Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, which often develops in children. The causes of this disease can be as follows.
- Allergic conjunctivitis in children arises from irritation with mucous substances-allergens: pollen of plants, animal hair, house dust, various chemicals, etc. Symptoms of this type of disease are as follows: both eyes of the child blush, begin to tear and itch, while the baby rubs his eyes and can avoid bright light.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis - a frequent guest in preschool. They easily get infected from a sick person, not respecting the rules of personal hygiene. The main sign of bacterial conjunctivitis is purulent discharge from the eyes (especially after a night's sleep). The disease usually affects first one eye, but in the absence of timely treatment is quickly transmitted to the second.
- With viral conjunctivitis, the discharge is also present, and it is also contagious. The disease often develops as a concomitant infection in the respiratory disease.
What can be treated with conjunctivitis in children?
If you suspect a conjunctivitis, you should seek help from an ophthalmologist. Depending on the type of disease, he will give the child appropriate treatment.
To effectively treat conjunctivitis in children, eye drops are used:
- antihistamines: cortisone, claritine, lacrisisin;
- antibacterial drops of a wide spectrum of action well help against bacterial conjunctivitis: albucid, florenal, levomycetin;
- from viral conjunctivitis doctors prescribe such drugs as ophthalmic, tobrex, floxal.
In addition, it is possible to use ointments (tetracycline, erythromycin).
An important aspect of treating conjunctivitis is eye rinsing with an antiseptic fluid. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, and is also necessary to eliminate purulent discharge from the eyes and eyelids. So, here's what you can wash your eyes with conjunctivitis:
- boiled water;
- solution of furacilin;
- hard-boiled black tea;
- a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- also a very effective chamomile broth with conjunctivitis.
Flushing should be carried out immediately before applying drops or ointments. To rinse the baby's eyes, moisten the cotton swab with liquid and gently wipe the eye from the outer edge of the gas to the inside. For each eye, use a separate tampon.
Terms of treatment of conjunctivitis
And, of course, parents are interested in how much conjunctivitis is treated.
Usually this disease, if its nature is viral or bacterial, is treated from one to two weeks. This is determined by the doctor under whose control the treatment is administered. Even if the visible symptoms have disappeared, do not drop the medication ahead of time, otherwise the disease will return again. When allergic conjunctivitis is very important to eliminate allergens that cause a reaction.
Treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns
This disease can develop even in newborn babies. Most often this is due to infection during the passage of the baby through the birth canal of the mother, improper care or infection. Treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns is practically the same as treating it in older children. The doctor should prescribe eye drops that can be used from birth (tobrex, sodium sulfacil), and the parents - strictly adhere to the schedule of treatment.
Chronic conjunctivitis in children
Chronic conjunctivitis is more common in adults than in children. Moreover, it is a secondary disease, that is,
- metabolic disorders;
- beriberi;
- permanent and prolonged exposure to allergens;
- chronic inflammation of the nasopharynx.
Symptoms of chronic conjunctivitis are the same as in acute flow, but they develop sluggishly and can then fade, then reappear.
Treatment of chronic conjunctivitis usually includes antibacterial drugs and ointments; it must necessarily take place under the supervision of a doctor.