Conjunctivitis in children: features of the disease and the degree of its infectiousness

A common problem with babies is conjunctivitis. It can cause considerable discomfort, but it's really easy to cure it effectively.But first you need to understand what the essence of this disease is and whether the conjunctivitis is transmitted.Conjunctivitis can occur at any age, starting with the first month of life of the child.So mothers in the first time must be very careful about the health of the newborn.

What it is

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of either one eye, or both. At any age, whether adult or very young, the causes of its occurrence are similar.The development of the disease may be isolated, but may proceed in conjunction with other pathologies and abnormalities.

Causes

The key reasons for this problem are:

• viruses;
• bacteria;
• allergic reactions.

These are the main options, but in children conjunctivitis can develop and as a result of completely different causes.Examples can be:

• ORZ or ARVI, which complicates the eyes from the nasopharynx;
• severe overheating or, conversely, hypothermia;
• general lowering of immunity;
• increased pressure (both intracranial and intraocular);
• getting into the eye of a foreign body (usually it's just cilia);
• obstruction or obstruction of tear ducts.

It is possible to classify several types of disease depending on which of the above mentioned problems caused it.

• Viral conjunctivitis.Usually this is the result of a cold disease that the kid has personally transferred, or his relatives. Most often, infants are infected with this from their parents or relatives. Unlike other forms of the disease, viral conjunctivitis is really contagious. It can be catarrhal, follicular and vesicular-ulcerative. The last subtype is the heaviest.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis.It is provoked by various bacteria, for example, streptococci, gonococci and so on. Usually the child brings them from the street, after which he rubs his eyes and brings an infection there. This is the most common subspecies of this disease after the virus. It is also contagious, but more often transmitted through direct contacts.

• Adenoviral conjunctivitis.This is a rare virus subtype, which is provoked by special adenoviruses. It flows somewhat more complicated than the usual virus, most often it is maximally activated in the autumn-spring period.
• Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.This is another subspecies of the viral form of the disease, but the most infectious of all. But, if a person has been ill for them once, then he has lifelong immunity to the causative agent of the disease.
• Allergic conjunctivitis.It arises as a result of reaction to various pathogens of allergy, for example, dust mites, grass, pollen and so on can provoke a problem.

Particularly difficult is the seasonal variation of this problem, which unfolds most strongly in the spring.

Symptoms

It is difficult to distinguish different types of disease from each other, but you can pay attention to the main symptoms that are inherent in them.

The bacterial variety of the problem is characterized by the following symptoms:

• in the eyes there is a sensation of the presence of a foreign body;
• felt and / or aching pain;
• most often the problem begins on one eye, but gradually goes to the second, when the child brings the bacteria there;
• Skin and mucous membranes of the eyes become dry.

The viral form of the problem proceeds somewhat differently:

• strongly pronounced lacrimation appears;
• the eyes are irritated;
• the conjunctiva becomes red;
• a small amount of mucous secretions;
• follicular eruptions on the inner side of the eyelids.

The allergic variety is slightly different:

• the problem begins simultaneously in both eyes;
• the eyelids become swollen;
• eyes blush;
• when looking at a bright light there are pains in the eyes.

With all kinds of conjunctivitis, there is a secretion of pus. Only in viral varieties, these discharges are watery, and for bacterial species they are more dense and have a more specific color.

Sometimes it is possible to meet the concept of "purulent conjunctivitis but there is no such kind of disease, pus is released with any manifestation of such a disease in principle, sometimes in large quantities, and sometimes in inessential.

Diagnostics

Usually, a general understanding of the clinical picture is sufficient to make a diagnosis, but the most accurate diagnosis is provided by the analysis of smears and scrapings from the conjunctiva.

Treatment

To correctly treat conjunctivitis, you must first correctly determine what kind of variety is available for the baby.

The success of treatment depends on this, so it is necessary to consult a doctor and not take any hasty actions until the diagnosis is made.

If viral and bacterial conjunctivitis is identified, then you can wash the eyes with a solution of furacilin, or saline solution.Crusts must be removed with damp cloths moistened in the same washing solution. Against viral varieties of the disease, doctors usually prescribe special antiviral drops and ointments, for example, "Acyclovir".You can usually remove unpleasant symptoms with simple warm compresses.

Bacterial variant of the disease is treated with the help of eye washing and instillation, usually a tetracycline or erythrocyte ointment and other similar preparations are used.In complex forms, one of the types of antibiotics can be used, this helps to achieve a good result.

If the child showed an allergic variety, then eyes do not need to be washed.Symptoms are removed with the help of cool compresses, and the disease is eliminated with antihistamine drugs.

Complications

If you do not treat the disease, but leave it as it is, then significant complications are possible.For example, very young kids can develop:

• otitis;
• meningitis;
• sepsis.

If the child is slightly older, then it can happen:

• inflammation of the eye cornea;
• the throat;
• blurred vision;
• partial or total blindness.

Also, conjunctivitis can go on into a chronic form. It is not contagious, but it does not make it easier for a child.

Prevention

There are several simple measures that will minimize the chance of conjunctivitis:

• it is necessary to minimize communication with unhealthy children;
• It is necessary to constantly work on strengthening the immunity of the baby;
• premises where the baby is located, you need to constantly air, and also moisten the air in them;
• bed, toys and other things that the child is in contact with must necessarily be as clean as possible;
• you need to walk as often as possible;
• the nutrition of the child must necessarily be healthy, as well as the nutrition of his parents.

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Destruction of the vitreous body of the eye - a solution is found!

Table for testing the eyesight in children - why it is necessary to undergo a visual examination of your child, read here.

How conjunctivitis manifests in adults, see here: http://eyesdocs.ru/zabolevaniya/konyunktivit/kak-bystro-vylechit-konyunktivit-u-vzroslogo.html

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conclusions

Not always conjunctivitis is a contagious disease, but some of its forms are just such. So, if someone has a viral or bacterial conjunctivitis in children, or if someone potentially infection of the child, which can cause the eye disease in the child, it is better to limit the contact of this person with baby. But if the problem has arisen, do not try to deal with it yourself, you need to contact a specialist, namely to the ophthalmologist - he will help to cope with a conjunctivitis, and at the same time and will check up vision on possible or probable deviation.