Bacterial conjunctivitis in children

Inflammatory eye diseases are one of the most common diseases in babies of different ages. The peak incidence is observed in children at the age of 2 and up to 10 years. Babies can get sick almost from the first days after birth. Conjunctivitis resulting from the ingress of bacteria occurs in the vast majority of cases.

The most common reasons

Bacterial infections top the list of acute inflammatory eye diseases in babies. Modern science today has more than half a million different pathogenic bacteria. Once in the child's body, they multiply rapidly and relatively quickly cause severe inflammation.

In pediatric ophthalmic practice, bacterial conjunctivitis is often caused by staphylococci or streptococci. They are perfectly preserved in the external environment. Without the use of special disinfectants, bacteria exist for a long time in different rooms.

A particularly high concentration of these microorganisms is noted in crowded collectives. In children's educational institutions, there is a high level of bacteria in the ambient air.

Staphylococci also tolerate adverse environmental conditions very well. They can live in cold and poorly heated rooms for a relatively long time.... When exposed to favorable conditions of existence, microorganisms begin to multiply actively and can cause outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The mucous membrane of the eye or conjunctiva is very well supplied with blood. Once in the blood, microorganisms quickly spread throughout the body through the bloodstream, causing damage to other organs.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a rather dangerous disease, since it can occur with various adverse complications.

Incubation period

It takes quite a long time before the first characteristic symptoms of the disease appear. This time period is called the incubation period. For bacterial conjunctivitis, it usually lasts 7-10 days.

Dr. Komarovsky gives advice on how to distinguish viral from bacterial conjunctivitis. If the disease is caused by a virus, then the incubation period will be shorter. On average, it is 3-5 days.

Before the onset of the first manifestations of the disease, the number of bacteria in the child's body increases significantly. Once in favorable conditions of existence, they multiply rapidly. Spreading with the blood flow throughout the body, pathogenic microorganisms cause vivid manifestations of an inflammatory disease.

What are the main symptoms?

Bacterial conjunctivitis can present with many different clinical manifestations. Since microorganisms damage the mucous membrane of the eyes, visual impairments are the most common signs of inflammation.

Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria usually presents with the following symptoms:

Severe lacrimation. The flow of fluid from the eyes of a baby during the acute period of the disease is observed almost constantly. In some children, lacrimation may begin with only one eye. After a few hours, the inflammation turns into a second.
Suppuration. If the disease is caused by the bacterial flora, then the discharge from the eyes becomes purulent. In some cases, when infected with staphylococcus, babies may have a green discharge. Some bacteria give a more purple hue. Pus from the eye is quite sticky, poorly removed during hygiene procedures.
Redness of the eyes. With bacterial conjunctivitis, the redness is moderate. Severe redness occurs only in severe forms of the disease and is more typical for viral variants of the course of the disease. In babies with bacterial conjunctivitis, redness of both eyes is observed. This symptom may persist for up to a week after recovery.
Sensation of a foreign object or "sand" in the eyes. Often it is the very first sensation in the early stages of the disease. When this symptom appears, one can already suspect the imminent development of the remaining signs of conjunctivitis.
Soreness in bright light. The sun's rays, falling on the inflamed mucous membrane of the eye, cause increased pain and lacrimation. In the acute period of the disease, the baby feels better in a darker room. In order for the mucous membrane of the eye to heal quickly and not be additionally injured, it is better to curtain the children's room well.
Deterioration of the general condition of the child. Babies during the period of illness become more capricious, their appetite decreases. Severe pain syndrome does not allow the child to often open his eyes. He starts blinking more often. With more severe pain syndrome, children cry and refuse to eat, try to spend more time in bed or sleep.
The appearance of intoxication. Any bacterial process causes fever, headache and general weakness. This phenomenon is associated with the abundance of bacterial toxins secreted by microorganisms. The body temperature in babies usually rises to 38-39 degrees. With such an increase, fever may occur, as well as chills.

The development of numerous symptoms with conjunctivitis occurs very rapidly. During the first two days, the babies' pain syndrome and lacrimation increase manifold. To prevent the development of dangerous complications that can cause permanent visual impairment in a child, parents urgently need to show the baby to an ophthalmologist. The doctor will establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe all the drug therapy necessary in this case.

Treatment

Any bacterial disease can cause a whole range of adverse effects. To prevent this, the mandatory prescription of drugs is required.

Most often, doctors recommend various eye drops that have a bactericidal effect. However, the use of such drugs is not always sufficient to completely remove bacteria from the body. In many cases, antibiotic tablets are required.

All treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis can be reduced to performing certain prescriptions:

The use of antibacterial drugs as prescribed by a doctor. They can be in the form of drops, tablets, or injections. Most often, albucid, tetracycline and chloramphenicol ointment are used to treat bacterial eye infections. These drugs have proven themselves in children's practice and practically do not cause adverse side effects in babies. Ointments are applied with a sterile glass rod for the damaged eyelid 3-4 times a day. Usually the duration of such treatment is no more than 10 days. The appointment of pills and antibiotic injections is done only by a doctor. In his recommendations, he indicates the frequency, dose and duration of such an antibacterial course.
Eye wash. For this purpose, it is better to use ordinary boiled water with the addition of antiseptic agents. For babies from the very first months of life, chamomile decoctions are perfect. With a moistened cotton pad, you need to wipe the baby's eyes from the outer edge of the eye towards the nose. Make sure to change cotton pads for each side. You can wash your eyes in the acute stage of the disease every hour.
Providing good rest. During sleep, the child's body recovers and gains strength to fight the disease. Every child under five must sleep during the day. Babies with an infectious eye disease should be sure to rest during the day with their eyes closed. During this time, the mucous membrane is restored and healed.
Health food. In the acute period of the disease, babies must definitely receive food with a sufficient amount of protein. Such foods will help to strengthen the strength of the immune system and accelerate recovery. Poultry and veal, as well as white fish, are perfect for babies of any age. You can supplement the diet with cereals, as well as vegetable and fruit purees.
Optimal water regime. To eliminate all bacterial toxins from the body, the child must drink a lot. It is better for the baby to consume at least 1.5 liters during the day during the illness. You can drink ordinary boiled warm water. In the acute period of the disease, fruit and berry compotes or fruit drinks are prepared for babies. You can boil a rosehip decoction. Such drinks are rich in vitamin C and useful microelements.
Compliance with the daily routine. During the acute period of the illness, you should not walk with the baby on the street. Better to postpone such walks until you recover. This can be especially dangerous in the summer. Bright sun rays, falling on the irritated mucous membrane, cause additional damage to it and significantly increase inflammation.
It is also better to postpone bathing in the early days of the disease. Especially if the child has a high body temperature or fever. After bath procedures, the baby can easily get overcooled. With hypothermia, the strength of the immune system is weakened, which significantly reduces the strength of the baby in the fight against infection.

You can see the process of instilling drops in the eyes of a child in the following video.

Prevention

Compliance with preventive measures will protect the child's body from a possible bacterial infection. In babies with strong immunity, the likelihood of developing inflammatory diseases is significantly reduced. Weakened toddlers or children who have recently suffered a cold are at risk of developing infectious eye diseases.

In the prevention of bacterial conjunctivitis, hygiene is of great importance. Each child must have their own personal hygiene products and towels. If the family has several kids of different ages, then they should use only their own dishes and mugs.

Wipe your face with a clean towel. It is advisable to wash textiles at least 2-3 days a week. Newborn babies should be washed daily. It is imperative that all towels be ironed on both sides with a hot iron.

Strengthening the immune system is also one of the important elements in the prevention of inflammatory diseases. Eating a healthy diet with sufficient vitamins will greatly strengthen a weakened child's body. Daily active walks in the fresh air are great for a growing baby.

For toddlers who attend educational institutions, you should limit their attendance during outbreaks of infectious diseases. Typically, this temporary quarantine is 7-10 days. In schools and kindergartens at this time, it is mandatory to carry out a special disinfectant treatment.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a fairly common inflammatory disease in babies of different ages. This eye pathology is well cured by the use of antibacterial drugs. After timely high-quality treatment, the babies recover completely.