Symptoms of conjunctivitis in children and methods of treatment

In childhood, most children get sick very often, and this is due not to the child's morbidity, but to the adaptation of his organism to the external environment.After all, in the womb of the mother is all sterile, and maternal immunity protects the baby from harmful influences. And after hitting the outside world, the child has to fight with millions of microorganisms, and not always successfully.

The first blow take over the skin and mucous membranes.And since the conjunctiva is the mucous membrane of the eyes, its inflammation in babies appears about the same frequency as the common cold.

Definition of disease

In younger children, conjunctivitis accounts for up to 30% of all ophthalmic diseases.With growth, this indicator gradually decreases, giving way to violations of refraction - hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism.

The lacrimal fluid produced by the conjunctiva performs the protective function of the eye tissues from the harmful effects of microparticles and microbes.This function is due to its specific protein compound (lysozyme), which has a virucidal and bactericidal action. If the impact of environmental elements (infectious and non-infectious) exceeds the protective potential of the conjunctiva, inflammation develops in the latter.

Structure of eye conjunctiva

Kinds

Conjunctivitis can be classified by causative factors (exogenous and endogenous), by degree manifestations of symptoms (acute and chronic), as well as the nature of the pathogen (with its infectious nature).

However, in children's practice, three types of the disease are most often distinguished:

• Bacterial(the main sign is purulent discharge);
• Viral(most often develops after or during ARVI);
• Allergic(accompanied by secondary symptoms of allergy).

  Types of conjunctivitis

Bacterial and viral forms of the disease occur about the same frequency, but allergic inflammations of conjunctiva in children account for only 3-5%.

Causes

With bacterial inflammation, the development of the disease in children can be provoked:

• Streptococci;
• Staphylococci;
• Pneumococci;
• Diphtheria bacillus;
• Koch-Weeks bacteria.

  Reasons for the development of conjunctivitis

If the mother is infected with gonococcus or chlamydia, the baby can catch the infection during labor. Bacterial infection can also penetrate the conjunctiva due to autoimmune infection or the presence of purulent-septic diseases (tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis, pyoderma, etc.) ).

The development of the viral form of the disease, as a rule, occurs against the background of adenoviral infection, herpes simplex, influenza, chicken pox, measles, etc. In this case, other symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection are diagnosed: pharyngitis and rhinitis.

Allergic conjunctivitis in childhood accompanies allergies in 90% of cases and is often accompanied by atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, pollinosis, bronchial asthma.The cause of allergies can be plant pollen, pet hair, fish food, dust mites, smells of household chemicals, medicines, etc.

Provoking factors in the development of conjunctivitis in children may be errors in the proper care of the baby, too dry air in the room, an unbalanced diet, a bright light.

Symptoms

The signs of the disease also largely depend on the nature of the pathogen:

• BacterialConjunctivitis, as a rule, affects both eyes: simultaneously or one by one. Eyelids (especially the lower ones) swell, and eyelashes are stuck together from a secret mixed with pus. This is especially noticeable in the morning;
• ViralInfection usually develops as a consequence of acute respiratory viral infection, expressed as usual signs of irritation. In most cases, against a background of weakened immunity, a bacterial infection joins, which is immediately manifested by the appearance of purulent discharge;
• Allergicconjunctivitis may be delayed (manifestation of symptoms occurs after 1-2 days) or immediate (signs appear within 30 minutes. ), but almost always accompanied by secondary manifestations: frequent sneezing, severe itching in the eyes, lacrimation.

Common signs of the disease are redness of the conjunctiva, severe lachrymation, photophobia, itching and swelling of the eyelids. Infectious diseases are contagious, allergic conjunctivitis is dangerous only for the patient. If a child has been diagnosed with conjunctivitis, be careful that he does not rub his eyes, otherwise the attachment of a bacterial infection is guaranteed.

Possible complications

In most cases, both bacterial and viral forms of the disease are safely cured under the condition of timely and adequate treatment.

If treatment is not performed correctly or if it is started on time, serious complications may develop:

• Atrophic changes in the conjunctivamay result from prolonged allergic damage;
• Cicatricial deformity of the eyelids- consequence of chlamydial infection;
• Corneal layer and iriscan occur with infection with the gonorrhea.

However, such consequences are usually very rare.But the spread of infection on the cornea and the development of keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) - a very likely option in the absence of treatment. Inflammation of the cornea often results in scarring or even ulcers.And this already breaks the patency for the light rays of one of the main refractive media of the eye - the cornea.And, consequently, threatens with a decrease in the quality of sight or even a complete loss of it.

Conjunctivitis for all its seeming simplicity requires competent and timely treatment, especially in young children. It should be treated only under the supervision of a pediatrician and after a diagnosis, since allergic the form of the disease can not be cured with antibiotics, as for a viral infection, antihistamines are useless.

Diagnostics

Carrying out of diagnostic actions begins with data collection of the anamnesis and visual inspection of the child by the ophthalmologist.If there is a need, an additional examination is carried out by a child allergist-immunologist. After this, and carrying out biomicroscopy, a smear from the conjunctiva is made for cytological examination.However, the final diagnosis is possible only after receiving the results of one of the studies: virologic, bacteriological, immunological, serological.

Conducting biomicroscopy of the eye

If allergies are suspected, the following steps are taken: determination of the level of eosinophils and IgE, examination for helminthic invasion and dysbacteriosis, skin allergic tests.

Treatment

After clarifying the nature of the pathogen, treatment is performed depending on the results of the tests.

Medication Therapy

The use of medication should be justified, and their choice can only be made by a pediatrician:

• Bacterial conjunctivitis.For treatment, drops are used Albucid and Levomycetin, tetracycline ointment. In between the main treatment procedures, the eyes are washed with a solution of furacilin or decoctions of chamomile and calendula. When treating bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, strengthened disinfection measures should be followed to avoid re-infection: do not touch eye pipette, use only disposable napkins and gauze tampons, sterilize the pipette after each procedure, wash your hands before instillation;

Tetracycline ointment is used in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

• Viral conjunctivitis.Treatment is carried out by antiviral agents: Aktipol, Poludan, Trifluridin (for herpes). Herpes infection is also successfully treated with ointments Acyclovir and Zovirax. For normal adenovirus infection, it is usually sufficient to wash antiseptics - the body copes with the virus on its own within a week. Although in the case of a small child, an ophthalmologist's examination is mandatory;

Zovirax is used in the treatment of viral conjunctivitis

• Allergic conjunctivitis.Therapeutic measures include the use of antihistamines: Allergoodil, Cromohexal, Lecrolin, Dexamethasone, Olopathodine. However, first of all, measures are taken to eliminate contact with the allergen. This is necessary not only to reduce the manifestations of the disease, but also, mainly, to eliminate even the slightest possibility of complications, the most severe of which is the bronchial asthma.

Dexamethasone is used in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

Of course, at first glance conjunctivitis seems a simple disease, but the wrong treatment started or its untimely start can cause unpleasant consequences. Therefore, do not delay the visit to the doctor in cases where symptoms do not pass or when it comes to small children.

Folk remedies

Treatment of conjunctivitis in children can be supplemented using the means of folk recipes (mainly antiseptics). Children from conjunctivitis can:

• Wash your eyes with infusions(3 hours) l. 200 ml of boiling water), calendula, chamomile, comfrey, nettle;
• Lubricate the baby's eyes with egg white for the night with boiled water after a 30-minute infusion;
• Use for washing the tea mushroom tincture;
• Pour 3-4 pcs. bay leaves 200 ml of boiling water, after infusion, strain and use for washing;
• For washing use the infusion of cherry flowers:2 hours l. Raw material pour 100 ml of boiling water, insist at least 30 minutes. ;
• If the house has green tea, then brew it is not too strong and used for lotions and washes;
• Make the decoction from the herb yarrow and apply to the eyes in the form of lotions, and also wash the eyes.

Do not forget, how to treat conjunctivitis at home to you will tell only the ophthalmologist, because only he can determine what kind of disease your child has. Every day, make fresh infusions and decoctions, and during the day, store them in the refrigerator, preheating before each procedure.

Prevention

To prevent development of unpleasant symptoms accompanying inflammation of the conjunctiva, it is possible with the help of usual preventive measures:

• Observe personal hygiene. Ensure that the child does not touch and do not rub his eyes with his hands, often washed his hands (especially after the street), he used only personal household items;
• Strengthen the immunity of the child: to observe the sleep and rest regime, carry out hardening, saturate the diet with fruits and vegetables, and take vitamin complexes;
• Keep the house clean: conduct wet cleaning and regular airing, monitor the humidity of air, minimize the effect of possible allergens;
• Carry out preventive examinations. At the first unusual or painful symptoms, do not wait until "it passes by itself and consult a doctor for advice. A medical examination, especially at a young child's age, will help not only start treatment on time, but also protect against the progression of possible visual defects with a timely correction.

Remember that the health of your child is in your hands and do not spare the energy and time for an extra visit to the doctor. After all, timely and correct diagnosis has not done any harm to anyone yet.

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conclusions

In most cases, children's conjunctivitis is the penetration of germs into the eyes, along with the child's dirty hands.Therefore, the simplest means of prevention is personal hygiene. If the baby does get sick, do not delay visiting a pediatric ophthalmologist - only a doctor can establish a correct diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment.

Strengthen the immunity of the baby and teach him to wash his hands often, especially after coming from the street. This will help to exclude the possibility of developing not only conjunctivitis, but also other infectious lesions.