Conjunctivitis in children: types, causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention. How to cure conjunctivitis in children at home? Drops and ointments for conjunctivitis for children: list. What conjunctivitis looks like in children and the causes of the disease. Disinfectants and cleaning agents

For every parent, the health of their children comes first, so be aware of how they manifest themselves and are treated. various diseases, useful for everyone. For example, childhood conjunctivitis causes a lot of trouble and inconvenience. The disease is associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye and sometimes becomes chronic.

What is conjunctivitis

This violation refers to infectious diseases and can have different etiologies. Conjunctivitis in children under 4 years of age is the most common problem associated with the eyes. Older children suffer from this disease much less frequently. If the treatment process is not started on time, there is a risk of developing serious complications: keratitis, phlegmon of the lacrimal sac, dacryocystitis. When the first signs of illness appear, you should visit a pediatrician, allergist, or pediatric ophthalmologist.

Viral

There are several types of conjunctivitis in children. The viral form of the disease occurs against the background adenovirus infection, flu, herpes or chickenpox. As a rule, the infectious type of disease is accompanied by other ailments, for example, pharyngitis or rhinitis. The causative agents of such conjunctivitis in a child can be individual microbes or their entire associations.

Bacterial

Often in children of different ages You can find bacterial conjunctivitis, which is divided according to the type of pathogen into types:

• streptococcal;
• pneumococcal;
• staphylococcal;
• diphtheria;
• acute epidemic.

The disease in a newborn child is classified as separate group(paratrachoma, gonoblennorrhea). The baby gets this disorder when the head passes through birth canal, if the mother has venereal diseases(chlamydia, gonorrhea). Sometimes conjunctivitis in a child develops due to an increase in the pathogenicity of the microflora of the mucous membrane or if he has purulent diseases(otitis, sinusitis, omphalitis). In addition, the disease may occur due to mechanical damage, weakened immunity or obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct in the baby.

Purulent

Often a child may develop this form of the disease. The reasons for this are:

• weak protective functions body;
• anatomical features nasolacrimal duct;
• exposure of pathogenic microorganisms to the eyes.

The development of the disease of this type occurs only when the infectious factor enters and introduces into the conjunctiva. Acute inflammation caused by microorganisms, is accompanied by suppuration, swelling of the eye and corresponding discharge. A child can become infected through objects, someone else’s towel, personal contact with a carrier of the infection, or while swimming in the pool.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis in a child

Signs of development of this disease can be detected even before clinical manifestations. Typically, the symptoms are as follows:

• increased lacrimation;
• swelling;
• fear of light;
• hyperemia;
• painful sensations;
• blepharospasm.

Babies are characterized by restless behavior, frequent crying, constant desire and trying to rub his eyes with his fists. If the disease occurs in isolation, then the body temperature may remain normal, but with infectious conjunctivitis it can rise to high levels. In addition, children experience decreased vision, which goes away with proper treatment.

For disease bacterial etiology characterized by sequential eye damage. The main symptom of conjunctivitis is viscous growths that separate from the conjunctival cavity. The eyelids begin to stick together, crusts of discharge dry out on the eyelashes. The color of the discharge may be light yellow or greenish. In an advanced form, the child may develop blepharitis, keratitis or ulcers.

Viral conjunctivitis is often associated with ARVI or influenza, and is therefore accompanied by a change in body temperature. At the same time, it is noted liquid discharge from the conjunctival sac (from the outside it looks like constant lacrimation). If conjunctivitis is herpetic, blistering rashes may appear on the skin. If left untreated for a long time, the baby may develop secondary infection. Allergic conjunctivitis in a child appears almost immediately after contact with an allergen. Both eyes become inflamed at once, swelling appears, fear of light, and itching.

How to treat conjunctivitis

A sick baby must be isolated from other people, because this disease is contagious. There is a popular therapeutic method by Dr. Komarovsky, but you should not try to cure the disease yourself. Eye doctor or the pediatrician will prescribe necessary medications(drops, ointments, antibiotics, eye wash). It is prohibited to cover a child’s eyes or apply compresses during conjunctivitis, as this promotes the growth of bacteria.

How to treat conjunctivitis in children? It is recommended to wash the eyes of a sick child with a decoction of chamomile, a solution boric acid or furatsilin. This procedure is repeated at least 4-6 times daily. However, the basis of conjunctivitis therapy is the use special drops or ointments. For diseases of bacterial etiology, antibiotics are indicated (chloramphenicol drops, tetracycline ointment, fusidic acid solution). For viral forms, it is recommended to take antiviral drugs(for example, oxolinic ointment and ophthalmoferon drops).

Eye drops for children

Before thinking about how to treat conjunctivitis in children, it is worth finding out the nature of the disease, because each etiology of the disease requires different therapeutic methods. As a rule, doctors prescribe special drops:

1. Antihistamines (cortisone, lacrisifine).
2. Antibiotics wide range actions (albucid, chloramphenicol).
3. Antiviral (Ophthalmodec, Floxal).
4. Anti-allergenic (cortisone, allergodil, opatonol).

Eye ointments

Conjunctivitis in newborns and older children, in addition to drops, can be treated with ointment applications. The remedy should be selected taking into account the etiology of the disease. The most popular ointments are presented below:

1. Erythromycin is the most famous among antimicrobial ophthalmic drugs and belongs to the group of macrolides. The ointment can be used even if it is necessary to treat conjunctivitis in an infant.
2. Tetracycline is also often prescribed when this disease is detected. When this ointment is used topically, adsorption is low, so this product can be called safe. The drug is contraindicated for children under 8 years of age.
3. Eubetal is another one effective remedy in the form of an ointment. The drug contains colistin, chloramphenicol, the glucocorticosteroid betamethasone and tetracycline. Due to the content of useful components, the product is equally effective against allergic and bactericidal forms of the disease.

Folk remedies for conjunctivitis in children

If you notice the first signs of this disease in a child (red eyes, reaction to light, the eyelid may swell), then there are folk recipes that will help relieve the symptoms of conjunctivitis:

1. Brew chamomile flowers. A weak decoction can be used to wash the eyes of a sick child or instill three drops to prevent the development of microbes.
2. Take 1 spoon of crushed cornflower flowers, pour 1 glass of boiling water. Leave the product for half an hour, then strain. The resulting infusion is used to wash the eyes at least 5 times daily.
3. Mix freshly squeezed juices (carrot, celery, endive, parsley). For 4 parts of carrot, take 1 part of all the others. Let's drink 100 ml before meals at least 3 times daily.
4. If your baby's eyes are very red, dill juice will help you. Soak a cotton napkin in it, wring it out, and apply it to your eyes for 15 minutes.
5. Buy crushed marshmallow root at the pharmacy. Pour 3 cups of roots with cold boiled water(200 ml). You need to infuse the product for 8 hours, after which you make lotions with it.
6. If the child has a strong purulent conjunctivitis, then try rosehip decoction. For this you need 2 tsp. Pour boiling water (200 ml) over the berries and cook over low heat for 3-5 minutes. After this, the composition is infused for 40 minutes and used for lotions.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns

Sometimes this disease develops in very young children, causing parents to panic. A baby can become infected during the passage of the birth canal or improper eye care. Treatment in this case is not fundamentally different. Parents should contact a pediatric ophthalmologist who will prescribe medications suitable for child by age (from the first days of life you can take sodium sulfacyl or Tobrex). It is very important to carefully study the photo instructions for the medicine and follow them strictly.

Prevention of conjunctivitis

the main role in the prevention of this disease it is necessary to comply with elementary rules personal hygiene. If the child is small, you should regularly change his bed linen, clothes, and use sterile wipes. In addition, you need to ventilate the room where the baby is and strengthen the immune system. proper nutrition, exercise, taking vitamins. To prevent a newborn baby from getting sick, it is necessary to identify the mother’s sexually transmitted infection in time, treat the birth canal before birth and the baby’s eyes after birth with an antibacterial solution.

Video: is conjunctivitis contagious?

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye can occur in every child, regardless of age. Even in the first hours after birth, babies can develop conjunctivitis. The symptoms of this disease bring a lot of unpleasant emotions to the child. Treatment is required immediately to prevent unwanted and dangerous complications.

The most common types

There are many reasons that lead to conjunctivitis. Scientists number more than a hundred of them. For simplicity and convenience of diagnosis, doctors use clinical classifications. In them, all variants of conjunctivitis are separated taking into account the various causes that cause the disease.

All conjunctivitis, which is most common in children, can be divided into several groups.

Caused by bacterial flora

They occur when bacteria enter the mucous membrane of the eye. They are the most common among all inflammatory ophthalmological diseases in children. The disease is quite severe. Usually incubation period is 10-14 days. Treatment requires antibiotics. It is not advisable to treat bacterial conjunctivitis at home on your own.

Viral

Second most common in children. Caused by various viruses. The most common sources of disease in childhood are adenoviruses. The disease is usually relatively mild. Suppuration and fever to febrile levels occur in 10% of cases. Viral conjunctivitis usually resolves within a week. Mild forms of the disease can be treated at home, under the supervision of a doctor.

Allergic

They occur as a manifestation of allergies. Often develop in children who are prone to developing such diseases. Symptoms of conjunctivitis are accompanied by other manifestations of exacerbation of an allergic reaction. Children's well-being suffers greatly, their mood and sleep deteriorate. Treatment is provided immediately.

Traumatic

They occur if the baby accidentally damages the mucous membrane of the eye. Immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist is required. After additional examinations and conducting tests on special equipment, the doctor will determine the tactics and tell you whether the child can be treated at home.

Conjunctivitis resulting from other chronic diseases. Often such variants of the disease occur in children with exacerbations of otitis media or sinusitis. In some cases, diseased teeth can also lead to symptoms of conjunctivitis. With this option, primary treatment of the causative disease that caused the inflammatory process is required.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell us the whole topic about childhood conjunctivitis in the next video.

Variety of options and clinical forms The disease does not allow us to unequivocally state that every conjunctivitis can be treated at home. There are forms of the disease that are not life-threatening for the baby - and therefore can easily be treated at home.

However, first of all, you should show the child to a pediatrician and an ophthalmologist. They will establish an accurate diagnosis and tell mommy further treatment tactics.

Main symptoms

The inflammatory disease occurs with a huge number of different clinical manifestations. They can vary significantly among children of different ages.

How to massage the lacrimal canal for conjunctivitis can be seen in the following video.

Most frequent symptoms with conjunctivitis are:

• Tearing. Occurs in all variants of the course of the disease. As a rule, it appears first in the early stages of the disease. Babies are bothered by severe lacrimation throughout the day. In most cases, the discharge is light and abundant. To eliminate this symptom, eye rinsing is mandatory.
• Redness. Occurs in all forms of conjunctivitis. Often the entire surface is white eyeball turns red. IN severe cases hemorrhage may occur.
• Sensation of “sand” in the eyes. Children often complain about a subjective feeling of the presence of some foreign object when opening the eyes. Trying to remove it, children begin to blink more often. This increases pain and impairs vision.
• Discharge of pus. Occurs in bacterial and chlamydial forms of the disease. Suppuration, as a rule, occurs in both eyes at the same time. Pus sticks the eyelashes together and makes blinking difficult. To remove discharge from the eyes, regular washing is required using special solutions or decoctions.
• Painful perception of sunlight. The irritated and damaged mucous membrane of the eyes is very sensitive to insolation. In the first days of the disease, babies feel better in dark rooms or while sleeping.
• Violation general condition child. During acute period sick children begin to be capricious and eat poorly. Older children do not play with toys. Kids become weak and drowsy. Sleep brings temporary relief.

We treat at home

Conjunctivitis of any etiology is sufficient dangerous disease for babies. At the first sign of inflammation in the eyes, be sure to show your child to the doctor. It's better to consult a specialist. Sometimes quickly curing conjunctivitis at home becomes a very difficult task. Often, additional tests and auxiliary tests are required to establish a diagnosis. They help to accurately establish the diagnosis and choose the right treatment.

Conjunctivitis can be treated quite well. As a rule, in case of illness viral etiology in quite mild flow Doctors allow treatment at home. Any therapy inflammatory disease the eye requires a whole complex therapeutic procedures. Daily execution treatment recommendations will allow in short time eliminate adverse symptoms of the disease and speed up recovery.

For the treatment of the inflammatory process in the eyes, the following is used:

• Hygienic washing of the eyes. A variety of decoctions and infusions are used for this procedure. Great option for kids of any age will be chamomile. This flower helps relieve inflammation and has an antiseptic effect. Soak cotton pads in the previously prepared decoction and rinse. This should be done in the direction from outer corner eyes to nose. In this case, the possibility of injury or infection is reduced to zero.
• Prescribing medicinal drops for the eyes. They are usually prescribed by a doctor. Eye drops are selected taking into account the cause that caused the specific disease. For bacterial conjunctivitis, medications that have bactericidal effect. Doctors often prescribe albucid, chloramphenicol or tetracycline ointment. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for 7-10 days. In some cases - up to two weeks.

• Taking angistamines. This is necessary for allergic conjunctivitis. All antihistamines reduce inflammation and exacerbation of allergies. The most commonly prescribed are Claritin, Zyrtec, Erius and many others. Antihistamines are taken for 10-14 days (depending on the severity of the initial manifestations).
• Taking vitamins and microelements. During acute illness, doctors prescribe vitamin complexes. They help strengthen the immune system and promote rapid recovery. For a month from the onset of the disease, you should take tablets or effervescent vitamins. Special attention it is worth paying attention to sufficient income ascorbic acid. Vitamin C strengthens the walls of blood vessels and also helps fight any infection.

Conjunctivitis is a disease in which the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed. Pathology can be infectious and allergic, as well as acute and chronic. Conjunctivitis is diagnosed in both adults and children. The causative agents of infectious inflammation are viruses and bacteria.

If the disease is not treated, it can lead to the development dangerous complications, up to deterioration in the quality of vision. Infectious pathology transmitted by airborne droplets, as well as through household contact. Conjunctivitis can also occur in epidemics in kindergartens or school classes.

Depending on the cause, the symptoms of eye inflammation may vary. Still, experts highlight a list common features arising during the development of conjunctivitis. These include swelling of the eyelids, redness of the eyeball, photosensitivity, lacrimation, itching, pain, and fatigue.

Viral conjunctivitis is associated with damage to the respiratory organs, so it most often appears against the background colds. The bacterial variant is accompanied by the discharge of pus and a feeling of presence foreign body. Children constantly rub their eyes to relieve discomfort, but this only makes things worse. Concerning allergic inflammation, That characteristic manifestations pathologies are unbearable itching and redness. Both organs of vision are involved in the process at once.

Self-medication is unacceptable, as parents may make a mistake in making a diagnosis. Sometimes even the doctors themselves, despite their experience, cannot make an accurate diagnosis until they receive the results of the examination. Symptoms various forms conjunctivitis may be similar to each other, which can lead a person astray when making the correct diagnosis.

Parents need to remember that they should consult a doctor immediately. The sooner your child will undergo examination, the sooner recovery will come. In this article, we will discuss in detail the treatment of conjunctivitis in children. Let's consider modern and effective methods of combating pathology, and also learn simple recipes populists that can be used at home.

General principles

An ophthalmologist treats conjunctivitis in children. The method of therapy is selected taking into account the type of disease. Acute eye inflammation usually respond well to treatment even at home. However, there is always a risk of complications when carrying out incorrectly selected therapy. That is why independent attempts to get rid of the disease are unacceptable.

The first rule for treating childhood conjunctivitis is to constantly wash the eye. Crusts form on the surface of the organs of vision, which can be softened with chamomile decoction or furatsilin solution. Flowers pharmaceutical chamomile known for their bactericidal properties. The use of a medicinal plant will prevent further infection of the visual system.

IMPORTANT! Even if only one eye is affected by conjunctivitis, treatment procedures should be carried out on both organs of vision, since the infection is quickly transmitted.

To avoid infection, use cotton swabs and swabs for each eye separately. The drops should be used strictly according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor. There is no need to exceed the dosage in order to speed up recovery. This way you can only harm yourself by causing overdose symptoms. It is worth understanding that the conjunctival sac in any case cannot accommodate more than two drops. Never cover your eyes with a blindfold. This will prevent the drainage of pus and tears.

To avoid injury, it is best to use a pipette with a rounded end to install drops into the eye sac. If an infant falls ill, a relative should help you and gently hold the baby's head. Do not drop the product into the center of the eye. It is better to gently pull down the lower eyelid and inject the drug into the conjunctival cavity.

The pipette should not touch the eyelids and eyelashes. Before installing the drops, the pathological secretion should be removed. If you have constant watery eyes, you need to apply eye drops every hour. To avoid occurrence pain bottle with medicinal solution Warm it in your hand before use.

IN mandatory You need to contact a specialist in the following cases:

• the infant fell ill;
• there is no dynamics of treatment for several days;
• bubbles appeared on the eyelids;
• it hurts the child to look at the light source;
• there was pain;
• the quality of vision has deteriorated.

ATTENTION! If the baby resists and closes his eyes tightly, drop the product between the eyelids; the medicinal solution will still get on the mucous membrane.

It is possible to answer the question of how many days it takes to treat conjunctivitis in children only after undergoing diagnostics. Therapy viral infection lasts from five to twenty days. This largely depends on the individual characteristics of the baby and the state of his immune system.

Eg, adenoviral conjunctivitis It proceeds easily and lasts no more than one week. But the herpetic version is different severe course and long-term treatment. The bacterial nature of the inflammation lasts more than one week and does not go away on its own. This type of conjunctivitis requires the use of antibiotics and strict supervision by a specialist. Allergic pathology may continue long years. Upon contact with an allergen, the disease worsens, and when the provoking factor is eliminated, a period of remission begins.

Treatment of conjunctivitis at home consists of integrated use traditional and folk remedies. Experts recommend choosing medicinal plants that have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, healing and hypoallergenic properties. Great benefit For conjunctivitis in children, the following herbs will help:

• aloe,
• sage,
• rose hip,
• chamomile,
• St. John's wort,
• cornflower,
• violet,
• thyme,
• celandine.

During installation, ask your child to look up

Eye wash

Conjunctivitis can be quickly cured only through comprehensive measures, part of which include rinsing. The procedure allows you to relieve irritation from the organs of vision. After the examination, the doctor will select medicine for washing. The ophthalmologist takes into account the individual characteristics of the baby, as well as the severity of the pathological process.

Eye washes are not a monotherapy for conjunctivitis, but are used in combination with other methods. Using a cleansing procedure, it is possible to remove accumulated secretions from the eyes. Moreover, manipulation can reduce the concentration of infectious agents. To cleanse the eyes, decoctions and infusions based on medicinal plants. You can also use ready-made pharmaceutical preparations.

Let's talk about the most effective options eye rinsing:

• using a pipette. The procedure is easy to use. The pre-prepared solution is placed in a pipette, and then it is injected into the conjunctival sac. The healing liquid for washing should be close to the temperature of the human body;
• using a bath. Compared to the first option, this procedure is more complex, so it is used to treat older children. To carry out the manipulation, you will need to use a special container. Only sterilized equipment should be used. You should bend over the bath so that you can dip the affected organ of vision into it. The duration of washing is no more than one minute. After the procedure, the child should actively blink. If the manipulation is carried out on both eyes, then after washing one eye the solution is poured out and the bath is sterilized. And only after this the procedure is repeated on the second organ of vision;
• using a compress. This simple method of cleaning the eye is the most commonly used. Medicinal solution moistened in a cotton swab, after which it is applied to the affected area for twenty minutes.

You can clean the conjunctiva of the eye using a solution of Furacilin, potassium permanganate or chamomile infusion. Perhaps, Furacilin is most often used in the treatment of children. The solution has antimicrobial properties, thanks to which it helps to fully fight pathogens.

You can already buy it at the pharmacy ready-made product, but it is also easy to prepare yourself at home. To do this, two Furacilin tablets must be crushed to a powder state, and then pour the product into a glass of boiled water. The drug must be completely dissolved, which may take several hours. And immediately before use, the solution must be filtered through gauze. If necessary, the product can be heated.

To wash the eyes, use the Furacilin solution, which is shown in the photo.

It will also help to fully combat childhood conjunctivitis. medicinal chamomile. You can use both bagged and loose forms of the plant. For a glass of water use a tablespoon of raw material or one bag of chamomile. The product is boiled for ten minutes, after which it must be infused. The strained liquid is used for washing.

As for potassium permanganate, a weak solution is used for conjunctivitis. Several crystals are diluted with distilled water. They must dissolve completely, otherwise a burn may occur. A pale pink solution should be used as a rinse.

ATTENTION! The choice of drug for rinsing should be agreed with the ophthalmologist and selected in accordance with the age of the child.

An incorrectly selected medicine to cleanse the mucous membrane of the eye can lead to the development allergic reactions. Before using this or that product, it is better not to be lazy and spend time determining the individual sensitivity of the body.

Eye rinsing should be carried out in the direction from the outer corner of the eye to the bridge of the nose. It is imperative to remove the crusts by softening them with the same solution. The frequency of washing depends on the amount of secretion released. If you feel better, manipulation can be done much less frequently, no more than three times a day. All treatment procedures must be carried out with clean hands or wearing medical gloves. At allergic conjunctivitis No need to rinse your eyes!

Drug treatment

Most drug treatment consists of eye drops and ointments. Today there is great amount medications against conjunctivitis, but your attending physician will be able to determine which one is right for you personally based on the test results.

Allergic form

Characterized by rapid development of the process. The cause of the pathology is increased sensitivity body to some substance. The most common allergens are food products, pollen, dust, animal hair. Children experience itching, redness, and watery eyes.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis is selected taking into account the mechanism of development of the process. The primary goal is to detect the antigen and avoid contact with it. You should also be concerned about immediately taking antihistamine drugs, which relieve the symptoms of sensitization, that is, a violent reaction of the body.

IMPORTANT! For mild forms of allergic conjunctivitis, local use of antihistamines is sufficient.

In severe cases, specialists resort to help hormonal drugs. Particular attention is paid to strengthening the immune forces of the growing organism. Scheme therapeutic treatment are prescribed based on age little patient, features of the course of pathology and the form of inflammation.

The classic treatment regimen for allergic conjunctivitis is as follows:

• cold compresses. The procedure is repeated three times a day for fifteen minutes. For a one-month-old baby, it is better to carry out the manipulation during sleep;
• antihistamine drops (Opatanol, Cromoglin);
• antihistamine syrups and tablets;
• artificial tear preparations are prescribed for chronic conjunctivitis accompanied by dry cornea;
• drops with vitamins will help restore damage to the cornea;
• hormonal drops and ointments help relieve the inflammatory reaction;
• local antibacterial therapy with bacterial infection.

Contact should be excluded child's body with an allergen

Bacterial variant

Characterized by rapid development. Already within the first day after exposure to the infectious agent, pronounced clinical symptoms. The disease is difficult to treat, and treatment folk remedies gives practically no results. For complete cure antibiotics usually have to be used in the form of drops and ointments a long period time. In severe cases, systemic antibiotic therapy is indicated.

The following drugs are used in pediatric practice:

• Fucithalmic. You can even use two drops one month old baby. Doctors prescribe one drop twice a day for one week;
• Albucid. This inexpensive drops, which can be used in the treatment of a 4-month-old child. Drops should be instilled five times a day;
• Vitabact. Medical therapy lasts about ten days. Depending on the severity of the pathological process, the drug is used from two to six times a day;
• Levomycetin. Drops are suitable for children from 2 years of age.

Viral type

The viral type in most cases occurs as a consequence respiratory disease, which had Negative influence on immune system child's body. The process may be accompanied by a sore throat, nasal discharge, and an increase in body temperature.

Very popular in treatment viral conjunctivitis uses Oftalmoferon. This combination remedy, which contains immune components. The drops have not only antiviral, but also antihistamine effects.

One more good remedy is Oftan Idu, which is usually prescribed for advanced stages pathological process. It should be dripped every hour daytime for three weeks. Oftan Ida is prescribed to children from two years of age.

Teach children good hygiene from a very early age. After a walk, before meals and exercise therapeutic measures You should wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Make sure your child doesn't rub his eyes with dirty hands. Cut his nails regularly.

Inflammatory processes affecting the conjunctival membrane caused by pathogens- This bacterial conjunctivitis.

Treatment of the disease in children must begin at an early stage, because only in this case there will be no complications, and recovery will occur in about 10-12 days. Usually the bacteria affects both eyes, and the child begins to rub them frequently, blink and become restless.

After being hit pathogenic bacteria onto the conjunctiva, tear fluid is immediately released. It contains a large number of immunoglobulin, lysozyme, which actively fight foreign agents. But under unfavorable factors, the disease can develop.

Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in children depends on the causes of occurrence, as well as the degree of neglect of the disease.

Types of conjunctivitis pathogens

Doctors list the main reasons as:

• decreased immunity;
• if personal hygiene is not observed (transmitted through contact and household contact through hands and other objects);
• in newborns it occurs through infection during passage through the birth canal, if the mother has a disturbed microflora or has a number of untreated diseases, such as chlamydia, candidiasis, gonococcus, etc.;
• consequences mechanical injury eyes;
• diseases such as tonsillitis and sinusitis can cause disruption of one’s own microflora, transfer of the source of infection and inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis in children

After infection, already at On days 1 and 2, swelling of the eyelid is observed and redness of the conjunctiva. As a rule, damage occurs first to one eye, and after a few hours to the second eye. Next, there is a feeling of sand in the eyes, irritation and burning.

On the 3rd day there is a feeling of a foreign object and pain. Further, the conjunctival mucosa continues to become inflamed and active secretion of tear fluid appears.

On the 4th and 5th days, heavy purulent discharge from the eyes. The capillaries on the mucous membrane enlarge, become red, and in some places pinpoint breakthroughs (hemorrhages) may be observed. At this stage, it is difficult for the child to open his eyes; particles of sticky pus are constantly visible in the corners and on the eyelashes. And after sleep, he cannot open his eyelids on his own.

On the 6th day the temperature rises, headaches and general malaise are observed. Sleep becomes restless and painful, and sometimes insomnia occurs. Children begin to complain about the lack of clarity of objects and blurred vision.

Basic rules for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in children

At the first symptoms, it is necessary to prevent any contact of the sick child with other children. Bacterial conjunctivitis is extremely contagious, it is transmitted through household items (towels, toys), and hand touch.

Self-medication is strictly prohibited. It is strictly forbidden to apply any compresses to the eyelid, heat, cool or apply bandages. From these manipulations, bacteria will begin to multiply with redoubled force.

How to put drops in a child's eyes

It is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly. If the eye drops are not equipped with a special cap - a dropper, then you should purchase a glass pipette. Before the procedure, it should be placed in boiled water for a minute, without allowing liquid to get on the rubber part (it can be removed for a while).

Then dry and collect the required amount of liquid from the bottle. Droppers from previous treatment or after ear and nose instillation should not be used. For instilling any medications, small children should choose pipettes only with a rounded end.

If bacterial conjunctivitis in a child already has purulent discharge, then treatment should begin with washing the eyes.

Moisten a cotton swab generously in a warm decoction of chamomile or other liquid (for example, in a solution of furatsilin), carefully, starting from the temporal part, with gentle movements towards the direction of the nose, wipe each eye.

Tampons should be changed more frequently to prevent bacteria from rubbing against the tampon. Use a new disc for each eye. Particles of pus must be completely removed from both the eyelashes and the corners of the eyelid.

Due to the fact that any eye drops should be stored in the refrigerator. Before the procedure, you need to keep them at room temperature, this will allow them to warm up a little. Cold medicine can cause irritation of the mucous membrane and discomfort.

How to give drops to a baby

It is necessary to remember what smaller child, the more difficult it is to perform this manipulation. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out the procedure slowly.

The baby should be swaddled well and his arms should not be in free movement. It is advisable that some kind of toy hangs over the child, and he constantly tries to catch it with his eyes. At this moment, the baby’s eyelids will be maximally open, and his gaze will remain fixed, which is important.

It is necessary to hold the pipette vertically all the time, then with a gentle movement, without using force, you need to slightly open the baby’s eyelid. In this case, you need to hold your index finger behind upper eyelid, and the big one for the lower one.

Quickly place the required number of drops into each eye, excess medication may leak out, remove it cotton swab. There is no need to add medicine.

How to apply eye drops to a child aged 1 to 5 years

The procedure is carried out on the bed; the pillow must first be removed. If necessary, you need to rinse your eyes to remove purulent discharge.

Then gently open the lower eyelid with your index finger. Squeeze a few drops from the pipette into the formed groove. Let the child close his eyes or blink them. Remove excess medicine with a cotton swab.

How to treat bacterial conjunctivitis in children

In children, bacterial conjunctivitis requires immediate treatment; usually the doctor, based on the degree of damage, prescribes prescriptions in the form antibacterial agents wide spectrum of action.

Eye drops

List of eye drops against conjunctivitis:

• Vitabak– for newborns and infants, use once a day for a week. This drug has high efficiency in a relationship gonococcal bacteria, coli and chlamydia, which causes purulent discharge.
• Sulfacyl sodium– applied 1 to 2 times a day. A drug with broad antibacterial effects. Appointed from the moment of birth, there is no age limit.
• Levomycetin– completely cures bacterial conjunctivitis. Treatment in children can begin at 2 years of age. Drip 3-4 times a day.
• Tsiprolet– drops with a potent active substance, which has a very strong antibacterial effect. Assigned only when the form is running.
• Tsipromed– prescribed for complicated forms of bacterial conjunctivitis, drop 1 drop 2 times a day.
• Oftaquix– quickly and effectively kills bacteria. Prescribed to children over a year old. Apply 1 drop 4 to 8 times a day.
• Tobrex- Very effective drops, help eliminate a number of pathogenic bacteria, even such as staphylococcal, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Place 1 drop in both eyes every 4 hours.

Disinfectants and cleaning agents

Bacterial conjunctivitis involves complex treatment in children with an advanced form of the disease. In parallel with eye drops are prescribed antibacterial ointments and antibiotics.

They are used in the form of a solution that is used to treat the affected eye. In acute or advanced forms, when purulent discharge forms on the mucous membrane, it is necessary to wash the conjunctival membrane.

List of funds:

1. Furacilin solution– dissolve 1 tablet of furatsilin in warm boiled water. Rinse during the day from 5 to 10 times a day.
2. Infusion of chamomile, sage– perfectly disinfects and cleanses the mucous membrane of the eye. Brew 3 filters – 200 ml bags. Leave for 30 minutes, wipe while warm, 5 to 10 times.
3. Miramistin– has a strong antibacterial effect, is prescribed to children for the treatment of acute and chronic forms. In addition, the medicine eliminates a large number of complications after conjunctivitis. The course of treatment is up to 14 days, drip 2 drops daily up to 6 times a day.

Local antibiotics

To medications local action include eye ointments, which contain an antibiotic. Tetracycline eye ointment – a small amount of ointment is placed behind the eyelid with a cotton swab. It is recommended to carry out the procedure every day up to 3 times a day.

And also some eye drops: Fucithalmic. The drops have a wide profile and contain an antibiotic. All types of conjunctivitis are completely cured. Apply 1 drop 3 times a day for 10 days. Suitable even for newborns.

Oral antibiotics

Erythromycin is approved for children. This medication has a bacteriostatic effect and is prescribed to children over 3 years of age. Take orally after meals 3 times a day.

Ointments for conjunctivitis

List of ointments:

• Erythromycin– used even in newborns. This is an antibacterial, antimicrobial ointment with a wide spectrum of effects. Apply 2-3 times a day.
• Tobrex ointment– an effective remedy that helps quickly in just 7 days. Prescribed from 2 months.
• Colbiocin ointment– for children over 8 years old, quickly eliminates all types of conjunctivitis. Place behind the eyelid 2-3 times a day.
• Eubetal ointment– a broad-spectrum medicine, prescribed for a number of eye diseases, including for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

With frequent and regular occurrences, the disease is called chronic bacterial conjunctivitis. Treatment in children of this form requires constant monitoring on the part of parents and preventive measures. This will help avoid a number of complications.

Possible complications in children with bacterial conjunctivitis

Doctors identify the following complications that the disease in question provokes:

• becomes chronic;
• development of bacterial keratitis - inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye;
• ulcerative keratitis - the formation of ulcers on the cornea of ​​the eyes;
• with frequent conjunctivitis, visual acuity is lost;
• V in rare cases the most serious complication occurs - inflammation of the tissue behind the orbital septum.

Does bacterial conjunctivitis affect a child's vision?

In early childhood, bacterial conjunctivitis occurs frequently. At timely treatment There are no associated complications, including decreased visual acuity.

Usually the disease goes away within 2 weeks, and even if at the time of the disease there were problems with clarity, objects were blurry, then these symptoms disappear completely.

But if a child develops chronic form bacterial conjunctivitis, this may affect vision. Consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist is necessary. His recommendations will help prevent deterioration.

Prevention of bacterial conjunctivitis in children

Required early diagnosis diseases, this measure will help identify bacterial conjunctivitis in initial stage and will prevent further distribution. Do not ignore slight redness of the conjunctival membrane or the fact that the baby often rubs his eyelids with his hands. These are the first signs of the disease.

Maintaining personal hygiene– is good preventive measure. It is necessary to teach your child that you cannot use other people’s towels, wash your hands with soap after going outside, and do not rub your eyes. foreign objects or dirty fingers.

If a child experiences frequent general malaise, then boosting immunity can be a preventive measure against the appearance of bacterial conjunctivitis. To do this, you need to take children's vitamins regularly. Eat more vegetables and fruits, spend time in the fresh air.

Should also be avoided excessive load on your eyes, spend less time in front of a monitor and TV screen. This will reduce the risk of eye strain and prevent inflammatory processes.

Treat ENT diseases in a timely manner, they contribute to a decrease in immunity, thereby weakening the body's protective functions, which is the reason for the penetration and proliferation of bacteria.

If you follow all the recommendations, you can easily avoid infection with bacterial conjunctivitis in children. But if this happens, it is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner. Usually this disease goes away quickly, leaving no complications.

Videos about conjunctivitis in children, treatment methods

Video about bacterial conjunctivitis in children. Which treatment is better: drops, ointments, antibiotics:

What you need to know about drops for conjunctivitis:

Treatment of the disease in children:

Not so with children rare disease, and it mainly develops against the background of violation of hygiene rules. But there are other causes of inflammation, therefore, if symptoms of conjunctivitis appear in a child, treatment at home should be started only after consulting a doctor.

Causes and symptoms of childhood conjunctivitis

Inflamed eyes are hard to miss: they are swollen and red, and pus may accumulate on the eyelashes and in the corners. At the same time, the child becomes lethargic and capricious, constantly cries, rubs his eyes with his little hands.

Symptoms such as:

1. Photophobia.
2. Sticking of eyelids.
3. Deterioration of appetite and sleep.
4. Tearing.

Older children may complain of burning eyes and discomfort, foreign body sensation, and vision problems.

Causes of childhood conjunctivitis

The main causes of childhood conjunctivitis: viral and bacterial infections. An accurate diagnosis must be made by a doctor (ophthalmologist), who will also prescribe treatment. Usually these are eye ointments and drops, eye wash solutions. If the cause of inflammation is an allergy, antihistamines are prescribed and it is recommended to avoid contact with the allergen (dust, fur, pollen, etc.).

For get well soon some rules must be followed: parents must wash their hands with soap before medical procedures. You also need to keep your child’s hands clean, cut his nails in a timely manner, and provide him with a towel. To treat each eye you need to use a separate piece of cotton wool, disk or swab.

Important! You cannot prepare infusions or solutions for washing your eyes for future use; they should always be fresh.

First aid for eye inflammation

Often conjunctivitis is a symptom of the development infectious diseases Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider the child’s condition. Need to check The lymph nodes and examine the throat, measure the temperature (antipyretics are given only if it exceeds 38 C). It is not always possible to see a doctor immediately, so parents must themselves help the child:

• Be sure to rinse your eyes to relieve the condition and prevent further development infections.
• Call a specialist if the child is too heat, chills, cough.
• Clean children's eyes from purulent crusts before visiting a doctor.