Purulent conjunctivitis in newborns. Conjunctivitis in newborns: symptoms, causes, types and treatment. General symptoms characteristic of all conjunctivitis

Symptoms of conjunctivitis in infants appear already 2–3 days after the infection begins. If the cause of the disease is an allergy, signs of the pathological process can be noticed immediately after contact with the allergen. And any little thing can provoke a sharp reaction in a baby’s body: dust, dry air, skin care products, etc.

General symptoms of conjunctivitis in newborns may appear as follows:

the occurrence of intense lacrimation;
hyperemia of the whites of the eyes;
the formation of a thin whitish film on the surface of the diseased eye;
the appearance of purulent discharge;
difficulty opening the eyes after sleep (they stick together due to intense secretion of purulent mucus);
swelling of the conjunctival sacs;
redness of the skin under the eyes.

These symptoms of conjunctivitis in infants do not appear immediately, but develop gradually as the pathological process progresses. As a rule, one eye is affected first, and if the inflammation is not stopped in a timely manner, the second one is affected.

Nonspecific symptoms of conjunctivitis in an infant include:

tearfulness, irritability;
constant desire to scratch your eyes;
restlessness during sleep;
decreased appetite.

If you have any problems with your newborn's eyes, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. You should not self-medicate, especially if the diagnosis has not been confirmed.

Causes and development factors

The reasons for the development of conjunctivitis in a newborn child are often associated with the birth process. Any infectious diseases of the genital tract in a pregnant woman, if they are not cured on time, can cause the development of pathology in the baby.

However, even the mother’s complete health, the sterility of the nursery and careful care of the baby’s skin cannot protect him from this disease.

The reasons for the development of conjunctivitis in a newborn are often associated with the following factors:

weakness of the immune system;
viral or infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy;
genital herpes in a young mother (during passage through the birth canal, the child can catch an infection);
incomplete compliance with the rules of care for a newborn or lack thereof.

Conjunctivitis in infants can also occur due to dirt, dust or a foreign object getting into the mucous membranes of the eyes, which are still too fragile and tender. Although, of course, not all factors that can cause this pathology in a child depend on the young mother. However, to prevent unpleasant consequences, they must be remembered and, if possible, avoided.

Types of pathology

Conjunctivitis in an infant can be:

You can recognize the type of conjunctivitis in an infant by the following signs:

If there is purulent discharge from the eyes, then conjunctivitis is bacterial in nature.
For redness and irritation of the eyes, accompanied by lacrimation and swelling of the conjunctival sacs. we can talk about the allergic etiology of the disease.
If conjunctivitis of the eyes in an infant is combined with symptoms of pharyngitis, this indicates a viral origin of the pathological process.

Another sign is that if there is no effect from treating the disease with local antibacterial drugs, there may be 2 options:

conjunctivitis in infants is of non-bacterial origin;
pathogenic microflora living on the conjunctiva of the eyes has developed resistance to the drug used.

To correctly prescribe treatment, a child should not engage in self-diagnosis, because many eye diseases have similar symptoms.

Which doctor treats conjunctivitis in infants?

An ophthalmologist treats conjunctivitis in newborns. But if it is not possible to visit a specialized specialist, a competent pediatrician or family doctor can prescribe therapy for a small patient.

Diagnostic features

Diagnosis of eye conjunctivitis in newborns is often based on visual examination of the cornea and conjunctival sacs. If the pathology is of bacterial origin, purulent discharge from the eyes of children is taken for bacteriological examination. Based on the results of the study, an accurate diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Other diagnostic procedures are carried out in parallel:

biomicroscopy;
cytology of a smear from the conjunctiva of the eyes;
virological study.

If conjunctivitis in newborns is of allergic origin, an allergy test and a study to determine the level of IgE antibodies in the blood are performed.

Therapeutic approach

How to treat conjunctivitis in infants? Do not carry out any activities without the instructions of the attending physician. Caring for a child suffering from this pathology involves following the following rules:

Before seeing a doctor, no medications should be used. If the visit is postponed for some reason, the only drops that can be used to treat eye conjunctivitis in newborns, regardless of age, are Albucid. If an allergic nature of the disease is suspected, the baby should be given an antihistamine syrup or suspension (Loratadine, L-Cet, etc.).
Before dripping the child’s eyes with the drug prescribed by the doctor, they must be treated with regular tea leaves or a decoction of medicinal plants: chamomile, calendula, sage, etc.
To completely cure conjunctivitis in newborns, it is necessary to wash both eyes, even if the pathological process occurs in only one of them.
Under no circumstances should you put a blindfold on your child’s eyes - this can cause active proliferation of pathogenic microflora.
Antibiotic ointments should be used very carefully to treat eye conjunctivitis in an infant, so as not to provoke even more intense irritation of the mucous membrane of the visual organs.

So, having dealt with the question regarding the rules for treating the eyes of newborns, it is necessary to move on to the key point - how to treat conjunctivitis in a baby? The choice of medication directly depends on the type of pathological process.

Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in infants is carried out using an antibiotic (Albucid (10% solution)) or ointments (Tetracycline).
If the question arises of how to treat viral conjunctivitis in an infant, then it is necessary to use antiviral drugs: Actipol, Trifluridine, Poludan, etc.

How to treat conjunctivitis in a newborn if the disease is caused by an allergic reaction? Under such conditions, only antihistamines will be effective (can be in the form of syrup or suspension): Loratadine, Ketotifen, Alerdez, L-Cet, etc.

If we talk about the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis in a newborn with eye drops, then in this case the drugs Dexamethasone, Cromohexal, Allergodil will be effective. However, it is important to know how to treat your baby correctly in order to avoid adverse consequences for his health. To do this, you need to carefully study the instructions for use of the chosen medicine, because even antiallergic drugs can cause harm to the baby if handled incorrectly.

Home Recipes

Treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns at home using folk remedies is allowed only as an auxiliary method. And only on the condition that the baby needs emergency assistance to prevent the spread of infection.

So, how to treat conjunctivitis in newborns if there are no pharmaceutical drugs at hand? The most effective means are considered:

Camomile tea . To prepare it, you need to pour 3 g of dried chamomile flowers with a glass of boiling water and leave for a quarter of an hour. Strain and use to wash the child's eyes (warm). Every day you need to make a new infusion.
Decoctions of sage and eucalyptus . The principle of preparation and use for the treatment of conjunctivitis in infants at home is the same as in the previous version.
Infusion or decoction of a series of tripartite and whether marigolds . These herbs relieve irritation and redness, and also have antiallergic properties, so if the question arises of how to treat conjunctivitis of allergic etiology in an infant, preference should be given to these plants.

How to cure conjunctivitis in newborns if you don’t have any of the above herbs at hand? You can use regular brewed black or green tea. However, it should not be strong - fingers should be clearly visible through it (this can also be assessed visually). The baby's eyes should be washed every 1–1.5 hours.

It is advisable to treat conjunctivitis in infants with tea for all types of the disease without exception. It washes out pus well in case of bacterial conjunctivitis, reduces the activity of viruses in case of viral etiology of pathology, and also relieves swelling, redness and itching of the eyes - in case of an allergic type of disease. The tea can be used in parallel with eye drops.

Features of prevention

In order not to wonder how to cure conjunctivitis in a newborn, young parents need to take a responsible approach to the issue of primary, and, if necessary, secondary prevention of the pathology. The leading role in this case is given to:

careful care of the baby;
prevention or timely treatment of infectious diseases of the genital organs in pregnant women;
isolation of relatives with conjunctivitis from the newborn;
strengthening the child’s immunity (the best remedy is breastfeeding).

As you can see, a woman should address the issue of prevention even during pregnancy, because often recurrent conjunctivitis in newborns is most often a consequence of pathologies suffered by the expectant mother.

Useful video about conjunctivitis

Quite often, newborns' eyes begin to become swollen and watery. And upon awakening from sleep, the eyelids also stick together, especially in the morning. This makes the child moody and restless. Most often, after examination, the doctor makes the following diagnosis - neonatal conjunctivitis.

In this case, any child can get sick: both one who has just been discharged from the maternity ward, and one who has been living at home for a long time.

The difficulty is that the disease is similar in symptoms to inflammation of the lacrimal sac (dacryocystitis) or to simple non-opening of the lacrimal duct. Therefore, mothers, please read the article below carefully. No one is asking you to make a diagnosis, but you must provide first aid.

Causes of conjunctivitis in an infant

They are different. Even maintaining complete sterility around the baby will not save you from the disease. The most common causes of the inflammatory process are:

Low weakened immunity;
During the birth process, when passing through the birth canal, the baby often picks up an infection - gonorrhea or chlamydia. The causative agents of these diseases easily adapt to the mucous membrane of the eye and feel great;
Various bacteria that the baby picks up from the mother during the prenatal period;
Mom was infected with genital or oral herpes even before giving birth;
Parents do not observe basic hygiene rules when caring for their baby;
The child has dirt or a foreign body in his eyes.

As you can see from the examples given, not everything depends on the mother, but she is still able to prevent some of them. This will determine how healthy their baby will be. Therefore, such issues as sterility and your own health need to be taken care of in advance, and not when labor is already underway and the baby is about to be born. After all, prevention is always easier than treatment.

Symptoms

Depends on the type of inflammation. For example, the development of chlamydia begins 5-14 days after birth (if you remember, infection occurs during childbirth). It has a light and heavy form. In the first form, the discharge of pus is insignificant; in the second, there is correspondingly more pus.

But in any case, regardless of the type, neonatal conjunctivitis has the following general symptoms:

The whites of the eyes turn red, the eye swells;
It is not uncommon for yellow crusts to form on the eyelids. This is especially noticeable in the morning, when the baby cannot open his eyes due to their sticking together;
The child develops photophobia;
He begins to have difficulty sleeping and eating.

Difficulty in making a diagnosis is also caused by the fact that swelling in children’s eyes often spreads to the cheeks and is accompanied by an increase in temperature.

Prevention and identification of causes:

Classification of the disease in infants

The effectiveness of treatment will depend on how correctly the species and causative agent of the disease are identified. Therefore, advice to parents, as soon as the first symptoms appear, run immediately to the doctor. As they say, it's better to be safe than sorry. What then is a long and tedious treatment. So, the types.

Bacterial

Bacterial(it is also called purulent) due to the presence of pus. There is sticking of the eyelids after sleep. The skin around the eyes and the conjunctiva of the eye is dry. Inflammation usually occurs according to the following pattern - first one eye, then the second.

This is what bacterial and viral conjunctivitis looks like

Viral

Viral conjunctivitis is a frequent companion to ARVI, therefore often accompanied by fever, runny nose and sore throat. Inflammation also begins in one eye, then quickly spreads to the second. A distinctive feature from purulent is that the liquid released from the eyes is transparent and the baby’s eyelashes do not stick together.

Allergic

Allergic– transparent contents are released from the baby’s eyes, he is tempted to rub his eye, which should not be allowed. Often the child sneezes frequently. Usually, if the cause of the allergy is removed, the symptoms go away on their own after some time.

How to treat newborns at home

If the disease is detected on time and the diagnosis is correct, then treatment rarely takes more than 2-3 days. But this is the best option, and not all medications are suitable for treating newborns.

If there is pus, the basis of treatment is rinsing and only then eye drops. Their appointment depends on the type of inflammation and at what age the patient is. Here are the most common drugs for the treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns, depending on the type of inflammation.

For bacterial inflammation, drops containing an antibiotic are used. Here is a list of suitable medications:

. The main active ingredient is ofloxacin. The advantage of these drops is that they are allowed from birth. Instill according to the formula 4 times a day, 1 drop;
Floxal for eye drops
Tobrex with the active substance tobramycin. Newborns are instilled with 1-2 drops 4-5 times a day. For older children, a different scheme is used - drop by drop every 4 hours;
Tobrex for quick application
Levomycetin. The drug is strong, so for children under two years of age, treatment is carried out under medical supervision. 1 drop is instilled every 5 hours;
Levomycetin as the best remedy
Tsipromed(or ciprofloxacin). It is usually prescribed to children over 1 year of age and, depending on the degree of inflammation, is instilled up to 8 times a day, 1 drop at a time. It is also worth paying attention to what exists about these drops.
Tsipromed is the most effective remedy for babies
(levofloxacin) – also mainly for children over one year old. It is instilled according to the scheme: 1 drop every two hours, but no more than 8 drops per day;
Oftaquix in various convenient packaging
Albucid(in pharmacies it is sold under the name sodium sulfacyl) is available in two forms: 20% and 30% solution. Be careful, only the 20 percent form is used to treat children under one year of age. And one more thing - you should not start treatment with this drug, it causes a burning sensation. The baby remembers his feelings during the instillation and then no longer experiences it. The instillation scheme is as follows = - 1-2 drops up to 6 times a day. But what is the price of such drops, and what are the features of their use, you can see
Albucid for quick effect

It is better not to instill drops at night; it is recommended to use ointments instead. The therapeutic effect of them is longer and one bookmark will last until the morning. For newborns, it is recommended to use the following ointments: Floxal and tetracycline. The latter is in ophthalmic form with a concentration of 1%.

To treat viral conjunctivitis, drops containing interferon are used. Or the medicine must contain a substance that will stimulate its production by the patient's body.

But you can see which antibiotics are the most popular for conjunctivitis in adults

These drugs simultaneously act as immunomodulators to relieve local inflammation and as anesthetics to reduce pain. In addition, interferon stimulates the restoration of affected tissues.

The following drugs are used:

All drugs from the above group must be stored in the refrigerator. Therefore, before use, they need to be warmed in the palm of your hand to room temperature.

For an allergic type of inflammation, treatment begins with consulting a doctor. After all, first you need to identify the allergen. In addition, antihistamines for children have two significant drawbacks: they relieve only symptoms, without eliminating the causes of inflammation. And allergy eye drops have age restrictions. Let's list the funds:

Therefore, if there is a suspicion of an allergic reaction, then it is best to give the newborn a drug for oral administration, for example, fenestyl drops. And be sure to visit a pediatrician and allergist.

Video shows how to properly apply eye drops:

What does Komarovsky say about this?

According to Dr. Komarovsky, there is an undeniable connection between conjunctivitis and respiratory diseases. After all, bacteria easily develop in the respiratory mucosa, and then spread to the mucous membrane of the eyes. Therefore, cough should be considered one of the symptoms of neonatal conjunctivitis.

Also, according to the doctor, parents need to thoroughly wash their hands before instilling drops and use a separate pipette for each eye. This is to avoid introducing infection into a healthy eye. Judging by the numerous reviews of the doctor’s admirers, one can judge that his advice is not without logic.

Few people in childhood are spared such a disease as conjunctivitis. Even children, whom caring parents cannot take their eyes off, are not immune from rubbing their eyes with dirty hands, and there is no way to hide from dust in windy weather. In view of this, it is necessary to know how conjunctivitis manifests itself in newborns and how it is treated.

Symptoms of the disease

Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the conjunctiva of the eye; in other words, the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed. Although the eyelids and tear fluid create mechanical barriers to infection, when the immune system is weakened, bacteria and viruses attack mercilessly. Sometimes the disease is allergic in nature.

Although the baby cannot yet say what exactly is bothering him, with this disease the result, as they say, is “obvious”, or rather, before our eyes. So, signs of conjunctivitis in an infant:

eyes turn red and swell;
possible formation of yellow crusts on the eyelids, especially in the morning, discharge of pus from the eyes;
after sleep, it is difficult to open the eyelids, they are literally glued together;
the baby is capricious in bright lighting due to photophobia;
sleeps poorly, appetite reduced.

Children who have learned to speak will complain of pain, a burning sensation in the eyes, as if something had gotten there. Vision temporarily deteriorates and becomes blurry. In infants, the clinical picture is much more pronounced than in adults: swelling from the eyes can spread to the cheeks, and an increase in body temperature is possible.

Classification

Conjunctivitis, of course, should be treated by a doctor. But if, due to circumstances, it is impossible to quickly seek medical help, you need to help the child before the medical examination. To do this, it is important to know the types of conjunctivitis, because, depending on the pathogen, treatment will differ.

Bacterial conjunctivitis- there is pus, the eyelids stick together, the conjunctiva and the skin around the eye are dry. At first, as a rule, only one eye becomes inflamed, and later the infection spreads to the second.

Viral conjunctivitis- a companion to ARVI, that is, it occurs along with high fever, runny nose and sore throat. The lesion always begins in one eye, quickly moving to the second, while the discharged fluid is clear and abundant. Eyelashes do not stick together.

Allergic conjunctivitis- clear liquid flows from the peephole, I really want to rub the affected area. Often accompanied by frequent sneezing. Symptoms go away if the allergen is removed.

How to treat

If you start treatment on time and correctly, you can cope with the disease in 2 days. The problem is that not all medications are suitable for treating a one-month-old baby.

The basis of therapy is eye rinsing (if there is pus), after which eye drops are used depending on the type of infection and the age of the patient. Let's consider what effective remedies are used in the treatment of children under one year old.

When is conjunctivitis bacterial?

For bacterial infections, use anti-conjunctivitis drops that contain an antibiotic. These include:

Phloxal. The active ingredient is ofloxacin. Allowed from birth. Administer 1 drop 4 times a day.
Tobrex. The active ingredient is tobramycin. Newborns – 1-2 drops up to 5 times a day. For older children - every 4 hours.
Levomycetin. Use with caution in children under 2 years of age. 1 drop is instilled into the conjunctival sac at intervals of 5 hours.
Tsipromed (ciprofloxacin). Allowed for children from 1 year. They are instilled depending on the situation, from 4 to 8 times.
Oftaquix (levofloxacin). Also in pediatric practice it is used to treat children after 1 year. Every 2 hours, 1 drop, but no more than 8 times a day.
Albucid. Please note that Sulfacyl sodium (pharmacy name Albucid) is available in two concentrations: 20% and 30% solution. So, children under one year of age use only the 20% form. It is not recommended to start treatment with this medicine, as a strong burning sensation occurs when instilled. The child does not forget the pain, so the second, third and subsequent instillations will turn into torture for both the baby and you. The medicine is administered 1-2 drops up to 6 times a day.

An excellent remedy, approved from birth

It is recommended to apply ointment at night, as the therapeutic effect from it is longer than from drops. For the smallest children, floxal and tetracycline ophthalmic ointments are suitable (precisely the ophthalmic one, the one with a substance concentration of 1%).

When is conjunctivitis viral?

Interferon is our body’s protector from viruses

Antiviral drops either contain interferon or a substance that stimulates its production. A group of these drugs acts as immunomodulators that relieve local inflammation. Some of them act as anesthetics (reduce pain). Interferon-based products stimulate the restoration of affected tissues.

Ophthalmoferon (based on alpha-2b recombinant interferon). Diphenhydramine and boric acid included in the composition additionally provide an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect. Newborns can be treated.
Aktipol (para-aminobenzoic acid). An interferon inducer, that is, it stimulates the production of its interferon. The instructions say that clinical trials have not been conducted on children, so the drug can be used in children when the expected benefit outweighs the possible risk.

Interferon drops are always stored in the refrigerator, so warm them in your hand to room temperature before injecting them into the conjunctiva.

When is conjunctivitis allergic?

If you suspect an allergy in your newborn, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only early identification of the allergen can significantly help the baby, because all antihistamines only relieve symptoms, but do not remove the cause. Moreover, antiallergic drops have age restrictions:

Cromohexal (cromoglicic acid). Used in children over 2 years of age, but with caution.
Opatanol (olopatadine). According to the instructions, it is allowed from 3 years of age. The effect of the drug has not been studied on infants.
Allergodil (azelastine hydrochloride). Used in children from 4 years of age.

Therefore, if you suspect allergic conjunctivitis in a newborn, give him an antihistamine, for example, fenistil drops for oral administration, and visit a pediatrician and, if necessary, an allergist.

About proper instillation

Newborns are only allowed to put drops into their eyes using a pipette with a rounded end.
Lay the baby horizontally on a flat surface. It’s good if there is an “assistant” nearby to fix the head.
If the drops “live” in the refrigerator, do not forget to warm them up in your hand. You can check the temperature by placing a drop on the back of your wrist. If there is no feeling of cold or warmth, proceed with the procedure.
With pre-washed hands, pull back the lower eyelid and drop 1-2 drops into the inner corner. It is believed that only 1 drop of solution can fit into the conjunctival sac, the rest will go to the cheek. But, since the child often spins and does not like this procedure, manufacturers advise administering 1-2 drops. Excess liquid is blotted with a sterile disposable napkin.

Familiarize yourself with the technique of instilling drops

General principles of treatment

Almost all drops have a limited shelf life after opening. You need to monitor this and not use them after the expiration date.
Even if one eye is affected, the medicine is instilled into both.
It is important that the pipette does not touch the eye when instilled, otherwise it will become infected.
Even if the baby closes his eyes, drip into the inner corner between the eyelids. When he opens his eyes, the medicine will still go where it is needed.
If there is a lot of pus or mucus in the eye, first cleanse it, otherwise no drops will help: they will dissolve in a huge accumulation of bacteria. Children's eyes are washed with warm chamomile decoction, tea leaves, furatsilin solution or ordinary boiled water, using sterile cotton wool.
Frequent instillation during the acute course of the disease is due to the fact that with profuse lacrimation, the medicine is quickly washed away, which means its effect stops after half an hour. For this reason, putting ointment behind the eyelid at night is effective: its effect lasts until the morning.
Treatment is continued for another three days after the symptoms have disappeared.

Chamomile, having an anti-inflammatory effect, is suitable for washing the eyes. For this, a decoction is prepared

Prevention

To get conjunctivitis as little as possible, you need to follow simple hygiene rules:

bathe and wash the child daily;
the room, toys, and bedding must be clean;
The newborn should have a personal towel, with a separate one for the face and for washing;
regularly wash your baby’s hands with soap, in particular after a walk; Older children should be taught proper hand washing from an early age;
regularly walk with the baby in the fresh air, the more the better;
foods consumed, especially fresh fruits, are washed thoroughly;
baby food should be balanced and complete;
If possible, ensure that the child does not rub his eyes with dirty hands, especially when playing in the sandbox;
regularly ventilate and humidify the children's room;
do not contact sick children.

Needless to say, treating children always requires greater concentration and effort on the part of parents. But conjunctivitis can be quickly defeated. Follow the doctor's recommendations, be patient, and the problem will be solved in 2-3 days.

Conjunctivitis belongs to the category of inflammatory diseases that affect the organs of vision. In the case of this disease, the mucous membrane of the eye is involved in the pathological process. Even if parents do their best to protect the newborn from adverse external influences and closely monitor his health, they still will not be able to completely eliminate the risk of conjunctivitis - according to average statistical data, more than 90% of babies survive the disease being studied today within the first few months of your life.

As noted, conjunctivitis is an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of the eye. The disease can be infectious, allergic, or viral in nature. The procedure for each of these cases will be different. About this in the table.

Table. Types of conjunctivitis

Types of disease	Main features
	In the infectious form of the disease, its characteristic signs appear first in one eye, and then, if measures are not taken in a timely manner to normalize the situation, they spread to the second eye. The disease is accompanied by the formation of a relatively small amount of pus. Bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious and is easily transmitted at home. It is treated with the use of antibacterial agents in the form of ointments and drops.
	Both eyes are involved in the inflammatory process. A large amount of pus appears, mucus and tears are released abundantly. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. Develops under the influence of external irritants, for example, dust. In most cases, to normalize the baby’s condition, it is enough to simply rid him of the influence of provoking factors. The need to take additional medications is determined by the attending physician.
	Develops as a complication of various types of colds. Viral conjunctivitis is contagious and is transmitted through household contact. Treatment is carried out using special antiviral drugs.

About the need for treatment of conjunctivitis

Some parents take conjunctivitis lightly, arguing that “everyone had it and no one died.” Of course, it is unlikely to lead to death, however, at the same time, in the absence of a timely and qualified response, the disease can lead to serious complications.

The parent’s task is to recognize unfavorable changes in their child’s condition in a timely manner. The difficulty at this stage is that the newborn cannot verbally talk about the sensations that bother him. The baby will cry, be capricious, and rub his eyes. The last point is very dangerous - regular mechanical irritation of inflamed eyes can provoke the occurrence of a secondary infection that affects other layers of the eyeball and the cornea, which in the long term can lead to loss of vision.

With timely and adequate treatment, conjunctivitis can be defeated in a short time with minimal losses. Do you want to protect your baby from various kinds of complications? Refrain from uncontrolled self-medication, consult a doctor and follow his instructions. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will carry out the necessary diagnostic measures for such a case.

Diagnosis before prescribing treatment

Diagnosis of the disease under study is traditionally carried out by a pediatric ophthalmologist.

There are no particular difficulties at the diagnostic stage. In most cases, everything is limited to an external inspection. If there is a purulent form of the disease, a scraping or smear will be taken for laboratory testing, the purpose of which is to determine the nature of the pathogen with the subsequent development of the most effective treatment for a particular case.

If conjunctivitis is allergic, additional tests and studies will be carried out to identify specific allergens.

Methods of treating conjunctivitis in a child

The procedure for treatment, as noted, will vary depending on the form of conjunctivitis. About this in the table.

Table. Treatment of different forms of conjunctivitis

Types of disease	Treatment methods	Illustration
Bacterial conjunctivitis	Local antibiotics are traditionally used for treatment. Among ointments, Tetracycline is the leader, and among drops – Levomycetin. Albucid can also be used. If conjunctivitis develops as a complication of another disease, the treatment program is supplemented with drugs that are effective in combating the underlying disease.
Viral conjunctivitis	Most often, the causative agents of this form of the disease are coxsackie viruses, enteroviruses, as well as adenoviruses and herpes. For herpetic conjunctivitis, treatment in most cases is carried out with Acyclovir or, for example, Zovirax. These are ointments. As for drops, high efficiency is noted when using Poludan, Trifluridine, Actipol.
Allergic conjunctivitis	It is provoked by various irritants, for example, food, household chemicals, medications, or simply plant pollen and house dust. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine what exactly caused the occurrence of this disease. Treatment is carried out using anti-inflammatory and antihistamine drugs. Traditionally, these are Dexamethasone, Olopatodine, as well as Allergodil, Cromohexal, etc.

Important notes about treatment

Do not take any action until you see your doctor. If you cannot consult a doctor soon, provide your child with basic first aid. For example, if there is a suspicion of conjunctivitis of a bacterial or viral nature, Albucid can be dripped into the eyes in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Otherwise, it is recommended to refrain from any amateur activities.
Albucid - eye drops
If the doctor has confirmed the presence of viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, in addition to the main treatment, the young patient’s eyes will need to be washed with chamomile solution every 2-2.5 hours. Move, at the same time, from the outer corners of the eyes towards the inner ones. To remove crusts, use sterile gauze soaked in a decoction of chamomile. The next day, reduce the number of washes to three per day. For allergic conjunctivitis, there is no need to rinse your eyes.
If only one eye is involved in the inflammatory process, the second one still also needs treatment. In the absence of this, the infection will very soon spread to a healthy organ. Each eye must be treated with a separate sterile wipe.
You should not put a bandage on sore eyes - this will create conditions for the active proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and cause serious damage to the eyes.
Use only those medications prescribed by your doctor, while observing the required frequency of use. For example, disinfectant drops are used at 2-3 hour intervals in the first days of the disease. Infants are usually recommended to drip Albucid in the form of a 10% solution, and for older babies - solutions of Levomycetin, Eubetal and other drugs.
If the doctor has prescribed an ointment (as a rule, these are products based on erythromycin or tetracycline), the drug should never be rubbed into the eyes - it is in a small amount and placed as carefully as possible under the lower eyelid.

As the baby’s condition improves, the frequency of treatment is reduced, to an average of 2-3 times a day.

How to use drops correctly?

In order for the drops to give the desired positive result, they must be used in compliance with a number of simple recommendations.

Firstly, if the baby has not reached 12 months of age, it is allowed to use only a safe pipette for instillation - these are equipped with a rounded tip. Otherwise, you can harm the baby’s eyes, who will probably resist the procedures performed on him.

Secondly, you need to position the baby correctly. A flat surface should be used as a base. Do not use a pillow. It is ideal if a third person holds the patient's head.

Thirdly, you need to know when to stop. A sufficient number of drops is indicated in the instructions - usually 1-2. Gently pull back the child's lower eyelid and perform the procedure. The drug will spread throughout the eyeball on its own. Remove excess with a sterile cloth. Remember: we wipe each eye with a separate napkin.

You should not be nervous if the child closes his eyes and is generally dissatisfied with the instillation of medicine, and there is certainly no need to force the patient’s eyes to open. In such a situation, you can simply drip the product between the lower and upper eyelids. Then all that remains is to wait until the baby opens his eyes and the medicine gets where it is needed.

If the medicine is stored in the refrigerator, warm it in your hand before instilling it - too cold a liquid will lead to increased irritation.

Possible forecasts

If the treatment of conjunctivitis is approached competently, professionally and, what is equally important, in a timely manner, the disease will pass quickly enough without any significant consequences, and the baby will fully recover.

If you let the situation take its course, complications are likely to arise. For bacterial conjunctivitis, these are systemic infectious diseases, for viral conjunctivitis - similarly, for chlamydial, herpes, etc. – complications of varying severity, up to pneumonia.

The best prevention is daily walks in the fresh air. The weather, however, does not matter much. During the day, ventilate the room with the newborn several times (just make sure that the child is not exposed to air). Do not touch your baby with dirty hands. The child must have his own towels, napkins and other similar things.

Maintain strict hygiene and properly care for your baby

Do exercises with your newborn every day. Gradually and carefully temper his body - the attending physician will give recommendations on this matter. That is, your task comes down to creating all possible conditions for the baby to grow healthy and strong.

The main parting word is one: refuse uncontrolled self-medication. Before prescribing any kind of medication, the doctor will determine the nature of the origin of the disease. Otherwise, the medications, at a minimum, will not give any positive effect, and at maximum, they will provoke a significant deterioration in the child’s health.

Many parents often experience that their child’s eyes become swollen and watery. When the baby wakes up, he cannot open his closed eyelids, and the mucous membranes of his eyes become inflamed. The child sleeps poorly and becomes capricious. The main cause of this problem is conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis can occur both in infants who have just left the maternity hospital, and in children who have been at home for a long time. Very often, parents can confuse this disease with dacryocystitis in newborns or inflammation of the lacrimal sac, so it is necessary to be aware of the symptoms of conjunctivitis in order to avoid further treatment.

What it is

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Young parents sometimes do not take this disease seriously and try to cure it on their own, without consulting a doctor, believing that it is a disease. This is very dangerous, since the baby’s eyes can begin to fester, and there is a high probability of complications on the cornea.

Types of conjunctivitis:

Bacterial (purulent). Its appearance is provoked by staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, gonococci or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial conjunctivitis can develop under the influence of one pathogen or several at once.
Viral. In this case, the causative agent is the herpes virus. This type of conjunctivitis lasts a long time, usually affecting only one eye. Blisters appear on the eyelids.
Chlamydial. Conjunctivitis caused by chlamydia can affect one eye or both. Its acute manifestation with abundant pus usually occurs on the fourteenth day after the birth of the child. If the baby is premature, there is a risk of developing chlamydial conjunctivitis on the fourth day.
Allergic. It can occur as a reaction of the child’s body to any allergen. Allergic conjunctivitis occurs painfully in three stages: acute, subacute, chronic.
Autoimmune. Such conjunctivitis can be an independent disease or occur against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection. The conjunctiva becomes red and swollen, and swelling may also appear on the eyelids. The child reacts sharply to light, tears flow from his eyes. Small blisters may form in the lower part of the conjunctiva.

This one will tell you how to treat a pathology such as dacryocystitis.

Causes

Infants can get conjunctivitis if all the rules are followed and more, even if the environment is completely sterile. Conjunctivitis can occur for various reasons. Its course depends on the nature of the pathogen.

The most common causes of conjunctivitis in newborns are:

Reduced immunity;
Transfer of bacteria from the mother's body;
Infection through the birth canal with chlamydia or gonorrhea;
The mother has genital or oral herpes;
Poor hygiene;
Getting debris or foreign objects into the eye.

The health of the child directly depends on the health of the mother. A woman should think about cleanliness in advance so that when passing through the birth canal the child does not catch any infection.

Symptoms

Conjunctivitis in infants is quite easy to identify. They are identical to the symptoms of the disease in adults. However, it is worth noting that babies react differently to conjunctivitis. They begin to cry often, become capricious, lose calm, sleep poorly, and become lethargic.

In most cases, infant conjunctivitis is caused by viruses, bacteria or allergens.

Main symptoms:

The eyes turn red, the eyelids and conjunctiva swell.
There is a fear of light, profuse lacrimation;
Yellow crusts form on the eyelids;
Pus is discharged from the eyes;
The child eats poorly and does not sleep.

If pus is released from the eyes, then conjunctivitis is viral in nature. If there is no pus, but the eyes are red and irritated, then conjunctivitis may be viral or allergic.

Read the reasons for excessive tearing from one eye.

Diagnostics

D It is not difficult to diagnose conjunctivitis in infants. The clinical picture of the disease does not allow us to accurately determine the cause, so a smear or scraping is made from the surface of the conjunctiva. This biological material is stained and examined under a microscope, or culture is done, which is then sent for laboratory testing of microflora. They also determine the presence of sensitivity or resistance to various antibiotics.

The results of laboratory diagnostics influence the choice of treatment method for conjunctivitis.

Additional methods for diagnosing infant conjunctivitis are aimed at detecting antibodies in the blood that fight the causative agent of the disease.

Treatment

Treatment of conjunctivitis caused by bacteria in children must be carried out in several stages:

The first step is to remove conjunctival discharge from the peephole. This is done by rinsing with a disinfectant solution.
After this, you need to drip an anesthetic into your eyes. It will eliminate eyelid compression syndrome and fear of light.
At the final stage, drops or ointments with an antibacterial effect are used.

This will tell you the specifics of using antibacterial drops.

Eye drops need to be dripped seven to eight times a day for six days, after which five to six times for three to four days, then two to three times will be enough until recovery. As for ointments, they must be applied two to three times a day to the inner surface of the eyelids.

Only the doctor decides in what conditions to carry out treatment (at home or in the hospital). It all depends on the type of disease, its severity, the age of the baby, and so on.

To remove pus from your eyes, you need to wash them as often as possible. To do this, it is recommended to use furatsilin or a solution of potassium permanganate. You need to rinse your eyelids using a rubber bulb. In the intervals between washings, drops are added every two to three hours, and ointment is applied overnight.

For the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis Albucid is usually prescribed, and with antibiotics.
Viral conjunctivitis caused by herpes, is treated with Trifluridine.
Antihistamines and antiallergics drugs (Lecrolin, Cromohexal) are prescribed for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

A brief overview of antiallergic eye medications in this article.

Complications

Conjunctivitis leads to decreased immunity, which in turn affects the child’s susceptibility to colds.

Colds are a factor that provokes the appearance of secondary conjunctivitis.

Experts say that the most dangerous complication that conjunctivitis can lead to is damage to the inner layers of the eyes. It can cause vision loss and cannot be cured. It should be remembered that conjunctivitis can impair the baby’s vision and also cause lung diseases. In extreme cases, you will have to use .

Prevention

Conjunctivitis, as is known, is transmitted by airborne droplets, so the main sources are air, the hands of parents or doctors, child care items, and eye treatment solutions.

Prevention involves a number of activities that are carried out in maternity hospitals, antenatal clinics and pediatrician appointments. The activities are aimed at timely detection and treatment of infections in pregnant women, sterilization of the birth canal and preventive treatment of the child’s eyes.

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conclusions

Conjunctivitis in infants is highly treatable. The main thing is to see a doctor in time and start treatment. This will prevent the occurrence of complications, which will then be very difficult to cure.

He will tell you what other symptoms there are in children with conjunctivitis.