One of the most common diseases of preschool children is conjunctivitis. It arises in connection with the impact on pathogenic bacteria and viruses, as well as for some other reasons, on the child's body that has not yet matured. Timely and correct treatment of a small patient, based on clarifying the etiology of the disease, allows you to relieve the baby of the symptoms of the disease for a short time. At the same time, the lack of proper therapy provokes the development of pathology, which leads to the appearance of purulent and inflammatory processes inside the eye. And this, in turn, sometimes becomes the cause of irreversible visual impairment.
What are the causes of conjunctivitis in children 4 years old and how to treat this disease using pharmacological drugs and folk remedies? You can find the answer to this question in the article.
Causes
The immunity of 4-year-old children is in the period of its active formation. These kids relatively recently began to attend a preschool, communicate more with their peers and join the society. In this regard, they often have contact with various allergens and pathogens of conjunctivitis.
Congenital pathologies of various nature, as well as an insufficient level of hygienic and sanitary regime in the pre-school and at home, contribute to the development of the disease.
The most common causes of conjunctivitis in children aged 4 years are:
- Infections In most cases, the damage comes from pathogenic bacteria, and much less often from viruses.
- Allergy. In connection with the hyperactive reaction to certain substances, the child sometimes develops inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes of the eyes.
- Ophthalmic problems. Sometimes the cause of conjunctivitis is some congenital eye disease. Acquired diseases of this type at this age are absent.
Sometimes the occurrence of conjunctivitis is facilitated by the group stay of children in preschool education. After all, it often happens that a sick child who does not have obvious signs of an illness becomes a source of infection for his peers. There are also factors that exacerbate the spread of conjunctivitis. Among them:
- the use of toys without sanitation;
- non-compliance with hygiene procedures;
- dry air in the room;
- too bright light in the room;
- weakened immunity due to frequent diseases;
- power errors;
- irregularities of the day.
Symptoms
How is conjunctivitis manifested in young patients 4 years of age? Regardless of the cause of the disease, its development can be detected in connection with the occurrence of some characteristic symptoms. From the baby complaints about an unpleasant sensation in the eyes begin to come. A bright light interferes with him, and he asks to turn off all the lighting devices in the room. In addition, the baby becomes too restless and lethargic. His appetite decreases. With the viral origin of the pathology in a small patient, the temperature rises.
After the symptoms described above appear, parents should examine the child. They can suggest the occurrence of conjunctivitis based on the presence of the following symptoms:
- swelling and redness of the eyes;
- uncontrolled secretion of tear fluid;
- pain, burning and itching in the eyes;
- eyelids glued after sleep;
- discharge from both or from one eye is light yellow, and sometimes yellow-green.
There are various types of conjunctivitis that affects children 4 years old. In this case, the main symptoms of the pathological process will primarily depend on the degree of its development, the characteristics of the child’s body, and also on which group the disease belongs to. Consider the types and signs of conjunctivitis, which can occur in children 4 years old.
Bacterial
As a rule, conjunctivitis, which belong to this species, arise due to exposure to pyogenic bacteria. These are streptococci and staphylococci, chlamydia, gonococci and pneumococci. Such pathologies are manifested by a sensation of dryness of the mucous membranes of the eye, as well as those parts of the skin that are near it.
When a baby gets a bacterial infection, it often develops purulent conjunctivitis. In children of 4 years of age, it is accompanied by rather unpleasant symptoms. So, the child complains about the feeling of the presence of a foreign body on the surface of the organ of vision. However, this feeling is subjective. At the same time, a significant amount of gray or yellow pus is released from the eyes. It has a viscous consistency, which is why it sticks together the eyelids and eyelashes of the baby during sleep.
If purulent conjunctivitis in children develops in its acute form, then the eyes undergo hyperemia. They hurt, and in this case, not only the conjunctiva can be affected, but also the cornea, as well as other elements related to the visual system.
Viral
Typical causative agents of conjunctivitis of this species are herpes and adenoviruses. Pathology develops against a runny nose, tonsillitis and SARS.
The mucous membrane of the eyes in this case is affected by severe inflammation. At the same time, pains and pains occur in them in the child, sometimes accompanied by photophobia. Sometimes the body temperature rises. Often in the eye area begins the formation of thin films and follicles (on the epithelium). With these types of conjunctivitis, discharge is also observed. But they are rather scarce and not purulent.
Allergic
The reason for the development of this type of conjunctivitis is eye irritation. This happens in connection with exposure to various allergens (plant pollen, pet hair, etc.). This pathology has a seasonal course. Her symptoms develop quite quickly. It is enough for the irritant to get into the eye, and after 15-60 minutes, the small patient will show swelling of the eyelids, itchy eyes, pain and hyperemia. Discharges with such pathologies are transparent and insignificant.
Chronic form
If conjunctivitis occurs, the child should be treated promptly. Otherwise, although the symptoms of the disease begin to subside, it will take a chronic form. In this case, the cornea will become cloudy, lacrimation will be constantly observed, the child will quickly become tired, upsetting adults with their irritability.
What to do?
If symptoms of conjunctivitis occur, parents should immediately take their baby to a pediatrician. An ophthalmologist should also examine the little patient. After examining the patient and collecting an anamnesis, the doctor will take a smear from the eye. This will determine the causative agent of the infection. If an allergic form of the disease is identified, an allergist-immunologist should be consulted.
How to treat conjunctivitis in children 4 years old? The use of a particular therapy will directly depend on the type of disease. Symptoms of uncomplicated conjunctivitis are eliminated at home within 7 days.
Stages of eliminating the disease
How to treat conjunctivitis in children 4 years old at home? To eliminate the disease you will need:
- Rinse the eye with either a pharmaceutical solution or a decoction of herbs.
- Bury drops or lay ointments over the eyelid.
- Strictly observe the rules of hygiene, that is, wash your hands thoroughly before conducting medical procedures. The same must be done after their implementation.
Eye wash
How to treat conjunctivitis in children 4 years old? Before using medications or folk remedies, you will need to rinse the eyes of a small patient. For this, one of the following solutions can be used:
- Furatsilina. To prepare it, one tablet of a therapeutic agent is dissolved in 1 cup of boiled water and filtered through cheesecloth.
- Sodium Chloride. For washing the eyes, a 0.9% solution is used.
Chamomile broth is also effective. For cooking, you need to brew 1 filter bag with a glass of boiling water and insist the resulting product for 40 minutes. Black tea is also effective.
How to carry out the eye wash procedure for conjunctivitis in children in 4 years? In the prepared solution, a gauze sterile cloth is moistened. They rub it with her eye. The direction of movement is from the outer corner to the inner. For each eye, you need to take your own napkin. And only after the end of this procedure, you can lay the ointment behind the eyelid or instill a drug.
Pharmacological agents
How to treat conjunctivitis in children in 4 years? Specialists prescribe pharmacological preparations to a small patient based on the reasons that provoked the disease, as well as the clinical picture of its course. Bacterial and purulent conjunctivitis in children is eliminated with antibiotics. With the viral form of the disease, you will need to take antiviral drugs. In the case when the pathology occurs due to an allergic reaction, antihistamines are prescribed to a small patient.
Antibacterial drugs
How to treat conjunctivitis in children in 4 years?
In the case of a bacterial cause of the development of the disease, a specialist may recommend:
- 20% sodium sulfacyl. Eye drops for children called “Albucid” are used 4 or 6 times during the day. In this case, 1 drop should be instilled into each eye.
- 0.25% chloramphenicol solution. It is dripped 4 times a day, 1 drop in each eye.
- Ofloxacin (Phloxal). These drops with conjunctivitis in a child at 4 years old are instilled 3 or 4 times during the day, 1 drop. This drug is also available in the form of an ointment. It is laid over the eyelid, taking a small amount.
- Eye drops "Tobrex". In the instructions for children 4 years of age, their use is allowed 5 times a day for 1-2 drops in each eye. The duration of treatment should not exceed 7 days. Nevertheless, it is allowed to use Tobrex eye drops for children in the instructions even more than this time. If necessary, the ophthalmologist can extend the course of treatment up to 10 days.
- 1% eye tetracycline ointment. This tool is laid over the eyelid of a small patient twice during the day.
Antiviral drugs
How to treat conjunctivitis in children in 4 years? With the viral nature of the infection, doctors recommend:
- Ophthalmoferon. This tool is used 6-8 times throughout the day, 1 drop.
- "Midday". This drug is especially effective for adenoviral and herpetic conjunctivitis. According to the instructions, it is diluted in distilled water and used 6-8 times 1 drop per day.
- Zovirax. This ointment in small quantities is laid per eyelid. This procedure is allowed up to 5 times with an interval of at least four hours.
Antihistamines
If conjunctivitis is caused by an allergic reaction, the following is used:
- 0.1% Opatanol. This drug is used 4 times a day for 1 cap.
- Azepastin. The tool is used three times a day for 1 drop.
Alternative Medicine Recommendations
When treating at home, folk remedies for conjunctivitis in children 4 years old can also be used. Healing plants and food will help eliminate the unpleasant sensations of the disease and reduce swelling and inflammation of the eyes. Some of them allow you to eliminate the disease, which is in the initial stage, without the use of drugs. For this, for example, it is recommended to rinse the child's eyes with a decoction of chamomile.
Medicinal plants are recommended by traditional medicine and for their use in the form of lotions. For this procedure, you can apply decoctions:
Effective for lotions in the treatment of conjunctivitis and infusion of home Kombucha.
Grated potatoes will help remove irritation from the eyes. For such lotions, the vegetable is crushed, wrapped in a sterile napkin and applied to the eyes for 15 minutes.
In the form of droplets, it is recommended to use aloe juice, as well as diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 3 honey.
To strengthen immunity, children of 4 years of age are given in the morning and evening hours 100 g of a mixture of carrot juice (80 ml), celery (10 ml) and parsley (10 ml).
How to prevent the disease?
Prevention of conjunctivitis in children 4 years old includes the following activities:
- compliance with hygiene rules;
- elimination of direct contact with carriers of the disease;
- going to the doctor at the first symptoms of pathology;
- timely treatment of colds;
- strengthening immunity.