What is the reason for the frequent occurrence of conjunctivitis in a child and how to avoid it

What is eye conjunctivitis in a child?

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. This thin layer is very sensitive and easily becomes inflamed under the influence of various negative factors.

The age of the child affects the incidence of morbidity. Conjunctivitis in young children is common, but, as a rule, it is not very dangerous. However, you should not self-medicate, especially if the child’s conjunctivitis does not go away for a long time.

When meeting with such a disease for the first time, parents have many questions. Let's answer the most common ones:

1. What does a baby with conjunctivitis look like? A common symptom that unites all types of the disease is severe redness and irritation of the eyes.
2. Is conjunctivitis contagious or not? What is the incubation period? Some types of disease are contagious (for example, the viral form), some are not (for example, allergic). In the case of a virus, the incubation period takes from 2 to 5 days.
3. Can such a disease go away on its own? Theoretically it can, but there is no need to risk it. It is necessary to consult a doctor to determine the type of disease and prescribe appropriate treatment.
4. Is it possible to go outside? If the child’s general condition is not impaired and there is no temperature, walking is not contraindicated. However, if the form of the disease is contagious, avoid contact with other children.
5. Is it possible to go to kindergarten? This is decided by the doctor, but in most cases the baby should be at home during the treatment period. If the form of the disease is contagious, home regime is mandatory.
6. How many days does the illness last? It is impossible to give an exact answer here. It depends on the causes of the disease, the severity of its course and many other factors. But, as a rule, uncomplicated forms with proper treatment disappear within a few days (5-7).
7. Which doctor should I see? An ophthalmologist deals with eye diseases, and he will prescribe treatment. If it is not possible to quickly see a specialist, then an initial diagnosis will be sufficient to see a pediatrician. If necessary, he will arrange a consultation with a specialist.

Disease in newborns

Sometimes the disease develops in very young children. If symptoms appear in a newborn baby, it is usually due to an eye infection during childbirth. If infectious agents - gonococci - come into contact with the mucous membrane of the eye, gonoblennorrhea develops - a specific type of ocular inflammation caused by these microorganisms. Chlamydia can also cause inflammation. If you have symptoms of conjunctival inflammation in infants, consult your doctor immediately.

Read more about conjunctivitis in newborns here.

What is conjunctivitis in children?

Conjunctivitis in children is classified according to several main criteria.

Depending on the cause of the disease, the following types of conjunctivitis in children are distinguished:

1. Infectious: caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Such conjunctivitis can be bacterial or viral, adenoviral, as well as fungal or chlamydial.
2. Allergic: caused by an allergic reaction, one of the manifestations of which is inflammation of the conjunctiva.
3. Contact: caused by direct exposure of the conjunctiva to physical or chemical factors: dust, chlorinated pool water, etc.

According to the nature of the disease:

• acute: lasts from several days to 2-3 weeks;
• chronic: can last for years, but is very rare in children.

Depending on the morphological features, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

• catarrhal: mucus is released from the eyes, there is no pus;
• purulent: inflamed eyes have purulent discharge;
• membranous: a film forms on the conjunctiva, which is easily removed;
• follicular: follicles (small nodules) appear on the eyelids.

In terms of frequency among children, the leading types are membranous and catarrhal types, caused by viruses, less often - purulent, which is usually provoked by a bacterial infection. Follicular, as a rule, is quite severe and requires treatment in a hospital, but it is extremely rare in children.

Possible complications

Sometimes certain situations may arise that require a quick reaction from the mother, as well as an immediate call to a doctor or ambulance at home.

1. No improvement after 48 hours from the start of therapy.
2. The baby complains of severe eye pain and a significant decrease in visual acuity.
3. The appearance of bubbles along the edge of the eyelid.

Although conjunctivitis is not considered a dangerous disease, it creates inconvenience for the baby throughout all days of development. Repeated relapses of the disease can be avoided only with strict and regular adherence to all preventive measures.

How is conjunctivitis transmitted and why does it occur in children?

To understand what causes the disease, you need to take into account all possible factors affecting the eyes. Conjunctivitis in children has various causes. Let's combine them into the following groups:

1. Infectious: viruses, bacteria, fungi, rods, etc. are a common cause of the disease. Conjunctivitis sometimes accompanies ARVI.
2. Allergic: all kinds of allergens that provoke an acute reaction of the conjunctiva. It could be pollen, household or book dust, etc.
3. Contact: in this case, the conjunctiva is irritated purely mechanically or due to chemical exposure, for example: chlorinated pool water, sand that gets into the eyes. In this case, symptoms of irritation also appear: redness, lacrimation.

A separate reason is psychosomatic. Sometimes symptoms appear for psychological reasons as neurosis, the result of an obsessive action (for example, a child unconsciously rubs his eyes, irritating them).

Only infectious conjunctivitis is transmitted from person to person, the causative agents of which are microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacilli. In this case, it is transmitted by airborne droplets or contact, through dirty hands, common hygiene items. Other types of the disease are not contagious.

Treatment with folk remedies

Folk remedies are effective if used as part of complex therapy. For this purpose, the eyes are usually washed with healing solutions (for example, from herbs), lotions are made, etc. So, the following remedies will help speed up the healing process:

• Rinsing the eyes with a decoction of chamomile - 1 tbsp. l. dry herb, pour a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 30-40 minutes, strain and rinse both eyes (4-5 times a day).
• Rinsing with clover decoction (use the inflorescences of the plant) - 1 tbsp. l. the herbs are poured with a glass of boiling water, infused and used in the same way as described above (as in the case of chamomile).
• Lotions with rosehip decoction - 1 tbsp. l. Rose hips are poured with a glass of boiling water, cooled and filtered. A cotton or gauze swab is generously moistened in the resulting decoction and applied to the inflamed eye. Keep the lotions for 15-20 minutes and use up to 5-6 times a day.
• Lotions with raw potato juice - the potatoes are washed, peeled and grated, then the juice is drained and diluted with boiled water at room temperature (1:1). Used in the form of lotions similarly to the method described above. Frequency of use: 3-4 times a day.

When treating the eyes, it is necessary to use different cotton swabs, since the infection from the diseased eye can spread to the healthy one (if one eye is inflamed). In case of rinsing, the movements should be directed from the temple to the nose, and not vice versa.

Symptoms and diagnosis of the disease

The signs of conjunctivitis in children are quite specific, so there are usually no difficulties in recognizing the disease. The main symptom – irritation and redness of the eyes – is enough to understand that the child is developing conjunctivitis. But there are additional symptoms of conjunctivitis in children:

• redness of the eyes;
• fear of bright light;
• lacrimation;
• swelling of the eyelids;
• pus, mucus or films form in the eye;
• itching, the child rubs his eyes.

The disease usually manifests itself in several of the listed symptoms at once. Having noticed the first signs, it is wise to immediately begin first aid and consult a doctor.

High fever with conjunctivitis in children occurs with an infectious form in preschoolers. In older children, fever usually occurs only if conjunctivitis accompanies ARVI or another infectious disease.

Conjunctivitis of the eyes in children is not difficult to identify, since the signs are very specific. However, it should be borne in mind that it can be combined with a general infectious disease, so at the appointment the pediatrician examines not only the condition of the eyes themselves, but also checks the throat, breathing, and measures body temperature. This is important to establish the root cause, type of inflammation and prescribe adequate treatment.

How and how to treat conjunctivitis in a child

Treatment of conjunctivitis in children depends on the causes of the disease. Therefore, you must first consult a doctor who will determine the cause and prescribe adequate treatment. In some cases, it is possible to quickly cure severe conjunctivitis, and sometimes the recovery period can be quite long. There are proven good remedies for various forms of the disease.

What helps to treat infectious forms

Viral conjunctivitis usually accompanies ARVI. In this case, it is advisable to use antiviral drops and ointments. To treat the bacterial form, local antibiotics are prescribed in the form of drops and ointments. In particular, Albucid solution is used for instillation, and tetracycline ointment is used for putting into the eye. In the case of a general inflammatory disease (for example, pneumonia), which is accompanied by ocular inflammation, systemic antibiotics may also be prescribed. Active ingredients include penicillin and others.

Antibiotics should not be used without a doctor's prescription. The treatment regimen is prescribed by a specialist and must be strictly followed.

If there is discharge from the eyes, especially with a purulent form of the disease, regular eye rinsing is necessary. To do this, use a decoction of chamomile, which has an anti-inflammatory and soothing effect, or a solution of furatsilin. Rinsing removes accumulated pus and mucus, cleans the eyes and helps fight the disease.

How is an allergic form treated?

The main point in the treatment of the allergic form is the identification and elimination (removal) of the allergen, stopping contact with it. To relieve unpleasant allergy symptoms, effective medications are used: modern antihistamines (for example, Zyrtec, Erius) and antiallergic drops for children (Lecrolin, Cromohexal).

Eye washes are not used for allergic reactions.

How to instill drops correctly

Rules for the treatment of eye inflammation include the correct technique for instilling drops:

• drops should be at room temperature;
• carefully pull back the lower eyelid and drop the drug onto it;
• Gently blot off any excess drops that have collected in the corner of the eye with a clean napkin.
• If the symptoms are only in one eye, you still need to drip into both.

Young children, especially those under 3 years of age, often resist instillation. If the patient, for example, is 2 years old, he closes his eyes tightly out of fear and cannot be persuaded, then you can drop it on the junction of the eyelids and wait until he opens his eyes. Then the healing solution itself will reach the conjunctiva. If the child is six years old or older, he will be able to explain that there is no need to be afraid and persuade him to endure the procedure.

Additionally, we recommend watching a video from an ophthalmologist on how to properly apply eye drops to a child and use eye ointment.

Read about treating your child at home here.

Advice from Dr. Komarovsky

Since some types of conjunctivitis are contagious, Evgeniy Komarovsky recommends avoiding visiting kindergarten, school and other public places for the duration of treatment. In addition, the pediatrician advises:

• Provide the child with separate dishes and personal hygiene products (including soap).
• Always instill medications into both eyes, even if only one is inflamed.
• Immediately before instillation, the drops need to be slightly warmed in your hand.
• Carry out wet cleaning of the room daily, avoiding the accumulation of dust.

But it’s even better to take preventative precautions.

Why is conjunctivitis dangerous in children?

Most often, the disease does not pose a serious danger, but in some cases it has complications. They develop if the disease is left untreated or treated incorrectly. When thinking about what will happen if eye inflammation is not treated, you need to be aware of the likely negative consequences. There are complications of childhood conjunctivitis such as:

• blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids);
• keratitis (inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye);
• dry eye syndrome (impaired production of tear fluid);
• transition to a chronic form.

If the infectious form of the disease is not treated, it may return after some time. Recurrent inflammation is more difficult to treat, so make sure that as a result of treatment the disease has completely gone away and the child’s eyes are absolutely healthy. The prescribed treatment should not be stopped at the first signs of improvement in order to exclude a recurrent episode of the disease.