Conjunctivitis in infants: causes, treatment, prevention

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes. The disease occurs quite often, and even in infants. Appears lachrymation, redness, itching and burning. This kind of inflammation is caused by a virus. Conjunctivitis is allergic, viral and chlamydial.

Allergic

In the first case inflammation of the connective membrane of the eyes occurs. When a child wakes up, his eyelids can look like glued. The kid pulls his hands to his eyes, scratches them. Distinguish seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, which is manifested during the flowering of allergenic plants and shrubs. What else can provoke the occurrence? Animal wool, a number of products and medicines, ordinary dust are strong allergens. Year-round inflammation is expressed by a chronic runny nose and bronchial asthma. Viral form of the disease occurs as a result of pneumonia and tonsillitis.

Chlamydial conjunctivitis in the infants can not appear. He is subject to adult people. And newborn children may suffer from allergic, viral and bacterial types of disease. By the way, they get sick often enough. But how and where can the infant get infected without having had time to be in interaction with the environment, because he was just born? It turns out that bacteria can enter the children's body through the birth canal.

Causes

The reasons for the appearance of conjunctivitis are the following: stay in the premises, in which aerosols and paints are sprayed, beriberi, visual impairment, bright sun and dry air.

Attentive parents will always notice any deviation in health from their baby. And the tears and red eyes will give cause for concern. It happens that not immediately both eyes become inflamed. Can first hit only one disease. But this is at the beginning, and if you do not start treatment on time, and the second eye will also become inflamed.

Methods of treatment

Conjunctivitis in infants is a serious disease. Therefore, joking with him, doing self-medication, it is not necessary. Any treatment should begin with a campaign to the attending physician-pediatrician. This is the only way to most effectively influence the virus that causes conjunctivitis. Drop specialist will definitely appoint. Also choose the best dosage for a particular case. The doctor will recommend cold compresses. With the correct and systematic use of prescribed drugs, the child recovers quickly: in a few weeks. Sometimes it is enough to save the baby from contact with the allergen. In the bacterial form of the disease, ointments and drops that contain antibiotics are used. They eliminate inflammation and have a mild effect on the children's body, since the dosage of antibiotics in the preparations is small. With the application of drops, conjunctivitis quickly passes.

Broths

Broths of medicinal herbs can enhance the effects of drugs and cope with inflammation. They wipe the eyes of babies.

The procedure is simple. Using a tampon made of gauze soaked in a decoction of chamomile, sage and nettle, rub eyes in two hours. The direction is from the outer to the inner corner. Thus, pus and dried crusts are perfectly removed from the eyes of the baby. Do not wipe with cotton wool to prevent the fibers from entering the child's eyes.

Aloe and tea juice

Do not forget about the people's means. Aloe juice is used to treat conjunctivitis. To do this, squeeze the juice from the leaves of the plant, dilute it with water: one part to ten. Three times a day dig in each eye.

Black tea is a great known drink that removes inflammation of the eyes. Brew strong tea and make compresses on both eyes. This will speed up the cleansing of the eyes.

A solution of furatsilina will help remove pus excretion. From medicinal preparations, levomycetin droplets, tetracycline ophthalmic ointment are preferred.

Purulent

Purulent conjunctivitis occurs due to infection. Bacteria get into the eyes because of dirty hands and dust. Eyelids become heavy, eyes have a sensation of pain and severe itching. The child may have photophobia.

Purulent conjunctivitis in newborns occurs due to a decrease in the immunity of the baby itself, the birth of premature babies, the birth of mothers who use alcohol and drugs. Sometimes, unfortunately, there is an unsanitary condition in the hospital for women in childbirth.

Among the preventive measures can be called one very important: the correct treatment of the eyes of babies.

Acute

Acute conjunctivitis occurs with a sensation of pain and redness. Also begins to appear mucus with pus. Acute conjunctivitis is accompanied by general malaise, headache and fever. Constant burning and sensation of a foreign object in the eye are present in this form of the disease.

Young mothers are tormented by the question: if they found conjunctivitis in a baby, can you walk with him on the street? Certainly, it is possible, if the child does not have a fever and a cold.

Conjunctivitis in the baby can occur along with the common cold and passes by itself in seven days. In adults this period lasts longer.

Prevention

Prevention of conjunctivitis in infants is the observance of hygiene procedures. Eye disease is a serious ailment, especially conjunctivitis in infants. Than to treat, if the kid was infected during sorts, and the inflammation begins almost at once from the moment of a birth? The infant can not open the eyes, the eyelids are swollen, the conjunctiva is red, purulent mucus is secreted. Rinse with special solutions that have a disinfectant effect. You also need to apply drops and anesthetics. Treatment should not be abandoned, it should continue until the final recovery.

Often accompanies conjunctivitis temperature. This symptom indicates the presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the baby's body. The temperature lasts for about three days. It is necessary to consult a doctor.

Treatment

If a child has conjunctivitis, Komarovsky EO recommends giving him a safe preparation called Suprastin. It can be eaten by babies from the first days of life.

We figured out what constitutes conjunctivitis, Komarovsky gives some useful recommendations on this: a woman with a disease is better not to walk in public playgrounds, not to visit crowded places, so as not to add another infection.

There is a different kind of conjunctivitis. Drops are selected in accordance with the purpose and type of the disease.

Bacterial form is treated with drops of Tobrex, Levomycetin and Tsipromed. In the case of a viral variant of conjunctivitis, the drug "Ciprofloxane" is used.

It is necessary to remember the most important thing: to cure such a disease in a newborn baby is very difficult. And if it so happened that the baby is still sick, you do not have to reproach yourself and consider that all the fault lies with your mother. This is possible even with the most careful care. It is important to know exactly how to treat a baby.

If it is wrong to treat the disease, serious consequences can not be ruled out: a chronic form can develop that will affect the visual acuity.

It is not recommended to put a bandage on your eyes. This has a negative effect on recovery, as microbes and bacteria begin to multiply under it. In case of eye inflammation, there should be free contact with the air.

You can not abuse folk remedies, such as washing with baking soda, compresses from dairy products, using castor oil instead of eye drops, applying grated potatoes and black bread.

It should be remembered that in children born before the term, as a result of conjunctivitis, complications can occur in the form of meningitis, sepsis and otitis media. Do not relax and consider inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye a harmless easily passing disease.

Each mother wants to see her baby strong and healthy. And the foundation of the child's health is laid in the first years of his life. Immunity is developed and strengthened, physical and mental qualities develop, the kid acquires useful communication skills and creative imagination. I would not want one disease to cross out all of the above.

It is impossible to completely protect the child from communicating with other children and adults. And maybe, even with those already ill. But the mother should remember that her son or daughter should be treated with great attention, since any disease is easier to prevent or cure at the very first stage, than to treat the already started variant. Another rule: do not overdo it with folk remedies. And in all it is necessary to consult with the attending physician.

Conclusion

To sum up, it must be said that conjunctivitis is the most frequent disease of newborns. And in young inexperienced parents any malaise of their first-born can cause a state of panic. Do not hurry, find out the causes of purulent discharge from the eyes, contact the pediatrician - these are the first steps of the parents with a suspicion of conjunctivitis. Any mother's condition is transmitted to her child. This connection is invisible. If the mother panics, worries, the baby will become restless, whiny. And any excitement and irritability badly affect the process of recovery. Good mood, faith in the best have always had a positive effect in the treatment of any disease.