Conjunctivitis in children. We treat bacterial conjunctivitis. How to help your baby at home

Getting conjunctivitis is unpleasant at any age: discomfort, discharge from the eyes causes considerable discomfort. Yet children encounter this problem more often than adults. This includes very young children who are not yet a year old. In most cases, overcoming the disease is not difficult. The main task in this case is to choose the “right” drops or ointments for conjunctivitis for the youngest children.

Conjunctivitis can be the result of a bacterial, viral infection or allergy. Depending on what caused the problems with the eyes, you need to choose a medicine. Of course, a doctor must prescribe treatment, but before examining him, some signs can be used to determine the nature of the disease and begin treatment.

Allergic conjunctivitis in newborns is a very rare phenomenon. It usually occurs in those older than 3-4 years. However, even if allergic conjunctivitis strikes a baby under one year old, treatment consists of removing the allergen and taking antiallergic drugs. Corticosteroids that have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects, in the form eye drops are not prescribed to such young children. But we will talk in more detail about drops for the treatment of bacterial and viral conjunctivitis.

Treating bacterial conjunctivitis

The most common form of conjunctivitis. Both the baby and the parents can spread pathogenic bacteria to the eye membrane.

When children are actively exploring the surrounding space, it is difficult to keep track of the child’s clean hands. By touching everything, the baby collects a lot of bacteria on his fingers, and then can, for example, rub his eyes and “deliver” pathogenic microorganisms to the mucous membrane.

Parents may unknowingly not follow the rules of hygiene and dry the child with one towel after washing and after washing, spreading bacteria from the excretory organs throughout the body.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be recognized by the following symptoms:

Pain in the child's eye. (The child rubs his eyes, there is a feeling foreign object in the eye);
Yellow crusts appear on the eyelids;
Pus/lacrimation discharge from the eye (gray or yellow in color, cloudy and viscous in appearance, most often noticeable after sleep);
Sticky eyelids.

A newborn baby does not yet have tears, so if any discharge from the eyes appears, it may be a sign of the development of conjunctivitis, which means you need to consult a doctor.

Video: conjunctivitis in children: prevention and treatment

1. Fucithalmic drops

This drug is an antibiotic local action. Fucithalmic is a viscous suspension white. Thanks to this dosage form (viscosity), Fucithalmic is able to remain on the conjunctiva for a long time.

The drug is used conjunctivally, that is, instilled into the conjunctival sac of the eye. Directions for use: 1 drop twice a day for a week. If it does not help within 7 days, you need to reconsider the treatment.

An open bottle can be stored for no longer than a month.

The average price of Fucithalmic drops in pharmacies is 350 rubles.

2. Albucid drops (Sodium Sulfacyl)

An antimicrobial drug, which is an aqueous solution of sulfacetamide. For the treatment of children, only a 20% solution is used (the dosage can be checked at the pharmacy). After instillation, a burning sensation may be felt.

Albucid is dripped into the conjunctival sac 4-6 times a day, 1-2 drops, after warming the bottle to room temperature.

An open bottle can be stored for no longer than 4 weeks.

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The average price of Albucid drops in pharmacies is 55 rubles.

3. Vitabact drops

Antimicrobial drug with a broad spectrum of action. Vitabact is instilled 1 drop 2-6 times a day. The course of treatment lasts 10 days, but can be extended if necessary.

The average price of Vitabakt in pharmacies is 250 rubles.

The ointment should be applied to the lower eyelid 3 times a day. The duration of treatment depends on the severity and form of the disease, but should not exceed 2 weeks.

The average price in pharmacies is 27 rubles.

Consult your physician before use.

5. Tobrex (ointment and drops)

Drops should be instilled 5 times a day (every 4 hours), 1 drop under the lower eyelid, the ointment is placed under the lower eyelid at night.

We treat viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis usually accompanies colds and viral diseases (ARVI, influenza). The disease manifests itself in the fact that, along with the symptoms of a cold, severe lacrimation and itching in the eyes begin. Unlike bacterial conjunctivitis, with viral conjunctivitis there is no purulent discharge that causes eyelashes to stick together. Conjunctivitis begins in one eye, but soon spreads to the other.

1. Oftalmoferon drops

This drug has antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. It activates local immunity and strengthens recovery processes in the cornea. Depending on the severity of the symptoms of conjunctivitis, drops are instilled 2 to 8 times a day, 1-2 drops in each eye. Oftalmoferon is dripped for an average of 5 days.

The average price of Oftalmoferon in a pharmacy is 300 rubles.

2. Aktipol drops

An antiviral agent that stimulates the production of its own interferon. Aktipol quickly relieves swelling and heals the affected cornea of the eye. Actipol is dripped 3-8 times a day, 2 drops in both eyes. Even if the symptoms of conjunctivitis disappear, the drug should be used in full for a week to 10 days.

The average price of Aktipol in a pharmacy is 150 rubles.

3. Zovirax ointment

A 10 mm long strip of ointment should be placed under the lower eyelid in the lower conjunctival sac. Apply 5 times a day every 4 hours. Continue treatment for another 3 days after healing.

Average price 300 rub.

Even if only one eye is affected by conjunctivitis, drops should be instilled into both: into the sick eye for treatment, into the healthy eye for prevention. Moreover, when instilling, you should not touch the cornea of the eye with the pipette. If this happens, the pipette must be treated before the next instillation. This measure is necessary so that the pipette does not spread the infection and does not provoke re-infection.

As soon as you notice signs of conjunctivitis, on the first day, wash your child’s eyes every two hours: if there are crusts on the eyes, remove them with a cotton pad/cotton swab moistened with furatsilin or chamomile decoction. Wash each eye with a new cotton pad. ( See details );
Over the next few days, wipe your eyes 2 times a day (for a week);
Select drops or ointments from the list above and apply according to the instructions;
Do not forget that you need to drip or smear both eyes, even if the disease is in one. It is important;
Do not cover your eyes with a bandage if you have conjunctivitis! Under the bandage, conditions are created for the growth of bacteria.

Babies tolerate dropping drops into their eyes quite calmly, so if you start treatment on time, conjunctivitis will quickly recede and will not annoy mother and baby.

Reading on the topic

Video: how to properly put drops in a child’s eyes

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Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye diseases in children, which is characterized by an inflammatory process of the conjunctiva. Any type of disease is better to prevent than to treat.

Often, children's conjunctivitis is associated with the child's hypothermia, the occurrence of colds or allergic reactions.

Children's conjunctivitis is quite easy to identify, because the main symptom is inflammation of the eye. But it is worth noting that children react more strongly to this disease. They may be worried about something and as a result they start crying and worrying.

The main symptoms of the disease include the following.

Redness eyeball.
Photophobia and increased tearfulness.
Appearance of crusts yellowish color in the corners of the eyes after sleep.
Sticking of the eyelids.
Purulent discharge from the eyes.
Deterioration of appetite and sleep.

Children over ten years of age may exhibit the following symptoms.

Demotion visual function. All objects become blurry and lose their clarity.
Sensation of a foreign body in the eyes.
Burning and discomfort.

If we talk about the main symptoms of conjunctivitis in children under one year old, they include the following problems.

Hyperemia and severe swelling of the eyeball and inner eyelid area.
Increased production and separation of tear fluid. An important point is to determine the difference between normal tears in a child while crying and the body’s response to inflammatory process.
Severe photophobia. This symptom is one of the most important. Therefore, if parents notice that the child regularly squints and rubs his eyes with his hands, then this indicates a problem.
Sticking of eyelids after sleep. This occurs due to the release of secretion or pus into the large quantities.
Loss of appetite and frequent moodiness.

Types of conjunctivitis in children

Children's conjunctivitis is usually divided into several types.

Bacterial conjunctivitis. Characterized by the release of pus from the visual organs.
Allergic conjunctivitis. Characterized by redness of the eyes, watery eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion. IN in this case purulent discharge not visible.
Viral conjunctivitis. There is no purulent discharge, but eye irritation is observed.
Adenoviral conjunctivitis. The first symptoms of the disease include pharyngitis and increased body temperature.

Causes of childhood conjunctivitis

Children's conjunctivitis occurs most often in those children who attend kindergartens or schools. The thing is that the disease by its nature is considered contagious and is transmitted by airborne droplets and contact. Therefore, the main reasons are usually attributed to a decrease in immune function in the autumn and winter, hypothermia, lack of vitamins and minerals, exposure to irritants in the form of dust, pollen and wool, and non-compliance with hygiene rules.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in children under one year of age

All treatment directly depends on the type of conjunctivitis the child has. Therefore, first of all, it is recommended to show the baby to the doctor so that he can make the correct diagnosis and advise how to care for sore eyes. Treatment process in children under one year of age, it differs in that all procedures and the effects of medications were more gentle. Therefore, pediatricians are trying to avoid the use of potent drugs.

Rinse the child's eyes every two hours. To do this, you can use simple boiled warm water, chamomile infusion or furatsilin. The main condition is maintaining sterility. This is necessary in order not to worsen the condition.
After seven days, the child’s visual organ should be cleaned no more than twice a day.
In addition to cleansing procedures, you need to drip Albucid into your eyes. Treatment of babies under one year old involves the use of the strongest solutions only in difficult situations. Once improvement has occurred, manipulations should be carried out no more than three times a day.
In some cases, the doctor may recommend treating conjunctivitis with tetracycline ointment, which is carefully placed under the lower eyelid.
If the inflammatory process is observed only in one eye, then all procedures should be done in parallel on the second one to eliminate the possibility of infection.
In case of acute illness, no dressings should be done. This will help lead to injury to the eyelid and the proliferation of bacteria and germs.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in children over one year of age

To cure childhood conjunctivitis, you need to follow several rules.

It is better not to do anything before the examination. You can wipe your eyes with chamomile infusion or plain boiled water. If parents suspect conjunctivitis of a viral or bacterial nature, then Albucid can be administered. If an allergic form of the disease is suspected, then it is necessary to give an antihistamine.
If a doctor diagnoses a viral or bacterial type of disease, the child should wash his eyes every two hours. Children over two years old can remove crusts using cotton swab. If this is an allergic manifestation, then children should apply cold compresses to relieve swelling.
During an inflammatory process, two eyes should always be treated. For each individual, take one cotton pad, which is pre-moistened in the solution.
For children over one year old, you can use such types of drops as Futsitalmic, Levomycetin and Vitabact.
If the child’s condition improves, procedures can be reduced to twice a day.

It is necessary to remember that various shapes Conjunctivitis is treated with different drugs. For example, if a child has a bacterial type of illness, then antibiotic-based drops and ointments will help in this situation. These include Levomycetin and Tetracycline.

The viral form can only be cured with ointments and tablets based on Acyclovir. Drops with antiviral effect in the form of Trifluridine and Poldan.

The allergic type may be joined by a bacterial form. Therefore, the first step is to give antihistamines, limit contact with the irritant, and severe forms appoint hormonal agents. Such drugs include Cromohexal, Allergodil, Lecrolin and Dexamethasone.

Proper placement of drops into children's eyes

When the disease occurs in children under one year of age, the medicine should be dripped only using a pipette with a rounded tip. This will help avoid unnecessary injury to your baby's eyes.
An infant should be placed on a surface without using a pillow. Then you should pull the lower eyelid a little and drop one or two drops. The drug itself will be distributed along the plane of the visual organ. And the excess part that comes out needs to be wiped off carefully with a napkin.
When the child is older, he already understands what is being done to him. And often they close their eyes. But it's not a problem. The product can be dropped between the base of the upper and lower eyelids. The medicine will still get into the eye when the child opens it slightly.
Cool drops should be preheated in a warm hand or water. And only then use them, otherwise the baby may become irritated.
It is not recommended to use eye drops that have expired.
It is better to teach children over seven years old to put eye drops themselves under the supervision of a parent.

Preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of childhood conjunctivitis

Like any type of disease, childhood conjunctivitis is easier to prevent than to treat later. Therefore, several preventive measures should be followed.

Observe hygiene measures.
Treat toys and premises with disinfectants.
Buy air purifiers and humidifiers.
Strengthen immune function child with the help of vitamin complexes.
Take a walk often.
Limit contact with sick children.
Contact your doctor promptly.
Establish a proper and balanced diet.

If treatment is started on time, conjunctivitis goes away quite quickly. And if all measures are followed, infection can be avoided altogether.

In this article you will learn everything about eye conjunctivitis - treatment in children. Komarovsky in his video (located at the end of the publication) will talk in more detail about conjunctivitis in infants and older children. Also here you will find information about the symptoms of the disease in a newborn baby and a child aged 2-3 years, how to treat it and which remedy is best suited for allergic, purulent, bacterial or chronic conjunctivitis.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes is accompanied by the development of conjunctivitis. The mucous membrane protects the eyes from negative external influence. The ingress of various harmful microorganisms causes irritation and the development of eye diseases.

The most common among them is conjunctivitis of the eyes, since children often rub their eyes with dirty hands (playing in the sandbox or with a cat). It is not surprising why a child often develops conjunctivitis in childhood.

Causes of conjunctivitis in newborn infants and children 2-3 years old

Conjunctivitis is an infectious viral diseases, which is accompanied by inflammatory processes and irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes. Treatment in children is recommended in the first stages of development; do not start the disease, otherwise it will lead to complications.

Treatment at home is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. Before treating a disease, it is necessary to find out the reasons for its development.

In most cases, the disease develops in a child under 3 years of age for the following reasons:

getting bacteria into the eyes;
allergic reaction;
hypothermia of the body;
eye irritation;
runny nose or cold;
with ARVI;
dry eye syndrome.

In a newborn baby, the development of the disease can occur for 2 reasons:

at birth;
during the birth process due to non-compliance with hygiene rules by medical personnel.

The incubation period lasts from 2 to 3 days, during this period it is important to provide children timely treatment and limit contact with other children, as it is contagious. The baby looks tired and tired.

How is it transmitted

Considering that a baby's immune system is not yet fully developed, it is understandable why illness can occur due to a cold. Treatment of the disease in newborns is carried out inpatiently, in order to avoid complications and the development of other pathological diseases, for example homeopathy.

Children from 5-6-7 years old can catch the infection when interacting with other kids or while playing (for example, sharing toys, holding hands while playing). However, allergic conjunctivitis develops due to intolerance to specific odors, dust or pollen.

Exist the following types diseases:

bacterial conjunctivitis;
purulent conjunctivitis;
viral;
contact;
fungal;
chlamydial;
allergic.

Signs and symptoms of the disease (photos)

Bacterial conjunctivitis is accompanied by purulence and sensation foreign body inside the eyes. The kids always want to rub their eyes, which makes the situation even worse. How long the treatment of the disease lasts depends on the degree of its severity and neglect.

Signs and symptoms of eye conjunctivitis in infants and adults:

there is swelling and redness of the eyes;
unbearable severe itching;
frequent purulent discharge;
eyelids are red;
dry cough;
green snot;
the appearance of follicle film;
severe tearing;
swollen eye;
Constant burning sensation inside the eyes.

The first signs of the disease are the appearance of a strong unbearable itching and burning sensations. U infant may be observed heat. The disease is transmitted if it is of a fungal or viral type. Before finding out how to treat the disease, it is necessary to determine the cause of its development.

Eye conjunctivitis - treatment in children

Complications of the disease can lead to deterioration of vision and the development of other pathological diseases. Immediately, as soon as the first signs appeared in one year old child, you need to seek medical help and instill Albucid drops, as well as use other medications and antibiotics. First of all, the doctor must determine the type of conjunctivitis, and then prescribe the necessary treatment.

If a one-year-old baby is diagnosed with viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, then it is necessary to rinse the eyes with a special solution or use Furacilin. How to dilute the solution correctly and better (add 1 tablet to half a glass of water). Carry out the procedure 3 times for several days until complete recovery.

Do not wash your eyes with the solution when allergic form diseases. Even if in children aged 2-3-4 months only 1 eye is inflamed, prevention is carried out on the second one too. Prevention should be carried out one month after treatment.

Children should not wear an eye patch at night;
take only those antibiotics and medications prescribed by your doctor;
first aid should be provided at the first symptoms;
swimming in ponds or rivers is prohibited;
wash your eyes with special solutions (chloramphenicol, futsitalmic, penicillin, ophthalmoferon, derinat, erythromycin) as you see in the photo;
You cannot swim in pools and ponds.

Allergic conjunctivitis in a child

With the allergic type of conjunctivitis, a four-year-old child often has an itchy eye. The irritant can be dust, household chemicals and drugs. It is not recommended to treat the disease with folk remedies yourself, as this can lead to complications of the disease.

After undergoing an examination in a one-month-old baby, you can determine the cause of the development of allergies and understand how to wash the eyes with conjunctivitis in children even at 2 years old. It is important to limit contact with pets, since an allergic reaction often occurs from a cat, namely from its fur, in children aged 3 years.

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Purulent

Wrong and untimely treatment leads to complications and transition of the disease to a chronic form. Chronic conjunctivitis of the eyes periodically causes complications throughout life. As shown in the video purulent or bacterial species The disease begins to develop when bacteria penetrate the mucous membrane of the eyes.

What to do with purulent discharge to cure it:

wash with cotton swabs (use a new swab each time);
use tampons separately for each eye;
Use tetracycline ointment and other medicine for conjunctivitis in children under one year of age or more.

Treatment of purulent conjunctivitis lasts approximately 1 month, depending on the severity of the disease. Tetracycline treatment is used to relieve itching and burning sensation.

Bacterial

The first signs of a bacterial type of disease in babies 8-9-10 months old are the appearance of purulent discharge and dry skin around the eyes. What parents are most interested in is how long does it take to treat the disease? With timely medical care the disease subsides within 2-3 days.

It is not surprising why bacterial conjunctivitis occurs. The reasons for the development may be contact with an infected person or frequently bathing the child in a pool or pond (especially in summer).

Chronic

Mostly chronic form manifests itself in elderly people if in childhood under 2 years of age, in which case careful care and treatment is required alcohol tincture propolis.

Chronic conjunctivitis of the eyes in children at five months is treated antiviral agents and eye drops. For example, Sofradex drops restore the functioning of the mucous membrane of the eye and prevent the development of inflammatory processes, and also reduce irritation.

How and with what to treat conjunctivitis at home using folk remedies

Effective treatment will be provided that you follow all the doctor’s recommendations and use not only medications, but also folk remedies. Treatment at home should be aimed at reducing swelling and clearing pus from the eye. Aloe juice helps a one-year-old baby relieve the allergic reaction of conjunctivitis and get rid of the feeling of burning and itching.

Conjunctivitis of the eye and its treatment with aloe juice is carried out in two ways:

drop 2 drops into the eyes once a day (dilute with water 1:10);
wet the swab and apply it to the sore eye.

You also need to wash your eyes with sodium sulfacyl solution. It helps relieve tearing and kills bacteria. It is recommended to use folk remedies for children for at least 5 months, after consulting with your doctor.

What Komarovksky says about the disease (video)

Dr. Komarovsky believes that acute respiratory infections and conjunctivitis of the eyes are interconnected, since bacteria can develop in the respiratory tract and then spread to the mucous membrane of the eyes, so coughing may be one of the symptoms. Babies as young as 1 year of age may become more likely to become infected with the disease than adults.

Since there are different types of illness, the question of how to treat depends on the cause of the illness. Komarovsky recommends that before putting drops into your eyes, wash your hands thoroughly before the procedure and change the pipette every time so as not to infect the other eye. User reviews show how effective Dr. Komarovsky's methods are.

There are no children in the world who have never had conjunctivitis. No matter how carefully parents treat hygiene, raising a child and never treating it unpleasant disease organs of vision, it does not work. The famous doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky talks about why eye inflammation occurs, what factors contribute to this process and how to treat the baby.

What it is

Conjunctivitis- inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye. It is usually caused by viruses, but one fifth of all diagnoses in children relate to bacterial lesions of the mucous membrane. Quite often the disease is allergic, and is accompanied general allergies for anything. Sometimes a child develops inflammation after a minor injury to the eye, for example, if small solid particles of dust get into it.

The symptoms are identical in almost all cases: a red, streaked eyeball, photophobia, pain in the eye when blinking, moving the eyeball from side to side, lacrimation, and sometimes pus accumulates in the corners of the affected eyes. Sometimes there is a decrease in vision. Medical reference books and encyclopedias indicate that conjunctivitis is most dangerous for children with blue and bright eyes, since they are more sensitive to light. In almost all cases, the disease is highly contagious.

Why does a child develop conjunctivitis? Dr. Evgeny Komarovsky raises this question in his program.

Komarovsky about conjunctivitis

The disease in most cases is directly related to acute respiratory viral infections, says Komarovsky. The fact is that many viruses that can enter a child’s body through the nasopharynx also thrive on the mucous membrane of the eyes, which are located nearby. They are what cause viral conjunctivitis.

That is why, all over the world, except Russia, perhaps, and some CIS countries, according to Komarovsky, this eye disease is not treated by ophthalmologists. This is more the task of pediatricians and family doctors. The disease is serious, but it cannot be called purely ophthalmological. The only exceptions are very complex cases, but such conjunctivitis, according to the doctor, is, fortunately, very rare.

Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs when pathogenic bacteria enter the eye mucosa. If viruses are mainly transmitted by airborne droplets, then bacteria is exactly the case when a child actively rubs his eyes, especially on the street, and even after playing in the sandbox. Or small debris got into his eye, he rubbed his eye, and as a result of microtrauma, bacteria, which like this habitat no less than viruses, got onto the affected mucous membrane.

Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by a protein antigen, which caused an inadequate response of the body, as well as a number of external factors- the presence of an allergen in the air, too dusty and polluted air, spraying of poisonous and toxic substances, household chemicals, perfumes.

It is not so easy to distinguish one type of disease from another, says Evgeny Komarovsky, because the symptoms are really almost the same. The parents themselves can help the doctor by telling in detail exactly what events preceded the onset of eye inflammation, what the baby ate and drank, where he walked, what he played with, what he was sick with. If the whole family went on a visit and their eyes began to water, they bought a new toy, or washed their T-shirts and panties with a new washing powder or conditioner, then the doctor will most likely diagnose “Allergic conjunctivitis.”

If the parents of other children who attend the same group in kindergarten with your child also complained about redness of the eyes of the toddler, in addition, the child showed signs of a runny nose, coughing and in general he looks somehow wrong, you can say about viral conjunctivitis.

If nothing new has appeared in the house, the washing powder is the same, and all the other children around the baby are completely healthy, but your child’s eyes turn red and begin to fester, then the child probably has a bacterial form of the disease.

Thus, parents can also determine the cause of the disease, but if this fails, it is better to consult a doctor, and it is advisable to use a house call, since one should not forget that conjunctivitis is quite contagious if it is viral, and puts other small patients of the clinic at risk there's no point.

When is a doctor required?

According to Evgeniy Komarovsky, all self-medication is strictly prohibited if conjunctivitis, and especially purulent conjunctivitis, occurs in a newborn, as well as in children under one year old. A reason to consult a doctor should also be an illness in which improvement in the condition of the eyes is not observed for two days.

A doctor should also be called in case of photophobia, even if the redness of the eyeball appears slight and insignificant. With this symptom, the baby will squint, close his eyes against bright light, avoid rooms with sufficient lighting, may begin to ask to turn off the lights and complain of pain in the eyes, which even daylight causes.

If a child complains of intense pain in the eyes or decreased clarity of vision, you should immediately call a doctor, says Komarovsky. Inflammation of the eyes, in which watery blisters appear on the upper eyelid, will also require urgent medical attention.

Treatment according to Komarovsky

When it comes to widespread viral conjunctivitis caused by adenoviruses, says Evgeniy Olegovich, doctors cannot help. This type of eye inflammation does not require treatment, since within 5-7 days the baby’s body develops immunity and copes quite effectively with the inflammatory process. The exception is herpetic damage to the organs of vision by herpes viruses. It is severe, with the formation of blisters on the eyelids, photophobia, and pain.

Bacterial conjunctivitis requires antibiotic therapy, fortunately there are many drugs now, and you can always choose the most suitable one for the baby, taking into account his age and the severity of the inflammatory process. Komarovsky says that local antibiotics for this disease are very effective, and do not be alarmed if the instructions for the drops or ointment indicate that the drug is not intended for children's use.

Manufacturers write this when there is insufficient research, and this antibiotic is usually not used for children. Ophthalmologists do not rule out prescribing just such drugs, since they know for sure that when applied topically (into the eye), no side effects it won’t, because the active substance will not go anywhere from the eye and will not begin to act systemically on the body.

Allergic conjunctivitis is the most difficult, because before treating such a disease, it is imperative to find the allergen that caused the inflammation, otherwise the therapy simply will not give any result. On the other hand, if the antigen is found and established, treatment will be quick and simple - it will be enough to simply eliminate the irritant. If the allergy occurs to animal fur, then you need to limit the baby’s contact with four-legged pets, if to household chemicals, remove the chemicals from the house and do cleaning without it.

If the allergen cannot be eliminated or it is not found, there are many different drugs to alleviate this condition. Komarovsky says that hormonal drops and ointments, which act faster than non-hormonal agents, are quite justified. Often this treatment is combined with oral allergy medications, such as antihistamines, as prescribed by your doctor.

Komarovsky considers the best remedy for washing sore eyes saline, since plain water and other products cause irritation.

You can buy saline solution at the pharmacy, or you can make it yourself. Evgeniy Olegovich recommends taking a teaspoon of salt per liter of water for this. It is this solution that will have the most beneficial effect on the mucous membrane of the eye.

About traditional treatment

Folk remedies offered by fans alternative medicine, Komarovsky advises using with great caution, always checking with your own common sense. Advice to drip urine into your eye should not be taken seriously at all, says Evgeniy Olegovich. With viral conjunctivitis, in general, there is not much difference with what you wash the eye with - tea leaves, chamomile decoction or pharmaceutical saline solution.

None even the most recommended herbal decoction will not speed up recovery from illness caused by viruses. Conjunctivitis will only go away when the immune system develops protection. But in relation to a bacterial eye disease, the beneficial properties of chamomile or tea leaves can be used for the benefit of the child.

However, Komarovsky warns parents against self-diagnosis and treatment, especially with folk remedies, since incorrect treatment or untimely therapy can cause irreversible changes in the functions of the eye - vision can decrease significantly, up to complete blindness.

Advice from Dr. Komarovsky

If a child visits the pool, it is better to buy him special glasses, which will help avoid contact of the delicate mucous membrane of the eyeball with chlorinated water. If your child does return from the pool with red eyes (this happens quite often), he needs to rinse his eyes and nose with saline solution.

Conjunctivitis is contagious in any form, adenoviral and herpetic variety. During treatment, Dr. Komarovsky advises not to attend kindergarten and school, public places where the child can interact with others. At home, it is better for the patient to allocate separate household items, dishes, bed linen and towels in order to protect the rest of the family members and especially other children, if there are any in this family. There is no specific quarantine period for this disease; you can return to visiting preschool and school institutions if there are no problems with your eyes within 2-3 days.

Drugs should be instilled correctly. With unilateral conjunctivitis, it is necessary to instill in both eyes, because there is a high risk of transferring the infection from the diseased eye to the healthy eye. Komarovsky advises moms and dads to learn how to properly drop into their eyes by pulling back the lower eyelid. It is into this lower conjunctival sac that the drops should fall. In this case, you should not touch the eyelid itself with the pipette or dispenser. Before instillation, the drops must be warmed in your hand to body temperature. The procedure should begin with healthy eye, so the risk of introducing an infection into it is significantly reduced.

The best way to prevent eye inflammation is to teach your child to touch his eyes less with his hands, rub them, especially on the street, and maintain eye hygiene. It is important to teach your child not to overstrain his eyesight, not to sit for a long time in front of a computer monitor, and not to watch TV from too close a distance from the screen. These systematic measures will be effective in preventing bacterial inflammation. It is much more difficult to protect children from the virus, but standard prevention should consist of increasing the child’s immunity.

To do this, he must exercise, eat healthy food enriched with vitamins, walk a lot, breathe fresh air, and lead an active lifestyle. Prevention allergic inflammation does not exist as such, because no one is immune from the allergen. But even here, the likelihood and severity of the disease will largely be determined by the condition immune defense baby. The more healthy image The family leads the life, the less chance of developing the disease.

Why otitis media often occurs with conjunctivitis, see Dr. Komarovsky’s program.

Many parents, unfortunately more than once, have encountered the problem of developing conjunctivitis in their child.

Most often, trying to achieve Get well soon, they resorted to self-medication, not realizing that each type of this pathology requires its own treatment method and the prescription of different pharmacological drugs.

“How to cure conjunctivitis in a child?” - this is probably the most popular question that arises when the first signs of this disease appear. The correct answer can only be found by contacting a pediatric ophthalmologist.

Conjunctivitis - what is it?

The conjunctiva of the eye performs:

Barrier function, prevents the penetration of infectious pathogens.
Protects the eye from mechanical irritants (wind, dust).
Helps eliminate the feeling of dry eye by moisturizing it.

Conjunctivitis in childhood occurs quite often, and children under 3 years of age are especially susceptible to it. This disease can occur due to various reasons. And the choice of medications will depend on the etiology of conjunctivitis.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis in a child

Each form of conjunctivitis has certain symptoms that are characteristic of the development of a particular type of disease.

But you should pay attention that many symptoms occur when different forms this pathological process.

In the youngest patients and children under 3 years of age, the disease most often begins with the appearance of the following symptoms:

How to determine the type of conjunctivitis in a child?

In order to choose the right treatment method for conjunctivitis, confirming its diagnosis is not enough; it is necessary to establish the cause of the pathology. Only then can you successfully cope with its manifestations and prevent complications.

This mistake is often made by overly “caring” parents who prescribe treatment on their own. They have no idea that each form of conjunctivitis is treated with certain groups of pharmacological agents.

Depending on the etiology, the following types of conjunctivitis are distinguished:

Bacterial.
Bacterial purulent.
Viral.
Allergic conjunctivitis (caused by allergens).
Contact.

Each type of conjunctivitis has its own clinical picture with its own symptoms. Based on this it happens differential diagnosis, and the type of disease is established.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is most often caused by penetration into the body:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Staphylococcal or streptococcal infection.
Gonococcus Neisser.
Meningococcal infection.
Haemophilus influenzae and diphtheria bacillus.

This disease, in most cases, develops rapidly, progresses rapidly, and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Purulent conjunctivitis

Purulent conjunctivitis has the same clinical picture as bacterial conjunctivitis.

In some cases, it is supplemented by the appearance of the following symptoms:

The swelling takes on a pronounced form, which leads to thickening of the eyelids.
The sclera of the eyes acquire a pronounced red color.

It should be noted that purulent conjunctivitis is a secondary infection, that is, it can develop against the background of diseases of the ear, nose or throat.

Viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis most often develops in parallel with viral infection:

Herpes virus.
Adenovirus infection.
Measles diseases, mumps, chickenpox, influenza, ARVI.

With this type of conjunctivitis, the following symptoms appear:

Increased secretion of tears.
Hyperemia of the eyelids.
Swelling of the eyelids and the appearance of circles under the eyes.
A small blistering rash may appear on the mucous membranes, or films may appear in the form of a gray coating.

In parallel with the above symptoms, the child appears:

Cough.
Very often the temperature rises to critical levels (39 degrees).
A runny nose may appear.
There is an increase in the palatine tonsils.

The characteristic difference between viral conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis is:

Significant increase in temperature.
Slight swelling of the eyelids.
Severe redness of the conjunctival mucosa.
The appearance of follicular vesicles.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is accompanied by a feeling of unbearable itching. Other signs of the disease are not pronounced.

The main difference from previous types of pathology is the absence of any discharge from the eyes.

The child may have:

Painful sensations.
Unbearable itching.
Slight swelling of the eyelids.
Watery eyes.
Severe runny nose.

Thus, if redness of the eyes occurs and there is no discharge from it, this suggests that the child has conjunctivitis allergic etiology. Parents may also notice that the disease has developed within half an hour. This is due to how quickly the allergen entered the child’s body ( infectious process develops much more slowly).

Contact conjunctivitis

Contact conjunctivitis can develop:

When a child cries for a long time.
After rubbing your eyes with dirty hands.
Under the influence of smoke or vapors of harmful chemical compounds.

The child's main complaints boil down to: pain, and the feeling of discomfort that he associates with getting some object into the eye. All other signs are insignificant and have a mild manifestation.

Chlamydial conjunctivitis

Chlamydial conjunctivitis in a child develops when a chlamydial infection gets into the eye (there is debate in the scientific world whether it is a bacterium or a virus).

A child becomes infected with this infection through the use of someone else’s personal hygiene items (towel, washcloth, bed and underwear).

Infection can also occur at birth.

This disease begins with the appearance of a fear of daylight, bright light. On the second day, severe redness and swelling of the upper and lower eyelids appear.

If treatment does not occur, then pus accumulates under the lower eyelid. This leads to difficulty opening the eyes in the morning, after sleep, due to the fact that the eyelids stick together.

Causes of conjunctivitis in infants and children 2-3 years old

The disease of conjunctivitis occurs almost the same, both in babies of the first year of life and in children of three years of age.

The main difference is that a small patient cannot talk about his complaints. Therefore, the doctor can only use visual observation data and additional tests to make a diagnosis.

The main causes of this disease in children under 1 year of age may be:

Hereditary obstruction of the lacrimal ducts.
Violation sanitary standards V maternity ward.
If after birth the baby's eyes were not treated.
Infection through the birth canal if the baby's mother was infected with a sexually transmitted infection.
Insufficient compliance with hygiene standards, use of stale linen (diapers, pillowcases, undershirts).
The disease can develop if daily, wet cleaning is not carried out in the children's room and the room is not ventilated.
Particles of dust and dirt get into the mucous membrane of the eyes through dirty toys, or when a child learns to walk by holding on to various household items.
Rare hand washing with soap.
Eye injury.
Due to previous enteroviral or adenoviral infections.

After the first year of life, the cause of the development of this pathology may be:

Use of fabric or fur-based toys in games.
As a complication of influenza, tonsillitis, pharyngitis (disease of the oropharynx and nasopharynx).
Weakening protective functions the body, resulting in decreased immunity.
Consequences of improper drug treatment (self-prescription of drugs).
Use of low-quality personal hygiene products (shampoos, creams, gels).
Unsanitary home life.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in a child

To successfully cope with this pathology and prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules of therapy, which are:

Before going to the doctor for advice, it is best not to take significant therapeutic actions. If the cause of the disease is viral or bacterial, for relief, as first aid to the child, you can drip sodium sulfacyl (albucid) into the eyes. In the event that the development of the disease occurs due to the influence of an allergen, the child can be given a tablet form of an antihistamine.
If the doctor has diagnosed bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, then every 2 hours during the day it is necessary to wash the eyes with antiseptic solutions. To do this, you can use a decoction of chamomile, calendula, or pharmaceutical product Furacilina. In this case, it is better not to use sterile gauze wipes; it is better not to use cotton swabs due to the high probability of lint getting into the eyes. This procedure must be performed from the temporal corner of the eye towards the bridge of the nose.
The procedure is always performed on both eyes, even if one eye is involved in the inflammatory process.
Avoid using bandages over the eye area.
When the disease is acute, instillation of disinfectant drops should be done at least every 3 hours. For infants, Albucid is usually prescribed; for children after one year of age, it is recommended to use Levomycetin drops or Vitabact.
The eye ointment is applied only to the lower eyelid.
When the symptoms of conjunctivitis begin to subside, instillation of eye drops can be done three times a day.

Treatment tactics are selected based on the established diagnosis.

For bacterial conjunctivitis

Disinfecting drops (albucid) are prescribed from the first day of the disease. Antiseptic eye rinsing should be done regularly every two to three hours.

In addition, the ophthalmologist prescribes drops:

Ciprofloxacin
Levomycetin drops
Phloxal
Okacin (Lomefloxacin).

Or medications may be prescribed in the form of an ointment:

Erythromycin
Dexa-Gentamicin
Tetracycline.

Drops and ointments are used at intervals of 2-4 hours, be sure to take into account the fact that the drops are instilled after washing the eyes. Eye ointment can be placed behind the lower eyelid if at least an hour has passed since the medicine was instilled.

It is best to use before going to bed (to achieve a long-lasting effect) eye ointment, it is not washed away by tears.

Conjunctivitis of viral etiology

May occur in a more severe form than bacterial. The universal remedy Sulfacyl sodium is prescribed from the moment the disease develops and continues until the signs of conjunctivitis completely disappear. Just like with bacterial form illness, eye rinsing is prescribed every 3 hours.

It is necessary to instill (6-8 times a day) drops containing interferon:

Oftalmoferon
Poludan
Aktipol.

It is best to apply the ointment according to the following scheme:

First, the eyes are washed using:
Weak unsweetened tea.
Chamomile decoction.
Decoction of calendula flowers.
Sage tinctures on water.
A weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Furacilin solution.
After this, the eye is instilled with Albucid solution, a break is taken for half an hour, and drops containing interferon are instilled.
An hour after the above procedures, the ointment is applied to the lower eyelid. It is slightly pulled down and a small amount of ointment is squeezed out. When performing this manipulation, be sure to ensure that the cannula of the tube does not come into contact with the organ of vision.

To treat children for this disease, ointments are usually used that have a minimal amount side effects and contraindications, for example, Floxal eye ointment.

Conjunctivitis caused by allergens

Involves the use of antihistamines that are prescribed for oral use:

Cetrin.
Zyrtec.
Claritin.

It is very important that antihistamine drugs are safe in childhood, it is advisable to use dosage forms last generation.

Drops are prescribed that help block histamine receptors:

Opatanol
Allergodil
Visin Alergy.

For completeness complex treatment medications used to stabilize the state of mast cells:

Lecrolin
Alomid
Cromohexal.

If the disease becomes protracted or does not respond well to therapy, the ophthalmologist prescribes medications based on glucocorticosteroids (adrenal cortex hormone).

This therapy is used only in extreme cases, with strict adherence to the dosage of the drug. It is imperative, when discontinuing the drug, to stop using it gradually, not in one day (gradually reduce the dosage).

Drops prescribed for conjunctivitis in a child

When this pathology occurs, as emergency care, and subsequent treatment is prescribed:

Albucid. The drug can be used in the maternity ward to prevent gonoblennorrhea in newborns. For children, a medicine containing 10% sodium sulfacyl is usually used. The maximum dosage can be 6 instillations per day. It is particularly effective if eye damage occurs due to infection:
- Gonococcus Neisser.
- Streptococci or staphylococci.
- Pneumococci.
- Chlamydial infection.
Drops containing Levomycetin (0.25%). Effective on many strains bacterial pathogens. Can be used for 2 weeks, three drops in each eye.
Phloxal. The main ingredient is ofloxacin. One drop can be instilled, no more than 4 times a day.
Tobrex. To date, these are the best eye drops to combat conjunctivitis. Dont Have side effects and contraindications (not prescribed if you are allergic to the ingredients of the drug). Has an extended spectrum of action against bacterial infections.
Oftalmoferon. An antiviral drug based on interferon. Provides rapid death of viral infection, eliminates symptoms of swelling, and helps reduce itching. Can be used when allergic form conjunctivitis.
Poludan. The medicine is in the form of eye drops and can be used up to 8 times a day. When using it, positive dynamics in therapy are noted adenovirus infection and herpes virus.

Correct use of eye drops

So that the drops have a quick therapeutic effect, they must be used correctly, and at the same time comply with the rules of cleanliness and sterility of the use of materials:

Before the eye drop procedure, hands are thoroughly washed under hot water using baby soap.
Before instilling the medicine, you need to look at the date of its manufacture (it should not be expired). It should be borne in mind that an open bottle of medicine retains its medicinal qualities no more than 2 weeks.
If the medicine was stored in the refrigerator, it must be warmed in your hand, bringing it to room temperature.
Two eyes must be instilled, even if the inflammatory process is localized only in the area of one eyeball.
Instillation must be done in the corner of the eye closer to the bridge of the nose. Do not allow the cannula or pipette to come into contact with the mucous membrane of the eye.
After this manipulation, the child is recommended to blink his eyes frequently.

Ointments

The use of ointment medications occurs in parallel with the prescription of drops. Ointments that have minimal side effects are usually used.

Next:

Tetracycline ointment. Has a positive effect on a large number of strains bacterial infections. It is allowed to use up to 3 times a day.
Erythromycin. It has the same indications as the previous medicine, with the same frequency of use.
Tobrex. Applicable only when the child is 2 months old. Except of this disease prescribed for:
- Barley.
- Keratitis.
- Keratoconjunctivitis.
Bonafton. Prescribed for viral infections of the conjunctival mucosa caused by:
- Herpes virus.
- Adenovirus infection.

After placing the ointment behind the lower eyelid, you need to sit with your eyes closed for 1 minute. Wherein index finger lightly press on closed eye and produce a rotational movement. This will allow the ointment to spread smoothly throughout the eye.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in a newborn baby

The symptoms of this pathology in children of the first year of life are no different from clinical picture and the course of illness in older children.

However, there are a number of restrictions that can narrow the range of use of pharmaceutical drugs.

This is explained by the fact that many of them have a lot of contraindications and have an increased number of side effects.

It should also be noted that the main cause of conjunctival disease in infants may be:

Imperfectly developed immune defense system.
Very often there is no opening of the lacrimal canal (full opening can occur by the eighth month of life).

Therefore, therapy for conjunctivitis in a newborn child involves the prescription of medications that can have a positive effect in a gentle manner.

Upon appointment antiseptic solutions for washing eyes, preference is given to:

Furacilin solution. It should not be concentrated and have a pale yellow color.
A weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Eye drops can be used using:
- Albucid.
- Tobrex.
Stronger antibiotics and drugs based on glucocorticosteroids are prescribed in severe cases only under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
The following types of ointments are most often prescribed:
- Erythromycin.
- Tobrex ointment (approved for use after 2 months).
If conjunctivitis in the youngest patient develops as a consequence allergic reaction, tablet forms are prescribed:
- Cetrin.
- Claritin.
- Fenistil.
- Lecrolin.
- Cromohexal.

How to wash a child's eyes?

Rinsing the eyes and the surrounding skin surface must be done every 2-3 hours. This is done to remove dried crusts of pus. Also, this procedure helps to expand the lacrimal opening of the eye.

The best thing, this procedure carry out before instillation of eye drops.

Manipulation can be carried out using:

Heated boiled water.
Saline solution. You can buy it at a pharmacy chain, or make it yourself. To do this, dissolve a spoon in a liter of boiled, cooled water. table salt(this solution must be filtered thoroughly).
A weak solution of furatsilin (it should have a pale yellow color).
A decoction of chamomile inflorescences.
Tinctures of water from sage leaves.
A weak brew solution (the brew should not have flavors, dyes, or contain sugar).

When carrying out this procedure, the following conditions must be met:

The eye wash solution should be at room temperature.
A sterile gauze pad is used for rinsing. The use of cotton wool is unacceptable due to the possibility of its fibers getting into the eyes.
When washing, movements begin from the corner of the eye (outer) to the inner (towards the bridge of the nose).
In the acute period, this manipulation can be repeated 8 times a day.

Transmission routes

There are three main ways that infection can enter a child’s body:

By air. This route of transmission occurs when pathogenic pathogens enter during coughing or sneezing.
Contact infection occurs when care for a sick child is not taken care of. In this case, infection occurs due to non-compliance with sanitary standards. This becomes possible through:
- Shared dishes.
- Personal hygiene items (towel, washcloth).
- Bed sheets.
Sexual transmission is possible in the maternity hospital during delivery of the mother if she is infected with sexually transmitted diseases:
- Chlamydia.
- Mycoplasmosis.
- Gonorrhea.

Prevention

Preventive measures make it possible to avoid this disease in most cases.

To do this you need:

Monitor the cleanliness of toys, change bed linen more often, and carry out daily ventilation and wet cleaning in the children's room.
Teach your child to wash his face and wash his hands with soap and hot water before eating and after visiting the street.
Choose a diet that does not contain foods that can cause allergies.
The diet should contain a large amount coarse fiber, vitamins, beneficial micro and macroelements.
Take frequent walks in the fresh air. School-age children are recommended to engage in active sports.
To increase the protective functions of the body, resort to hardening methods.
Each child should have an individual towel for hands, face, and after taking a bath.

TV presenter and pediatrician Komarovsky about conjunctivitis

Doctor Komarovsky claims that the main cause of conjunctivitis of viral origin is an infection that penetrates through the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx or oral cavity.

Therefore, this type of disease is not a purely ophthalmological pathology.

Conjunctivitis, the etiology of which is bacterial microflora, most often occurs through contact of a child with contaminated household items, or through dirty hands.

Evgeny Komarovsky believes that parents can help the doctor make a diagnosis. It is their story about the onset of the development of the disease that can reveal the cause and type of this pathology.

When should you see a doctor?

Mild forms of this disease can be treated at home. But, according to Dr. Komarovsky, if certain signs appear, it is necessary to urgently visit a pediatrician or ophthalmologist.

Such manifestations are:

If there is no positive dynamics in the treatment of this process for several days. On the contrary, the clinical picture becomes pronounced.
Body temperature rises, which is difficult to lose, even with the use of antipyretics.
There is a fear of bright or sunny colors, the child prefers not to get out of bed.
If you feel discomfort, which the baby explains as pain and pain in the eyes, this is also alarm signal, in which you cannot do without a doctor.
In the event that a small patient develops fine-bubble rashes that are localized in the area upper eyelid, or in the morning, after waking up, dirty yellow crusts began to appear on the eyes.

Dr. Komarovsky argues that it is unacceptable to leave such symptoms without proper attention. The development of the disease may be delayed and lead to undesirable consequences (the deeper tissues of the eye may be affected).

Treatment according to Komarovsky

With a viral infection

If a child develops symptoms of viral conjunctivitis, Komarovsky argues that there is no need to do a special type of treatment, with the exception of washing the eyes.

Within seven days, the little patient’s body is able to independently develop immunity and cope with this disease.

Great care should be taken if the inflammatory process involves herpes virus.

For bacterial

When there is a bacterial infection of the eye, there are many antibacterial drugs which the doctor prescribes.

As Komarovsky says, if the instructions do not indicate the method of using the medicine (local action) in childhood, this should not cause concern, since many pharmacological agents, after clinical trials, have not yet published their results.

To wash the eyeball, the doctor prefers saline solution (Sodium chloride), which is best purchased at a pharmacy chain.

For allergic conjunctivitis

To eliminate the symptoms of conjunctivitis caused by allergens, if the cause and its type are not established, it is necessary to prescribe parallel therapy using antihistamines and medications pharmacological group corticosteroids.

Home therapy using traditional methods

Dr. Komarovsky warns parents about the danger self-treatment conjunctivitis in a child. This type of therapy can only be used for bacterial eye infections.

In such cases, rinsing is prescribed using:

A decoction of medicinal chamomile flowers.
Sage herbs.
Medicinal calendula.
A weak solution of tea leaves.
Not a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

For other types of conjunctivitis, it is best to use saline sodium chloride solution.

Komarovsky warns parents about the dangers of using the method of applying tea bags to a child's eyes. And it protects compassionate mothers from the recommendations of false healers who advise putting breast milk in the baby’s eyes.

Moms and dads need to know that conjunctivitis is a contagious infection (with the exception of allergic conjunctivitis). Therefore, if a child gets sick, he should have individual dishes, towels, and bed linen.
It is very important that all procedures prescribed by the doctor are carried out correctly and in full., even after the disappearance of the symptoms of the clinical picture of the disease, therapy continues for at least three days.
It is necessary to have conversations with the child, explain to him the importance of observing the basics of hygienic care for the face and hands.
It is very important to harden the child’s body, this will help the immune system cope with the penetration of pathological infections. To do this, you need to walk in the fresh air more often and engage in outdoor sports.
Particular attention should be paid proper nutrition , avoid snacking on the go, eating fast foods and other unhealthy foods.

Conjunctivitis is a very common disease in children, characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes. It is always easier to prevent any disease than to worry, see your baby suffering, torment your child with visits to doctors and unpleasant treatment. Most often, conjunctivitis is associated with hypothermia in a child, a cold or allergic reactions.

To avoid the occurrence of conjunctivitis, you must:

carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene of the child
monitor the cleanliness of the bed, his toys, room
Wash your baby’s hands frequently and teach older children to wash their hands regularly on their own.
Ventilate the room frequently and use air purifiers and humidifiers
monitor the correct, nutritious, fortified diet of the child
control the purity of the products your baby consumes
the child should only use a personal towel
Walk regularly with your baby for at least two hours a day
avoid contact with unhealthy children

Tear fluid and eyelids are serious barriers to the penetration and proliferation of bacteria, infections and viruses in the eyes, but even they sometimes become powerless when the child’s immunity weakens.

Conjunctivitis - symptoms in children

Conjunctivitis in an adult or child is easy to identify, since the signs of inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes are the same. However, children react more violently to such a disease; they become lethargic, restless, often cry and are capricious.

Most often, conjunctivitis is associated with a bacterial, viral infection or allergy. The main signs of conjunctivitis: the child complains of pain or a feeling of sand in the eyes.

Signs of conjunctivitis in children:

Eye redness, swelling
Photophobia
Appearance yellow crusts on eyelids
Gluing eyelids after sleep
Tearing
Purulent discharge from the eyes
The child's appetite and sleep deteriorate

Older children also have the following complaints:

, the visible becomes blurry, indistinct
There is a sensation of a foreign body in the eyes
Burning and discomfort in the eyes

How to treat conjunctivitis in children? It is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist, who will determine what causes inflammation in the child’s eyes and prescribe effective treatment. Redness and slight inflammation in the eye can be caused by an eyelash or other small particle entering the eye, or an allergic reaction to various irritants. Even more is possible serious reason inflammation, such as increased intraocular or intracranial pressure.

How to determine the type of conjunctivitis?

Purulent discharge from the eyes- this means bacterial conjunctivitis
The eyes are irritated and red, but there is no pus– allergic or viral conjunctivitis or other eye diseases
Pharyngitis and conjunctivitis– these are manifestations of adenoviral conjunctivitis

There is no effect of local antibiotic treatment- Not bacterial cause conjunctivitis or flora resistant to this antibiotic.

Rules for treating conjunctivitis in a child

Before being examined by a doctor, it is better not to do anything, but if for some reason the visit to the doctor is postponed, then first aid before the doctor’s examination: if viral or bacterial conjunctivitis is suspected, then drip Albucid into the eyes, regardless of age. If an allergic reaction is suspected, then the child should be given antihistamine(in suspension or tablets).
If the doctor diagnoses bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, then every two hours the baby needs to wash his eyes with chamomile solution or Furacilin (1 tablet per 0.5 cup of water). The direction of movement is only from the temple to the nose. Remove crusts with sterile gauze wipes, one for each eye, soaked in the same solution, and you can also wash the child with it. Then reduce washing to 3 times a day. If this is an allergic reaction, then there is no need to wash your eyes with anything.
If only one eye is inflamed, the procedure must be done with both eyes, since the infection easily passes from one eye to the other. For the same reason, use a separate cotton pad for each eye.
You should not use a blindfold when your eyes are inflamed; this provokes the growth of bacteria and can injure the inflamed eyelids.
Place only those drops into your eyes that have been prescribed by your doctor. If these are disinfectant drops, then at the beginning of the disease they are instilled every 3 hours. For infants this is a 10% solution of Albucid, for older children these are solutions of Futsitalmic, Levomycetin, Vitabact, Colbiotsin, Eubital.
If the doctor recommended eye ointment - tetracycline, erythromycin, then it is carefully placed under the lower eyelid.
Over time, when the condition improves, eye drops and rinsing are reduced to 3 times a day.

How to properly put drops in a child's eyes

If conjunctivitis occurs in children under one year of age, then instillation should be carried out only with a pipette with a rounded end, to avoid damage to the eye
Place the baby on a surface without a pillow, let someone help you and hold your head
Pull back the lower eyelid and apply 1-2 drops. The medicine will distribute itself over the eye, and the excess should be blotted with a sterile gauze cloth, for each eye - its own cloth
If an older child closes his eyes. This is not a problem, no need to worry, shout at him or force him to open his eyes. This is not necessary; in this case, it is enough to drop the medicine between the upper and lower eyelids. The solution will get into the eye when the child opens it. But even a closed eye can be opened by simply stretching the eyelids in different directions with two fingers.
Drops from the refrigerator should be warmed in your hand before use; cold drops should not be instilled to avoid additional irritation.
Cannot be used if the expiration date has expired, without labeling, or if they have been stored open for a long time.
It is better to teach older children to do the procedure on their own, under your supervision; sometimes children do not like that someone touches their eyes

How to treat different types of conjunctivitis?

It is known that, depending on the cause of eye inflammation, the following types of conjunctivitis are distinguished, the treatment of which is different:

Bacterial conjunctivitis in children

Treatment is carried out with Albucid, local antibiotics in drops (chloramphenicol), ointments (tetracycline). It occurs when bacteria and microbes penetrate the mucous membrane of the eye. Most often these are staphylococcus, pneumococcus, streptococcus, gonococcus, chlamydia. If conjunctivitis is one of the manifestations of another serious disease or is protracted, then oral antibiotics and other treatment for the infection are necessary (see).

Viral conjunctivitis in children

Treatment is prescribed by a doctor after examination. Typical pathogens are herpes, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, and coxsackieviruses. If the virus is of herpetic etiology, then Zovirax ointment and Acyclovir are prescribed. Drops with antiviral action Actipol (aminobenzoic acid), Trifluridine (effective against herpes), Poludan (polyriboadenylic acid).

Allergic conjunctivitis

Caused by various irritants - house dust, plant pollen, household chemicals, food, medicines, strong odors and others. Like bacterial conjunctivitis, it is accompanied by redness, swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation, itching (the child constantly scratches his eyes). It is necessary to find out which allergen irritates the child’s eye mucosa and, if possible, limit contact with it.

Antihistamines and antiallergic drops reduce the manifestation of the disease. IN mandatory should go comprehensive examination see an allergist, since the tendency to allergic reactions in children with other provoking factors can contribute to the development of more serious manifestations of allergies, including bronchial asthma.
Treatment: Cromohexal, Allergodil, Olopatodine, Lecrolin, Dexamethasone.

With timely and proper treatment Conjunctivitis goes away quite quickly. But do not self-medicate, do not risk the baby’s health. Since only a doctor, based on an examination, determines the type of conjunctivitis and prescribes appropriate treatment.

Doctor Komarovsky about conjunctivitis in children

Conjunctivitis is a common childhood disease, accompanied by an inflammatory process in the conjunctiva of the eyes. This disease, like any other negative process, is easier to prevent, but there are cases when it is too late and conjunctivitis of the eyes. Treatment in children and its features will be discussed in the article.

The photographs show what the presence of the disease looks like on a child’s eyes. Often as causes The disease is hypothermia, the presence of a cold or an allergic reaction. Several other important factors also contribute to the formation of the disease.

non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene of the baby;
sleeping in an unclean bed, playing with dirty toys;
lack of ventilation of the room in which the child lives;
if the parents do not go for walks with the baby and he is always at home;
in contact with children who have conjunctivitis.

Serious barriers to the penetration of this disease include tear fluid and eyelids, while infections and viruses enter the eyes against which the immune system is powerless. To avoid this situation, it is recommended to strengthen the immune system by any methods and means.

Play an important role symptoms who can tell that something is wrong with the child’s health. In general, the disease is easy to identify, since the inflammatory process in all children looks approximately the same. But if you see that the behavior has changed, the child often cries and becomes capricious, this indicates the presence of a disease. The main signs of the disease include several basic factors.

frequent or constant complaints of pain in the eye area;
the occurrence of severe redness and swelling;
baby's fear of harsh lighting;
the appearance of yellow crusts in the eyelid area;
if after sleep the eyelids begin to stick together;
the eyes begin to water and discharge purulent discharge;
the baby suffers from disturbances in appetite and sleep patterns;
vision becomes significantly worse, the image becomes blurry;
there is a feeling as if a foreign body has appeared in the eyes.

If at least one of these signs occurs, you need to consult a doctor who will make the correct diagnosis and make the right decision on further actions.

There are several varieties of this disease, which can be identified based on symptoms.

bacterial conjunctivitis - a large amount of pus is released from the eyes;
viral or allergic phenomenon - the eyes are very irritated, but there is no pus;
pharyngitis is represented by manifestations of adenovirus-type conjunctivitis.

If My eyes are swollen, what can I do?- this means contacting a specialist who will identify the cause and eliminate the disease. Therapeutic measures last depending on the type of disease, but usually they disappear after several weeks of therapy with drops and folk remedies. There are several basic rules of treatment that will help without violating general principle, eliminate the disease.

You should not make treatment attempts until examined by a specialist.
If an allergic phenomenon is suspected, it is worth taking an antihistamine.
When diagnosing a bacterial type of disease, every two hours the baby washes his eyes with a chamomile solution.
If inflammation is observed only in the area of one eye, the procedure is still performed on both, since the infection can easily spread.
During an inflammatory process, you should not use a blindfold; this can provoke the growth of bacteria and cause the effect of inflamed eyelids.
After observing an improvement in the condition, therapy is stopped, but this does not happen abruptly, but gradually.

Yes, for the kids 1 year, V 2 years or in 3 years treatment is based on these principles, however general techniques must be determined by the treating specialist.

Home treatment involves therapeutic measures folk remedies. Today they can be used in large quantities due to the rich knowledge of our ancestors and contemporaries. Thus, the following methods are widely used for the treatment of inflammatory processes in the eyes.

Treatment tea leaves chamomile - effective procedure, if you follow a simple cooking recipe. Take 2 tbsp. l. leaves and pour 0.2 liters of boiling water. Leave for half an hour, and then drop into the eyes 2-3 times a day. You can not only drip, but also wash your eyes.
Shredded Bay leaf in an amount of about 3 pieces, poured with a small amount of boiling water and infused for a short time, helps to rub the eyes. Another significant advantage is: channel cleaning, which is needed in the presence of this phenomenon.
Cornflower flowers have proven themselves to be good and useful; for this purpose, 1 tbsp. l. Take 200 ml of boiling water and leave for half an hour. After pumping, the eyes are washed 5 times a day.

It is important to know!

All folk remedies It is forbidden to take it on your own; you should consult with your doctor to avoid complications. Often washed and treated levomecithin.

So we've looked at how to treat conjunctivitis in children, and what folk methods are used for this.

But specialists rarely prescribe therapy exclusively folk remedies Most likely, they play a supporting role. If there are complications, treatment is practiced antibiotics, however up to a year this is prohibited.

Drops for conjunctivitis for children

For effective and prompt recovery, they are widely used eye drops for conjunctivitis. There are basic tools that you cannot do without in therapy, and many new drugs have appeared on the market today. Let's look at the most effective medications, including:

Let's consider what drops for conjunctivitis in children are the most effective, based on reviews from parents (from the forum BABYBLOG and from other known resources).

These drops have an antiviral effect and provide protection against allergies, helping to quickly and effectively relieve itching. For children, this effect is extremely important due to their habit of constantly scratching their eyes, and this can provoke infection. infectious disease and bacteria. At the beginning of treatment, instillation is carried out frequently, then less frequently.

The drug has a large number of good and beneficial effects on the child’s body. It helps relieve irritation and eliminate itching, effectively and quickly relieves the inflammatory process and creates the necessary conditions for a speedy recovery.

This drug is one of the most frequently used due to its wide spectrum of action, but there is one caveat: it cannot be used for children under 2 years of age. Treatment with these drops in many cases is more convenient than using other means. The course lasts only a week, during which time the main signs of the disease are eliminated. A pleasant one price the drug makes it a sales leader.

This remedy also has a wide range of effects, but is recommended for use by children over 1 year of age. Treatment is also carried out over the course of a week, but at first it is carried out intensively, and then the number of drops is reduced. Considering the best eye drops for conjunctivitis for children, it can be noted that this product is the most optimal in terms of price and quality ratio.

This medicine is another effective drug to eliminate the disease. The course of treatment ranges from a week to an unlimited period, depending on the doctor’s instructions. It has an affordable price and a wide range of effects, making it popular among many mothers.

Features of eye drops

If found conjunctivitis of the eyes, treatment in children - drops. However, it is important to know the subtleties of how to instill eye drops so that they feel comfortable and infections die.

up to a year, instillation is carried out only using a pipette;
it is necessary to pull back the child’s lower eyelid and drop 1-2 drops;
wait until the medicine is completely distributed over the eye;
remove excess drops with gauze or bandage;
It is important to use a different napkin for each eye.

Using these rules will allow you to achieve optimal treatment results in a short period of time.

Eye conjunctivitis treatment in children Komarovsky video

Below is video, in which honored Dr. Komarovsky will tell you about the problem of conjunctivitis in more detail, and will also help you decide on the main methods for eliminating it. The main task of parents is to suppress exposure to the allergen, and this can be done by everyone accessible methods treatment of the disease. It is also necessary to follow preventive measures.

wash all the toys the child plays with;
teach your child to follow the rules of hygiene;
Keep your baby's bedding clean.

The doctor himself is convinced that acute respiratory infections and conjunctivitis have a close relationship, since bacteria found in one disease can occur due to the development of another disease.

Have you met eye conjunctivitis and treatment in children? Did the article help? Leave your opinion or review for everyone on the forum!