetic vesicles. Most patients are children.
2. Adenoviral. The appearance of the main symptoms of conjunctivitis is preceded by fever and sore throat.
3. Epidemic. At the initial stage, headaches occur, the general condition of the patient worsens.

A week later, the patient complains of discomfort in the eyes (or one eye), mucous discharge, redness and swelling. This form of the disease is most affected by the adult part of the population. As a rule, large groups of people (families, collectives) are immediately ill.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing viral conjunctivitis is very simple. To do this, it is enough to collect anamnesis and eye examinations by an ophthalmologist. In some cases, a smear or bacteriological culture is used to determine the pathogen.

Treatment

Once the causative agent of infection is identified, it must be eliminated, and the main treatment is directed. For this purpose, topical antiviral drugs (drops, ointments) may be prescribed: Ophthalmoferon, Acyclovir (with a herpetic form). If the disease develops against the backdrop of other viral processes in the body, antibiotics of a wide spectrum are taken, taken inwards.

To reduce swelling and redness of the eyelid, local antihistamine drops or corticosteroids are prescribed.

In general, the treatment of viral conjunctivitis in children is carried out in exactly the same way as in adults. Parents should carefully monitor the observance of the prescription of the doctor by the child, avoid combing the eyes and touching them. During the period of illness it is recommended not to go to school (kindergarten), it is best to sit at home.

Important!At the first signs of the disease it is necessary to contact a specialist in a timely manner, and which doctor will cure conjunctivitis can be found in our article.

All patients during the treatment period are recommended to observe the following:

1. Often wash your hands, wash at least twice a day, allocate a separate face towel.
2. Women are not recommended to use cosmetics. Do not let your cosmetic use other people, so as not to infect them.
3. Wash bed linens and towels at high water temperatures.
4. If you wear contact lenses, you will temporarily have to switch to glasses, and replace old lenses with new ones.
5. Do not use the same drops for a healthy and sore eye.

The cure occurs after 3-4 weeks.

Treatment of viral conjunctivitis in pregnant women

Very often, women ask the question "is viral conjunctivitis dangerous for a child during pregnancy or lactation?" In general, the disease passes quickly enough to cause no complications, so the probability of infection of the child is very small.

However, all pregnant women are recommended to undergo a test for chlamydial conjunctivitis. This disease is often a consequence of untreated clamidiosis and can provoke various intrauterine infections or be transmitted to the child during childbirth.

In most cases, the treatment of viral conjunctivitis in pregnant women is done at home: warm or cold compresses based on chamomile, calendula and other herbs. Often there is a need for antibacterial drops and ointments. Antibiotics for internal use may be prescribed only if:

• the illness did not pass within seven days;
• the patient has immunodeficiency.

Important!More about the symptoms, causes and treatment of conjunctivitis in pregnancy, can be found here.

Treatment of viral conjunctivitis with folk remedies

If you are a supporter of traditional medicine, you can be treated for viral conjunctivitis and at home using folk remedies.

Important!How to treat conjunctivitis at home, you can find out here.

Eye wash mixtures

Apple blossom

Quickly cope with conjunctivitis will help decoction on the basis of apple tree branches of sweet variety. Pre-washed twigs to fill with water, put on fire and boil until the liquid becomes burgundy. The resulting solution is used to rinse or instill eyes.

Tea mixture

High efficiency in the treatment of viral conjunctivitis gives a mixture of green and black tea. For cooking, mix the two kinds of tea leaves in equal proportions and make a strong drink. Add 200 g of the solution to a tablespoon of dry wine. The recipe is ready!

Water compress

Pre-boiled water cool, moisten it with a cotton swab and attach to the eye for 5 minutes. Warm compress will help to remove irritation, cold - to reduce puffiness and itching.

Ointment

Would need:

• refined oil 190 g;
• beeswax;
• egg 1 piece.

Pour oil into a bowl, put on fire and add to it a piece of beeswax, the size of a matchbox. Wait until the wax melts. At this time, cook a hard-boiled egg, cool and separate from it half the yolk. Shredded yolk gradually add to the oil-wax mixture stirring. Remove the semi-finished product from the heat, let it brew for 20 minutes. After the time has passed, strain through gauze and place in the refrigerator. The ointment is ready!

Important!We treat conjunctivitis at home with us.

Propolis-based drops

This recipe has a very large number of positive reviews from patients. To prepare the drops, take a small piece of propolis and finely mop it. The resulting powder should be poured with water in a ratio of 1: 4 and filtered with gauze.
All medications should be used at least 2 times a day.

Complications

One possible complication of viral conjunctivitis is keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), which can lead to blindness.

Prevention

Preventive measures are extremely simple. Carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene, do not use someone else's cosmetics and towels. Qualitatively and timely treat all diseases. If you have a cold, then use disposable napkins instead of a handkerchief. Do not rub your eyes with dirty hands.