Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye can occur in every child, regardless of age. Even in the first hours after birth, babies can develop conjunctivitis. The symptoms of this disease bring a lot of unpleasant emotions to the child. Treatment is required urgently to prevent unwanted and dangerous complications.
The most common types
There are a lot of reasons that lead to conjunctivitis. Scientists have more than a hundred of them. For simplicity and ease of diagnosis, doctors use clinical classifications. In them, all variants of conjunctivitis are divided taking into account the various causes that cause the disease.
All conjunctivitis, which is most common in babies, can be divided into several groups.
Caused by bacterial flora
Occur when bacteria enter the mucous membrane of the eye. They are the most common of all inflammatory ophthalmic diseases in children. The disease is rather difficult. Usually the incubation period is 10-14 days. Treatment requires antibiotics. It is undesirable to treat bacterial conjunctivitis at home on your own.
Viral
The second most common in babies. Called by various viruses. The most common sources of the disease in childhood are adenoviruses. The disease is usually relatively easy. Suppuration and fever up to febrile numbers occurs in 10% of cases. Viral conjunctivitis usually goes away within a week. Mild forms of the disease can be treated at home, under the supervision of a physician.
Allergic
They arise as a manifestation of allergies. They often develop in children with a tendency to develop similar diseases. Other manifestations of an exacerbation of an allergic reaction are added to the symptoms of conjunctivitis. The well-being of babies is greatly affected, their mood worsens, as well as sleep. Treatment is immediate.
Traumatic
They occur if the baby accidentally damaged the mucous membrane of the eye. An immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist is required. After additional examinations and tests on special equipment, the doctor will determine the tactics and say whether it is possible to treat the child at home.
Conjunctivitis due to other chronic diseases. Often such variants of the disease are found in babies with exacerbations of otitis media or sinusitis. In some cases, sick teeth can also lead to symptoms of conjunctivitis. With this option, primary treatment of the causative disease that caused the inflammatory process is required.
Doctor Komarovsky will tell us the whole topic about childhood conjunctivitis in the next video.
The variety of variants and clinical forms of the disease does not allow us to unequivocally assert that every conjunctivitis can be treated at home. There are forms of the disease that are not life-threatening for the baby - and therefore can be easily treated at home.
However, first of all, the child should be shown to the pediatrician and ophthalmologist. They will establish an accurate diagnosis and tell mommy further treatment tactics.
The main symptoms
The inflammatory disease occurs with a huge number of different clinical manifestations. They can vary significantly in babies of different ages.
How to massage the lacrimal canal with conjunctivitis can be seen in the following video.
The most common symptoms of conjunctivitis are:
- Lachrymation. It occurs with all variants of the course of the disease. As a rule, it appears first in the early stages of the disease. Babies are worried about severe lacrimation throughout the day. In most cases, the discharge is light, abundant. To eliminate this symptom, an eye wash is required.
- Redness. It occurs in all forms of conjunctivitis. Often, the entire white surface of the eyeball turns red. In severe cases, hemorrhage may occur.
- Sensation of "sand" in the eyes. Often, babies complain of a subjective feeling of the presence of some foreign object when opening the peephole. Trying to remove it, children begin to blink more often. This increases soreness and impairs vision.
- Outflow of pus. It occurs in bacterial and chlamydial forms of the disease. Suppuration, as a rule, occurs in both eyes at the same time. The pus sticks together the cilia and makes it difficult to blink. To remove discharge from the eyes, regular rinsing with the use of special solutions or decoctions is required.
- Painful perception of sunlight. Irritated and damaged eye mucosa is very sensitive to sun exposure. In the first days of illness, babies feel better in dark rooms or while sleeping.
- Violation of the general condition of the child. During the acute period of the illness, babies begin to act up, eat poorly. Older children do not play with toys. Babies become weak, drowsy. Sleep brings temporary relief.
We treat at home
Conjunctivitis of any etiology is a rather dangerous disease for babies. At the first appearance of signs of inflammation in the eyes, be sure to show the child to the doctor. Better to see a specialist. Sometimes it becomes very difficult to quickly cure conjunctivitis at home. Often, additional analyzes and auxiliary tests are required to establish a diagnosis. They help to accurately diagnose and choose the right treatment.
Conjunctivitis is treated quite well. As a rule, for diseases of viral etiology in a rather mild course, doctors allow treatment at home. Any therapy for an inflammatory eye disease requires a whole range of therapeutic procedures. Daily implementation of medical recommendations will allow you to quickly eliminate adverse symptoms of the disease and accelerate recovery.
For the treatment of the inflammatory process in the eyes, they are used:
- Hygienic flushing of the peephole. For this procedure, a variety of decoctions and infusions are used. Chamomile is a great option for kids of any age. This flower helps to relieve the manifestations of the inflammatory process and has an antiseptic effect. Soak cotton pads in the pre-cooked broth and rinse. This should be done from the outer corner of the eye to the nose. In this case, the possibility of trauma or infection is reduced to zero.
- Appointment of medicated eye drops. They are usually prescribed by a doctor. Eye drops are selected taking into account the cause that caused the specific disease. For bacterial conjunctivitis, the appointment of drugs with a bactericidal effect is required. Often doctors prescribe albucid, chloramphenicol or tetracycline ointment. Antibiotics are usually given for 7-10 days. In some cases, up to two weeks.
- Taking angistamines. This is necessary for allergic conjunctivitis. All antihistamines reduce inflammation and allergy flare-ups. The most frequently prescribed are "Claritin", "Zyrtec", "Erius" and many others. Antihistamines are taken for 10-14 days (depending on the severity of the initial manifestations).
- Taking vitamins and minerals. During an acute illness, doctors prescribe vitamin complexes. They help to strengthen the immune system and promote rapid recovery. For a month from the onset of the disease, you should use tableted or effervescent vitamins. Particular attention should be paid to a sufficient intake of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C strengthens the walls of blood vessels and also helps to fight any infection.
- The correct rest regimen. Toddlers must sleep up to ten hours a day. During such a rest, the mucous membrane of the eyes is restored, vision is normalized and strength is restored. Newborn babies can sleep up to 12 hours a day.
- Exclusion of walks in the early days of the disease, especially in the summer. Bright sunlight can aggravate the symptoms of conjunctivitis. Irritating the inflamed mucous membrane of the eye, insolation increases trauma and increases lacrimation and redness. For kids, walks on the street are allowed only after the pronounced symptoms of the disease have subsided. During the festivities, you should not forget about the hat. It should be light enough and with wide margins. This will protect your eyes from the irritating effects of sunlight.
Conjunctivitis, which is mild and without complications, can be successfully treated at home. This must be done under medical supervision. Compliance with all recommendations will be a good guarantee of a complete recovery of the baby.
