Types of conjunctivitis in children

Children often suffer from conjunctivitis as a result of the structural features of the eye. For this reason, if the conjunctivitis begins in the children's collective, it can become infected and recover all children. Therefore, conjunctivitis can cause quarantine in kindergarten. If it is not time to treat the disease, it may give different complications.

The structure of the conjunctiva of the Child

Conjunctiva - the mucous membrane of the eye is covering the rear surface of the eyelids and the front surface of the eyeball. There are several divisions of the conjunctiva. Part of it is that covers the back surface of the eyelids, the conjunctiva is called the century, covering the sclera - the conjunctiva of the eyeball or sclera. Places transition conjunctiva with the upper and lower eyelids on the eyeball called the upper and lower arch. Slotted capillary space bounded by the front centuries, and behind the front of the eyeball department is called conjunctival sac. The conjunctiva conjunctiva century divided into cartilage and orbital conjunctiva or labial fold.

The conjunctiva is a large number of blood vessels and sensory nerve endings. In the first months of life connective basis of age it is more friable and delicate than adults connective tissue and it is a much smaller number of cellular elements which are capable of non-specific defense against infection.

Causes and types of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva is mainly of infectious origin, is the most common eye disease with a favorable outcome.

The incidence conjunctivitis because the conjunctival sac in its anatomical position is available to all possible external influences, and very easy to conjunctiva reacts to different external and internal exposure. Children conjunctivitis occur more frequently due to the immaturity of the general and local immunity, as well as because of the tenderness and vulnerability of the eye tissue.

Adrift conjunctivitis are divided into acute, subacute and chronic, because of the occurrence - bacterial, viral, allergic, fungal and emerging from the action of various physical and chemical factors. By the nature of the inflammatory process is divided into catarrhal conjunctivitis (inflammation without pus), septic, filmy and follicular.

For children, the most characteristic of acute bacterial and viral conjunctivitis. When bacterial conjunctivitis infection occurs most often through dirty hands and care items (towels, underwear), infectious agents are staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. coli, and so on. Very rarely, the infection enters the eye through the bloodstream from other foci of infection in the body of the child. When viral conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis   cause of the disease are most often adenovirus infection which occurs as a contact (via the hands and underwear), and by airborne droplets.

Chronic conjunctivitis in children often occur with chronic diseases of upper respiratory tract - chronic tonsillitis, adenoiditis, sinusitis and so on.

The symptoms of acute conjunctivitis in children

Despite the fact that the cause of the conjunctivitis may be different, the pattern of the disease is characterized by a number of common symptoms - redness, swelling of the conjunctiva and eyelids transition folds, presence of discharge.

Acute conjunctivitis begins suddenly, first one and then the other eye. Appears stinging or pain in the eye, foreign body sensation, conjunctival redness, swelling, and excessive discharge. The conjunctiva of the pale pink is bright red, swelling leads to its thickening. Discharge can be mucous, muco-purulent and purulent. In children, the disease is often accompanied by general malaise, fever and headache Headache . Duration of acute conjunctivitis ranges from 5-6 days to 2-3 weeks or longer.

Children often a filmy form of conjunctivitis, which is characterized by a mild swelling of the eyelids, bright red coloration of the conjunctiva with the presence of the mucous membrane petechiae and mucopurulent film is easily removed with a cotton swab or departing spontaneously when a baby crying.

Symptoms of chronic conjunctivitis in children

In contrast to chronic acute conjunctivitis begins unnoticed and is characterized by persistent and prolonged course. Children complain of unpleasant sensations in the eye, often rubbed his eyes with his hands. The conjunctiva is slightly swollen and reddened, its surface has a velvety appearance.

In children, chronic conjunctivitis often occurs with the formation of folds in the transition of small translucent pale pink formations - follicles - growths of lymphoid tissue of the conjunctiva.

Conjunctivitis may be complicated by the transition of inflammation of the cornea (keratitis), which can cause blurred vision.

The treatment of conjunctivitis in children

If you have a large number of pus eyes washed baby pink solution of potassium permanganate, 2% aqueous solution of boric acid or a freshly brewed tea. After that eye was instilled 20% solution of sodium sulfatsil (sulfacetamide) - 5-6 times a day, or eye drops with antibiotics according to the doctor's appointment (eg, 0, 25% solution of chloramphenicol). If necessary, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye ointment (eg, erythromycin).

In viral conjunctivitis eye instillation of interferon administered 6-8 times a day.

With proper treatment of conjunctivitis adequate prognosis is always favorable. In severe cases, corneal complications, possibly decreased vision.

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