Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes. The disease is quite common, and even in infants. Tearing, redness, itching and burning appear. This type 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 may look glued together. The kid pulls his hands to his eyes, scratches them. There are seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, which manifests itself during the flowering of allergic plants and shrubs. What else can trigger the occurrence? Animal hair, a number of products and medicines, regular dust are strong allergens. Year-round inflammation is expressed by chronic runny nose and bronchial asthma. The viral type of the disease occurs as a result of pneumonia and tonsillitis.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis in the baby can not appear. It affects adults. And newborn children can suffer from allergic, viral and bacterial types of illness. By the way, they get sick quite often. But how and where can an infant become infected before it has even managed to interact with its environment, because it has just been born? It turns out that bacteria can enter the child's body through the birth canal.
Causes
The causes of conjunctivitis are as follows: stay in rooms in which aerosols and paints are sprayed, vitamin deficiency, impaired vision, bright sun and dry air.
Attentive parents will always notice any deviation in the health of their baby. And the tears and redness of the eyes will give cause for concern. It happens that not immediately both eyes become inflamed. At first only one can be affected. But this is at the beginning, and if you do not start treatment on time, the second eye will also become inflamed.
Treatment methods
Conjunctivitis in infants is a serious disease. Therefore, joking with him, self-medicating, is not worth it. Any treatment should begin with a trip to the attending pediatrician. This is the only way to most effectively influence the virus that causes conjunctivitis. Drops 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 the prescribed drugs, the child recovers quickly: in a few weeks. Sometimes it’s enough to save the baby from contact with the allergen. With 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 drugs is low. When using drops, conjunctivitis passes quickly.
Decoctions
Decoctions of medicinal herbs can enhance the effects of drugs and cope with inflammation. They rub the eyes of babies.
The procedure is simple. Using a swab of gauze soaked in a decoction of chamomile, sage and nettle, wipe the eyes after two hours. The direction is from the outer corner to the inner. Thus, pus and dried crusts are perfectly removed from the baby's eyes. Do not wipe with cotton wool to prevent the fibers from getting into the eyes of the child.
Aloe juice and tea
Do not forget about folk remedies. 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. Instill in each eye three times a day.
Black tea is a great well-known drink that relieves inflammation of the eyes. Brew strong tea and make compresses on both eyes. This will speed up eye cleansing.
A solution of furacilin will help remove pus secretions. Of the drugs, chloramphenicol drops, tetracycline eye ointment are preferred.
Purulent
Purulent conjunctivitis occurs due to infection. Bacteria get into the eyes due to dirty hands and dust. Eyelids become heavy, in the eyes a feeling of pain and severe itching. A 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, births from mothers who use alcohol and drugs. Sometimes, unfortunately, unsanitary conditions are observed in the hospital for women in childbirth.
Among the preventive measures can be called one very important: the proper treatment of the eyes of infants.
Acute
Acute conjunctivitis occurs with a sensation of pain and redness. Mucus with pus also begins to appear. Acute conjunctivitis is accompanied by general malaise, headache and fever. Constant burning and sensation of a foreign object in the eye are present with this form of the disease.
Young mothers are tormented by the question: if they found conjunctivitis in an infant, is it possible to walk with him on the street? Of course, it is possible if the child does not have an increase in body temperature and a runny nose.
Conjunctivitis in an infant can occur along with a cold and goes away on its own after seven days. In adults, this period lasts longer.
Prevention
Prevention of conjunctivitis in infants consists in compliance with hygiene procedures. Eye disease is a serious ailment, especially conjunctivitis in infants. How to treat if the baby is infected during childbirth, and inflammation begins almost immediately from the moment of birth? The baby cannot open his eyes, the eyelids are swollen, the conjunctiva is red, purulent mucus is secreted. It should be washed with special solutions that have a disinfecting effect. You also need to apply drops and anesthetics. Treatment should not be abandoned, it should be continued until the final recovery.
Often accompanied by conjunctivitis temperature. This symptom indicates the presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the baby's body. The temperature lasts about three days. Be sure to consult a doctor.
Treatment
If the child has conjunctivitis, Komarovsky E.O. recommends giving him the safe drug Suprastin. It can be consumed by infants from the first days of life.
We figured out what constitutes conjunctivitis, Komarovsky gives some useful recommendations on this subject: it is better not to walk babies with disease on public playgrounds, not to visit crowded places so as not to add another infection.
Different is conjunctivitis. Drops are selected in accordance with the purpose and type of disease.
The bacterial appearance is treated with Tobrex, Levomycetin and Tsipromed drops. With the viral variety of conjunctivitis, the drug "Ciprofloxan" is used.
You need to remember the most important thing: it is very difficult to cure such a disease in a newborn baby. And if it so happened that the baby is still sick, you do not need to reproach yourself and assume that all the fault lies with the mother. This is possible even with the most careful care. It is important to know exactly how to treat the baby.
If the disease is not properly treated, serious consequences cannot be ruled out: a chronic form may develop that will affect visual acuity.
A blindfold is not recommended. This negatively affects recovery, since under it microbes and bacteria will multiply. In case of eye inflammation, there should be free contact with 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 brown bread.
It should be remembered that in children born prematurely, as a result of conjunctivitis, complications in the form of meningitis, sepsis and otitis media may appear. You should not relax and consider inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes as a harmless easily passing disease.
Every 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 baby gains useful communication skills and creative imagination. I would not want one disease to cross out all of the above.
You can not completely protect the child from communication with other children and adults. And maybe even with already sick. But mother must remember that her son or daughter needs to be treated with great attention, since any disease is easier to prevent or treat at the very first stage than to treat an already neglected option. Another rule: do not overdo it with folk remedies. And in everything it is necessary to consult with your doctor.
Conclusion
To summarize, it must be said that conjunctivitis is the most common disease of newborns. And in young inexperienced parents, any ailment of their firstborn can cause a state of panic. Do not rush, find out the causes of purulent discharge from the eyes, consult a pediatrician - these are the first steps of parents in case of suspected conjunctivitis. Any condition of the mother is transmitted to her child. This connection is invisible. If the mother panics, worries, the baby will become restless, tearful. And any excitement and irritability badly affect the healing process. A good mood, belief in the best have always had a positive effect in the treatment of any disease.