Angular conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, provoked by pathogenic microflora. Visually, this disease can be determined by its location - in the corners of the eye cracks. Usually, the pathology is chronic and is accompanied by regular periods of exacerbations. Having undergone this form of conjunctivitis once, the body does not produce specific immune cells, so that repeated disease is not excluded.
With the timely detection of symptoms and treatment, angular conjunctivitis passes quite quickly. But the late diagnosed pathology, especially after numerous attempts at self-medication, can take a long time and regularly bring discomfort to the patient for several years.
Short description
Angular conjunctivitis appears due to reproduction directly on the mucous membrane of the eye of pathogenic microorganisms - specific Morax-Axenfeld rods. In the normal state, the tear fluid, constantly produced by the conjunctiva, contains antiseptic substances, so that the pathogenic microflora that penetrates the eyes is quickly disinfected and does not cause pathological processes. But with a weakened immune system and the influence of various harmful conditions, pathogenic microorganisms can provoke the occurrence of local inflammation.
Angular conjunctivitis is found in about 6-7 people out of 100 with inflammatory lesions of the mucous membrane of the eyes. But acute forms of this defect are extremely rare - approximately 4/5 of all people with this disease suffer from its chronic course.
Such a violation can be encountered by a person at any age, but still more often the disease is diagnosed in people of middle and old age. The incidence rate at times increases among those who have crossed the forty-year mark. Various complications are also much more common among elderly patients, when there is an involutive tissue remodeling.
Women and men are equally susceptible to this disease - this pattern applies to both young and old people.
Pathogenesis
The causative agent of angular conjunctivitis - diplobacillus Morax-Axenfeld - is a small sticks arranged in a chain of two. This is a gram-negative bacterium that does not stain when tested using the Gram method.
Diplobacillus belongs to the category of strict aerobes - bacteria that require development in an environment with free access of air for development. It is necessary for microorganisms to release the energy needed for the activity of pathogens.
It is noteworthy that this bacterium is motionless - due to its specific structure, it is not able to move independently.
It is also worth saying that diplobacillus belongs to the group of opportunistic microorganisms. And this means that it can get on the mucous membranes of a strong, healthy person, while not causing him any harm. However, under the influence of certain factors, the bacterium becomes more aggressive and leads to the appearance of pathology - angular conjunctivitis.
Why does it appear
Infection can occur under various circumstances. Most often, the causes of angular conjunctivitis are:
- joint use of cosmetics for eyes or towels that contain pathogenic microorganisms;
- visit to the bath, sauna and pool;
- mechanical damage and eye injuries;
- washing with dirty water;
- the use of insufficiently sterilized devices in the beauty parlor.
There are several more factors that can trigger the development of the disease. These include recently transferred pathologies of an infectious nature, severe hypothermia, respiratory ailments and advanced age.
In addition, Morax-Aksenfeld diplobacilli can be transferred from one pathological focus to another, for example, at the time of sneezing from the pharynx - into the eyes. The main feature of these sticks is that they can provoke inflammation only on the conjunctiva, but for the rest of the mucous membranes they are relatively safe.
Symptoms and treatment of angular conjunctivitis
In the photo you can see the main symptom of this pathology - redness and damage to the skin in the corners of the eyes. It is for this symptom that an ophthalmologist during an examination may suspect the presence of a pathogenic bacillus on the mucous membrane. Due to the fact that peculiar crusts may form on the affected conjunctiva, in some cases, patients experience visual impairment. However, in reality, you should not worry - usually this is a temporary condition that disappears on its own almost immediately after recovery.
The incubation phase of the disease can last a maximum of 4 days from the moment the pathogenic microflora penetrates the mucous membrane. At first, a person is concerned about minor pain at the time of blinking and itching in the eyes, gradually these signs are intensified.
Typical symptoms of angular conjunctivitis are the following phenomena:
- a feeling of pain and burning in the eye area;
- friability and severe redness of the conjunctiva;
- a feeling of the presence of a foreign object in the eye;
- damage to the integrity, cracking of the skin of the eyelids;
- soreness and itching in the zone of internal or external corners of the eyes;
- a small amount of thick discharge from the eyes.
In determining the diagnosis, among other things, differential diagnosis with other varieties of conjunctivitis is required. After all, the treatment of various types of disease can vary significantly.
Features
It is noteworthy that in fact the symptoms of angular conjunctivitis can be erased, in some cases they do not cause severe discomfort to the patient. A slight reddening of the eyes after a hard working day can be mistaken for banal fatigue, and sometimes they do not attach importance to meager secretions.
Under such circumstances, the pathology often flows into a chronic sluggish form, which often leads to a long and extremely difficult treatment. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the photo of angular conjunctivitis and, if such signs appear, immediately contact an ophthalmologist. The doctor will conduct a physical examination, after which he will prescribe additional examinations and a course of treatment.
How to identify a vice
As already mentioned, the diagnosis of angular conjunctivitis begins with a specialist examination and collection of the necessary history. Then the doctor usually conducts biomicroscopy - a detailed examination of the cornea, lens, mucous membrane, anterior chamber and the iris of the eye with a special lamp. Through the use of this device, it is possible to objectively determine the degree of damage to various structures of the eye and detect many other defects.
To identify the causes of conjunctivitis, sometimes an ophthalmologist sends the patient to auxiliary studies:
- bacterial inoculation of discharge from the eye to determine the type of pathogen and choose the most effective antibiotic;
- cytological examination of scraping from the mucous membrane.
Diagnostic Features
Due to the fact that the sowing is done for quite a long time, about a week, most often the ophthalmologist, based on the detected symptoms and his own observations, makes a preliminary diagnosis and prescribes broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs.
If the patient has specific signs of pathology, narrowly targeted therapy can be prescribed immediately after examination and interrogation. The doctor makes this decision in order not to lose time and improve the patient's condition as quickly as possible. If such a need arises, after receiving the results of sowing, the therapy is adjusted according to new information.
Treatment
With such a disease, in no case can you use all kinds of solutions or gauze dressings, since this can provoke the development of keratitis. This is a rather dangerous complication, which can entail the penetration of the infection much deeper, which will cause the appearance of thorn or even blindness.
The doctor may advise the patient to rinse the eyes with antiseptic solutions to mechanically eliminate pathogenic bacteria, cleanse the conjunctiva and suppress the further development of microflora.
For this, such drugs are usually used:
- zinc sulfate;
- nitrofural;
- potassium permanganate;
- boric acid.
Throughout the course of treatment of angular conjunctivitis, the patient should touch his eyes minimally so as not to spread bacteria. In this case, a person must have his own towel and separate hygiene items until complete recovery. In addition, before contact with people around him, he needs to wash his hands every time.
Drug therapy
Conservative treatment of angular conjunctivitis involves the use of several groups of drugs:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- fortifying medicines, including vitamins;
- desensitizing drugs - reduce the body's susceptibility to toxins;
- immunostimulating drugs - biologically active peptides derived from thymus extract, interleukins and interferons;
- antibiotics - most often Tetracycline, Tobramycin, Gentamicin, Ofloxacin in the form of ointments or drops.
Prevention of Angular Conjunctivitis
Measures aimed at preventing the development of such an unpleasant pathology include the following rules:
- The use of individual hygiene items - gloves, cosmetics, towels, scarves.
- Compliance with banal hygiene rules - regular hand washing.
- Avoid contact with dirty hands and eyes.
- General strengthening of immunity.
- Elimination of chronic infectious foci.