Conjunctivitis in a newborn. How to treat quickly: folk remedies, drugs, breast milk

08.08.2020

Already in the first month of life, inflammation of the epithelium of the eyelids and the eyeball of the child occurs. In ophthalmology and pediatrics, this phenomenon is called "conjunctivitis in a newborn", "neonatal ophthalmia". Inflammation is associated with infection of the eye with viruses, bacteria, and the use of drugs. Complex therapy is carried out depending on the cause and manifestations of the disease.

The inflammatory process in the conjunctiva even 100 years ago became the cause of the blindness of the babies born. The disease is difficult: during the first days and weeks of life, redness and swelling of the eyelids is often noted, mucous or purulent discharge from the eyes is observed. Main reasons purulent conjunctivitis in newborns - bacterial infections transmitted from the mother during childbirth. It is not excluded that viruses and fungi will only become infected with babies from the maternity ward staff, other people after the mother and baby are discharged.

Within an hour after childbirth, the medical staff of the hospital carries out the prevention of conjunctivitis - the eyelids of the newborn are washed, instilled, and an antibacterial ointment is applied. If ophthalmia develops, then the baby's eyes become red, profuse lacrimation begins. Diseases in a baby who was born can be associated not only with infection, but also with the use of medicines. Newborns respond to albucid and other drugs used to prevent eye inflammation.

Conjunctivitis symptoms in an infant:

lacrimation;
edema and erythema of the eyelids;
photophobia (irritation from light);
the formation of a white film on the eyes;
purulent discharge on the eyelashes in the morning (in the case of bacterial conjunctivitis).

The acute form is characterized by a sudden onset of the disease, severe redness of the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation. The presence of punctate hemorrhages is possible.

Etiological factors in the development of conjunctivitis in young children are most often infections - bacterial or viral. Less often, the causes of the disease are pathologies of the lacrimal canals, specks of dust or specks that have got into the eyes. Among the microorganisms that cause inflammation of the conjunctiva, the causative agents of chlamydia and gonorrhea predominate. Bacterial infectious agents enter the eyelids and mucous membranes of the baby's eyes during childbirth. The risk of injury increases with weakness of the child's immunity and poor care for him.

Types of conjunctivitis in infants

Already during the passage through the birth canal of the mother and in the first minutes of life, the baby is exposed to all types of infection. Therefore, it is so important for the mother to fight viral, fungal and bacterial diseases, the sterility of everything that surrounds the child immediately after birth. The types of infectious conjunctivitis are determined by the type of agent, the reproduction of which causes a certain clinical picture.

Infections that cause conjunctivitis:

Bacterial - chlamydia, streptococci, pneumococci, gonococci Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Viral - adenoviruses, herpes viruses, ARVI.
Fungal - actinomycetes, yeast-like.

Viral conjunctivitis in infants is less violent than bacterial and allergic.

First, viruses affect one eye, then the inflammation covers the second. The sclera and eyelids turn red, and the eyes itch and watery. Detachable transparent, non-purulent. The inflammatory process caused by ARVI is characterized by an increase in temperature to subfebrile values, a runny nose, and a sore throat.

Classification of conjunctivitis, taking into account the etiology:

Adenoviral. It proceeds acutely, in parallel with the defeat of the nasal passages and throat. First, one eye turns red and watery, then the other becomes inflamed.
Streptococcal. Differs in the appearance of yellow or grayish discharge, sticking of the eyelids in the morning. The skin around the eyes is affected.
Fungal. Symptoms resemble bacterial conjunctivitis. Often the eyes are affected by a mixed infection.
Chlamydial. They cause 40% of all cases of conjunctivitis in infants. Sometimes the disease is asymptomatic and becomes chronic. The conjunctiva thickens, pus appears.
Drug. It develops immediately or several hours after instillation of solutions into the eyes of a newborn to prevent infection. Symptoms grow rapidly, as with an allergic form of the disease.
Allergic. It accompanies the reaction of the skin and mucous membranes of the eye to various irritants (dust, excreta of pets, allergenic products in the menu of a nursing mother, pollen, chlorinated water).

The most difficult is bacterial conjunctivitis (purulent). The discharge from the eye contains dead microorganisms, toxins, leukocytes. The child feels pain and burning sensation in the eyelids. Without treatment, damage to the cornea, visual impairment is possible.

Purulent conjunctivitis

A baby becomes infected from an infected mother when it passes through the birth canal. Gonococcus causes acute purulent inflammation of the conjunctiva (blenorrhea) in a newborn baby. The eyelids become swollen and appear purple, purple, or bluish. The child opens his eyes with difficulty, heavy eyelids stick together with purulent discharge of yellow color. The mucous membrane of the affected eyes bleeds.

Gonococcal blennorrhea carries the risk of corneal infection and eye loss. The child needs timely medical assistance.

To prevent infection of newborns with gonococcus, preventive measures are taken in maternity hospitals. Immediately after birth, babies wipe their eyes with a swab with furatsilin solution, instill sodium sulfacil. Two or three days after giving birth, you can recognize the signs of gonococcal blenorrhea in infants. In this case, doctors determine how to treat conjunctivitis in a newborn. The baby is prescribed antibiotics.

The incubation period of the causative agent of chlamydial conjunctivitis lasts two weeks. When the child and mother are still in the hospital, doctors prescribe medications for treatment. If the infection did not occur during childbirth, but later, then the symptoms appear a month after birth. This type of bacterial conjunctivitis proceeds with the discharge of pus from the eyes, fever, weakness in the baby appears. In the absence of therapy, chlamydial infection spreads to the hearing organ, respiratory tract, and lungs.

Diagnostics and treatment

A pediatric ophthalmologist almost accurately recognizes inflammation of the conjunctiva in an infant. The specialist will explain to parents how to treat conjunctivitis in a baby at home. The doctor conducts an external examination, sends a smear in case of purulent conjunctivitis to the laboratory for research and determination of the type of infection. In the allergic form of the disease, allergy tests may first be required.

The type of disease depends on how to treat conjunctivitis in a newborn. The therapy is carried out in stages, adhere to an integrated approach in order to quickly alleviate the condition of the baby, to avoid complications. Using a syringe without a needle or a gauze swab, the conjunctival space is washed with a furacilin solution. If the inflammation is associated with pain, fever, then in the intensive care unit, a pain reliever and antipyretic drug can be administered to the child intravenously.

Medical eye drops with antiviral, antibacterial, antiallergic action are prescribed by a doctor.

How to cure purulent conjunctivitis:

Before each instillation of albucide and with the accumulation of pus, the child's eyes are washed.
A warm infusion of chamomile or a solution of furacilin is used.
An antibacterial ointment, for example, tetracycline or erythromycin (for the lower eyelid), is laid at night.

How to treat viral conjunctivitis that develops against the background of ARVI:

Rinse your eyes with furacilin or chamomile infusion, weak tea.
Bury Oftalmoferon or Aktipol.

A solution of furacilin is prepared from one tablet of the product and a glass of warm boiled water. For the infusion of chamomile take 1 tsp. flower baskets and a glass of boiling water.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis must be combined with the elimination of the irritating substance from the child's environment. Give to drink syrup with antiallergic effect. Antihistamine eye drops should be recommended by a doctor. Most of these drugs are for children 2–12 years of age or older.

Prevention of conjunctivitis

Timely prescribed and adequately carried out treatment contributes to the fact that the child recovers and the consequences of the transferred disease are not observed. Systemic lesions may be associated with advanced infectious conjunctivitis in a newborn. When a newborn is infected with chlamydia, treatment is carried out in a hospital.

Viral eye infections are easier, but if untreated, complications arise in the form of systemic diseases.

Good personal hygiene is essential. Neonatal care items, the hands of the mother and nursing staff should be nearly sterile. In addition, for airborne infections, mothers should use disposable face masks.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a disease caused by bacteria and microbes. They get on the mucous membrane of the eye and cause an inflammatory process. Children are more likely to get sick than adults. The younger the child, the harder this ailment is tolerated. Bacterial conjunctivitis is especially dangerous for newborns.

Causes of bacterial conjunctivitis in infants

In newborns, bacterial conjunctivitis usually develops in the first days of life. Various factors can be the cause of the disease. The main pathogenic bacteria are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Gonococcus. Most babies become infected with the bacterial form of conjunctivitis during the passage of the birth canal. This is often due to:

congenital diseases of the child;
violation of the protective mechanisms of the eyes;
the use of non-sterile medical instruments;
non-observance of hygiene rules;
weak immunity at birth.

The cause of inflammation can be the presence of infections in the mother of the baby, for example, gonorrhea, an inflammatory process that affects the genitourinary system. The causative agent of this disease are gonococci - gram-negative bacteria. Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis are common in premature babies. The causes of the disease can be such pathologies of the mother as:

sepsis;
tuberculosis;
pneumonia;
streptoderma;
glomerulonephritis;
lymphadenitis;
endocarditis;
meningitis;
bronchitis.

Some of these diseases, such as tuberculosis or glomerulonephritis, can be latent. If the expectant mother suffered from these diseases, even without knowing about them, then they can cause bacterial conjunctivitis in the newborn. When conducting a comprehensive examination, doctors usually manage to determine the symptoms of diseases that a child has. If the treatment of conjunctivitis of a bacterial type was started in a timely manner, then this avoids complications. But the most important thing for doctors is to prevent inflammation from becoming chronic.

How quickly do the symptoms of conjunctivitis appear in babies?

If the causes of bacterial conjunctivitis are associated with abnormalities during the birth process or the infection of the mother, then the first symptoms may appear after a couple of days when the baby is infected with a gonococcal infection. In the event that the cause of the disease lies in a chlamydial infection, the disease can be diagnosed 5-10 days after the birth of the baby. This is how long the incubation periods of this ophthalmic disease last.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is often referred to as purulent. Many people confuse it with the viral form of the disease. The difference is that with bacterial, only one eye is affected. With conjunctivitis of a viral type - both, but in turn. The bacterial form is quite difficult, which frightens parents when diagnosing their baby. With proper treatment, the disease will soon disappear. The risk of complications is minimal.

Is it difficult to diagnose conjunctivitis in babies?

The oculist can easily recognize the symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis in infants. First of all, the doctor will conduct examinations that will establish the etiology of the origin of the disease. A swab of the mucous membrane of the eye is usually taken. This helps to determine exactly why conjunctivitis occurred in a newborn, and to determine further treatment tactics. If bacteria of the gonococcal or chlamydial group are found, not only the baby, but also his parents will need to be treated.

The first symptoms of the disease are:

swelling of the lower eyelids and redness;
the formation of a film on the surface of the conjunctiva;
the appearance of bloody or purulent discharge;
thickening of the eyelids and the formation of small bumps.

The examination includes the following procedures:

microscopic and bacteriological examination of the biomaterial that was taken from the conjunctival region;
biomicroscopy of the eye - a non-contact method of ophthalmological examination, which allows to examine the structural parts of the eye;
instillation test, which reveals violations of the integrity of the corneal epithelium and tears of the tear film;
assessment of the structure of cellular elements using a smear.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is easy to detect by the methods of Gram and Romanovsky-Giemsa. The first involves staining microorganisms for research. This method was proposed by a doctor from Denmark, Hans Christian Gram. The second method was developed by two scientists simultaneously. They were the Russian physician-therapist Dmitry Leonidovich Romanovsky and the German chemist-bacteriologist Gustav Giemsa. These methods allow identifying bacteria and detecting the presence of chlamydia in the microflora of the newborn.

How is conjunctivitis treated in newborns by ophthalmologists?

Bacterial conjunctivitis belongs to the category of contagious diseases. This means that infection occurs when a sick person comes into contact with a healthy one. Infection through contaminated objects is also possible. Conjunctivitis in infants should be diagnosed as soon as possible. Otherwise, the parents of the baby or other children who have constant contact with the sick child, for example, his brothers or sisters, can become infected.

Conjunctivitis in an infant usually heals successfully within 14 days. The course of treatment includes two stages:

primary therapy, which is aimed at eliminating the cause of bacterial conjunctivitis;
direct treatment of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye;
massage of the nasolacrimal canal if necessary.

Conjunctivitis of newborns responds well to treatment with eye drops prescribed by a doctor. Usually, drugs are used that contain chloramphenicol, a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic, and fusidic acid, a natural antibiotic.

Complex treatment of conjunctivitis is impossible without the use of tetracycline and erythromycin ointments. They effectively fight bacteria that cause disease.

Tetracycline ointment is often prescribed for adults. So it is indicated in the instructions for the drug. But in severe forms of the disease, it can also be used to treat children, including newborns. Ointments are successfully used at home. They are laid to the baby at night in the corners of the eyes. Parents should take into account that a newborn who is sick with bacterial conjunctivitis should not be blocked from supplying fresh air to the organs of vision. This can lead to active multiplication of bacteria and complicate the healing process.

Eye drops are usually used for 7-10 days. The course of treatment must clearly comply with the doctor's recommendations. Unauthorized interruption of the use of drops after the appearance of the first symptoms of recovery is prohibited. Usually drops are used every 2-3 hours.

In between instillations, the child's eyes should be rinsed with chamomile infusion. Can also use oak bark, aloe leaves and calendula. The solutions that are prepared on their basis allow you to safely rinse the baby's eyes, relieve swelling and eliminate redness.

What you need to know about the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in newborns It is strictly prohibited to self-treat bacterial conjunctivitis in infants. This process requires mandatory observation by an ophthalmologist due to the high risk of corneal ulcers or purulent infiltrates - the accumulation of cellular elements in the tissues of the body with an admixture of blood and lymph. Lack of treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis often leads to the formation of leukoma - an eyesore and even blindness.

Many parents of newborns make many mistakes when treating their baby. Very often, after using the ointment, they apply a bandage to the eye. This should not be done categorically. With conjunctivitis of a bacterial form, it is important that the outflow of purulent fluid is carried out. Bandaging interferes with this process. In this case, bacteria begin to multiply actively and the course of the disease becomes more complicated.

Some parents, while treating their children at home, "resort" to traditional medicine. The use of such a method of treatment cannot provide recovery. They can only be used as a concomitant therapy to strengthen the newborn's immune system. Most of the traditional medicine recipes aimed at treating bacterial conjunctivitis contain honey among the ingredients. It is important to know for sure that the child is not allergic to this product.

Parents should be very careful when buying medications. It is unacceptable to independently replace drops or ointments prescribed by ophthalmologists with others, for example, on the advice of a pharmacist. For newborns, doctors usually prescribe Floxal ointment. The concentration of the substance should not exceed 1%. The popular drug "Albucid" is not suitable for instillation in infants. It is available in concentrations of 20% and 30%. Its use can cause pain in the child.

Parents should carefully read the instructions for the drug. A popular drug for conjunctivitis is Tobrex. Babies are allowed to bury 1-2 drops no more than 5 times a day. Babies who have reached six months of age can use the drug more often than just recently born - every 4 hours. Another permitted remedy is Ophthalmoferon drops. They are much safer for a newborn baby than many other drugs.

Conjunctivitis is common in newborns. This is explained by the fact that in the first months of a baby's life, his eyes are imperfect, the visual system is being formed, and therefore vulnerable to infections. The development of the disease usually passes rapidly and, with improper therapy, can cause complications that will further negatively affect vision. For this reason, every mother should know in advance how to recognize conjunctivitis in a newborn, what the disease looks like in the photo and how to treat the baby at home.

It looks like a disease in a newborn baby

What is conjunctivitis and how does it manifest in children?

With conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes occurs. The pathology is usually caused by an allergy or infection of a viral, in more rare cases, bacterial or fungal origin. Conjunctivitis in children under one year of age and older is manifested by the following symptoms:

redness, clumping, swelling of the eyelids;
swimming eyes;
redness of the mucous membrane (hemorrhage in the conjunctiva);
profuse lacrimation;
mucous, purulent, watery discharge from the eyes;
feeling of grit in the eyes;
photophobia;
itching and pain in the eyes;
the child screams, is capricious, refuses to eat, does not sleep well.

When these symptoms appear, you cannot self-medicate. It is necessary to show the baby to an ophthalmologist, since similar signs often indicate other eye diseases (inflammation of the cornea, lacrimal sac, non-opening of the lacrimal canal, etc.).

Varieties of the disease

The following types of conjunctivitis are distinguished:

Adenoviral - the child becomes infected by airborne droplets. The baby's temperature rises to 39 ° C, chills, headaches, sore throat, enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes appear. First, the disease affects one eye, then spreads to the other. A characteristic feature is the release of a grayish liquid from the eyes, the appearance of small bubbles and separating small films on the inner side of the eyelids.
Enterovirus or hemorrhagic is a poorly understood disease provoked by an enterovirus. Transmitted by contact. Severe serous or purulent discharge from the eyes is characteristic. May affect cranial and spinal nerves.
Herpetic - the disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus, which enters the body by airborne droplets or by contact. Bubbles typical for herpes are added to the main symptoms.
Bacterial (chlamydial is isolated separately) - the cause of inflammation of the conjunctiva is pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, gonococci, pneumococci, etc.). Infection occurs in various ways, including in the womb. Infection often lies in wait for babies in kindergarten. The disease is characterized by greyish or yellowish greyish viscous discharge, which causes sticking of the eyelids. There is dryness of the diseased eye and the skin around it.
Allergic - the disease is characterized by severe lacrimation, burning, itching.

Conjunctivitis in infants and older children occurs in acute or chronic forms. The latter develops with weakened immunity of a month-old baby, metabolic problems, prolonged respiratory infections.

Causes of the disease

The eyes of a newborn are vulnerable to conjunctivitis because they lack tears that protect the organ of vision from penetration and spread of infections. When the baby was in the womb, he did not need them, and therefore the tear ducts were closed with a gelatinous film, which usually breaks out after the first cry of the newborn. It takes time for them to form properly, and therefore even at 4-7 months, a year, the eyes of an infant are very vulnerable.

The first tears in babies appear at 1.5-3 months, but they still do not completely protect the eyes from viruses, bacteria, fungi, which are the most common cause of inflammation of the conjunctiva. Pathogenic microorganisms can infect the baby's eyes while still in the hospital, especially if he was born prematurely or weakened.

Conjunctivitis is congenital (for example, chlamydial). In this situation, infection occurs during childbirth or in the womb, if during pregnancy she has had a bacterial or viral disease or there are infections of the genital tract.

Among the reasons for the development of conjunctivitis in newborns, it is also possible to single out improper nutrition, poor hygiene, high humidity in the room, and an excessively bright color. Smoke, chemicals, and poisonous gas can provoke disease.

Diagnosis of pathology in infants

Diagnosis of conjunctivitis in a newborn when examined by a doctor usually does not cause difficulties. To determine the causative agent of the disease, a specialist can prescribe the following research methods based on the collected material:

scraping, smear - with the help of special devices, altered cells are taken from the affected part of the eye and sent for analysis to the laboratory;
cytological examination - involves the use of a special dye, with the help of which a type of conjunctivitis is established, the pathogen is detected (bacteria, fungi);
direct immunofluorescence - the action is aimed at detecting chlamydia;
PCR - detects the slightest traces of a virus, fungus, bacteria by the remnants of their DNA;
allergen test.

In addition to these tests, a blood test, an immuno-enzyme analysis (ELISA), bacteriological, seroscopic, histological and other examination methods may be needed. After identifying the culprit of the disease (virus, bacteria, fungus, allergen), the doctor will prescribe treatment aimed at destroying it.

What is the treatment?

Therapy for infants is specific, so self-medication is unacceptable. Conjunctivitis is usually viral or bacterial in nature and is transmitted to humans due to poor hygiene. This means that during illness, you need to limit the baby from contact with other babies and, if possible, with adults.

During treatment, both eyes of the newborn should be treated, even if the symptoms of the disease appear in only one. Therapy begins with a healthy eye so that inflammation does not pass over to it. Use a different swab for each eye. Before you drip your eyes, they must be cleaned of pus and rinsed with a special solution.

Pharmacy preparations

If the cause of conjunctivitis is an allergen, it must be detected and removed from the baby's environment. When this is not possible, the child's contact with the allergic substance should be limited to the maximum. During treatment, the baby can be given an antihistamine in the form of eye drops or tablets.

Levomycetin 0.25%;
Tobrex.

For therapy, the doctor may prescribe Tetracycline or Erythromycin eye ointment. They contain antibiotics that kill bacteria effectively.

If the problem is triggered by a virus, antiviral drugs are needed - antibiotics are powerless here:

poludan drops are effective for herpes and adenovirus;
Oftalmoferon helps with viral and allergic pathologies;
zovirax ointment is used for herpes;
with conjunctivitis of viral origin Tebrofen ointment is used.

In case of a fungal disease, the action of the drug should be aimed at combating precisely the type of fungus that provoked the inflammation of the conjunctiva. Otherwise, therapy will be delayed.

Folk remedies

At home, without consulting a doctor, only eye rinsing is permissible. A decoction of chamomile, sage or weak tea is useful here. Washing after the first signs of conjunctivitis appear every two hours, then three times a day. To do this, a cotton pad is moistened in herbal decoction and the eyes are washed, moving from the temple to the nose. They are processed until all the signs of the disease disappear.

At the initial stage of the disease, doctors recommend wiping the eyes of the newborn with weak tea or chamomile decoction

How to avoid getting sick?

In order to prevent chlamydial or herpetic conjunctivitis in a pregnant child, a pregnant woman should monitor her health, take tests in a timely manner. Having discovered a problem, it is necessary to treat diseases that can be transmitted to the child before delivery.

You can save an already born baby from conjunctivitis by observing the rules of hygiene. It is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the apartment, ventilate the room. Newborn care items should be nearly sterile. It is important to ensure that pets do not touch the child without first washing their hands. It is also necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the baby's hands and eyes. A grown child must be weaned from the habit of rubbing his eyes with his hands.

Wellness measures that strengthen the immune system and the physical condition of the baby are always useful. These are daily walks in the fresh air, hardening procedures, gymnastics.

The birth of a child is one of the happiest days in a parent's life. But along with the joy of motherhood and fatherhood, young parents have to face numerous problems. One of them can be such an ophthalmic disease as conjunctivitis, which is diagnosed quite often in newborns, but with proper treatment it is quickly eliminated. Therefore, it is important for young parents to be able to recognize the symptoms of conjunctivitis in order to see a doctor in time.

Conjunctivitis in newborns has its own varieties in accordance with the cause. It is important to distinguish between them in order to select an adequate treatment. The disease can be bacterial, allergic and viral.

It differs in a mild course, but it affects both eyes alternately, so it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. Bacteria and viruses, entering the body, can disrupt the work of not yet fully formed children's internal organs.

It differs from the viral one in that it affects only one eye. It is accompanied by thick purulent discharge, which is very frightening for mothers. But it is worth knowing that purulent conjunctivitis is treated quickly and easily, despite the severe course of the disease.

Causes

Young parents should know what to do if their newborn develops conjunctivitis in order to act correctly. Babies have very weak immunity and therefore cannot cope with the many infections that inhabit around him. The situation is aggravated by the violation of sanitary and hygienic standards in the maternity hospital and the presence of congenital anomalies of the baby's organs of vision.

Inflammation of the conjunctival membrane of the eye in newborns is provoked by the following reasons:

Defeats of an infectious nature. These are a wide variety of viruses and bacteria (chlamydia, staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus). A child becomes infected with them when passing through the birth canal of an infected mother or when using poorly sterilized obstetric items.
Allergy. A newborn is very sensitive to many substances in the surrounding world. Therefore, dust, animal hair, and even some pharmacological drugs (sodium sulfacyl) can cause inflammation of the conjunctiva.
Other ophthalmic pathologies. In this case, conjunctivitis is a secondary form of ocular pathologies such as blockage of the lacrimal canal, inflammation of the lacrimal sac.
Autoimmune response. A rare form of pathology that is formed in newborns as a result of a conflict in the functioning of autoimmune systems.

Conjunctivitis in a newborn can develop due to the ingress of a foreign body into the eye, weak immunity (especially in premature babies), if hygiene is not observed during the care of the baby.

Symptoms

Parents themselves can determine the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye by characteristic signs. Doctors identify several common symptoms that are characteristic of all types of conjunctivitis.

These include:

swelling of the eyelids;
profuse lacrimation;
redness of the conjunctiva.

The newborn baby is restless, constantly squinting due to photophobia and trying to rub his eyes.

Viral conjunctivitis is complemented by a characteristic symptom - the affected eye can be tightened with a thin, whitish film. At first, all the signs appear in one eye, and then they can be seen in the second. With the viral nature of the disease, general symptoms are complemented by rashes in the form of small pustules with a liquid content. The disease is sluggish, but for a long period.

A distinctive feature of bacterial conjunctivitis is purulent discharge from the eye, which dries up overnight and does not allow the baby to open his eyes in the morning.

More detailed symptoms of the varieties of childhood conjunctivitis are discussed in the following table.

Type of conjunctivitis.	Features of the symptomatology.
Pneumococcal.	The pus released with this form of conjunctivitis forms thin films on the eyes. The eyelids are covered with a small rash similar to dots, they are swollen and inflamed.
Diphtheria.	It is accompanied by an increase in the baby's body temperature, a set of common symptoms. In addition, whitish films appear on the mucous membranes, when trying to remove which, the conjunctiva begins to hurt and bleed.
Staphylococcal.	It is characterized by inflammation and swelling of the skin around the eyes. Pus accumulates along the edges of the eyelids, which forms crusts. A newborn baby becomes restless, constantly wakes up, screams from cuts and pain in his eyes.
Gonococcal.	The eyelids swell, become purple-cyanotic, the child practically cannot open them. The discharge from the eyes is serous-bloody. In this type, inflammation spreads to. Gonococcal conjunctivitis requires urgent treatment, otherwise serious complications may develop.
Allergic.	Symptoms initially coincide with viral conjunctivitis, when both eyes are affected. But then the pathological process involves the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and mouth. No fever, no pus.
Chlamydial.	It is accompanied by profuse discharge of pus, which disappears for a short time after washing, but then reappears. Pain syndrome is insignificant, other structures of the eye are not affected.

Important! Some other eye diseases have similar symptoms, so it is not worth making a diagnosis on your own, otherwise precious time may be lost and the wrong treatment is carried out, which threatens complications. Often, similar signs are manifested or obstruction of the lacrimal canal.

Diagnostics and treatment

Conjunctivitis, if left untreated, can seriously harm a newborn who does not know how to withstand the negative effects of the environment. Any disease can have the most unfavorable prognosis for a still immature organism. At the first signs of conjunctivitis, before treating a baby, you should consult a pediatrician or pediatric ophthalmologist. After examination and a series of tests, they will prescribe a treatment that should help the baby. To differentiate the type of conjunctivitis, a scraping is taken from the conjunctiva and a piece of discharge (purulent, serous, hemorrhagic) for further research.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns consists in conservative therapy (ointments, drops, eye massage). Only in especially difficult cases with an advanced stage of the inflammatory process, if the conjunctivitis does not go away for a long time, surgical treatment is prescribed. But such cases are isolated due to the fact that in the first and subsequent years of a child's life, high-quality monitoring of his health is carried out.

The newborn should be observed by a neonatologist, pediatrician, ophthalmologist, who will develop a treatment regimen depending on the diagnosis made, the characteristics of the child's body and the identified complications.

Bacterial form

For bacterial conjunctivitis, antibacterial drops are used. Typically, narrowly targeted treatment is used after the bacterial agent has been identified. If the infection is generalized, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in the form of eye drops and ointments (Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Levomycetin). Antibacterial drops are prescribed (Aktipol, Signicef, Oftalmoferon, Ciprofloxacin, Poludan).

Viral conjunctivitis

In case of viral conjunctivitis, drugs such as "artificial tears", as well as warm compresses, are used to eliminate general symptoms. As a base, drugs with interferon are used, and for the herpetic nature of the disease, drugs based on Acyclovir are used.

Allergic type treatment

If present in newborns, antihistamine drops (Astemizole, Fexofenadine, Cetirizine) are used for treatment. If there is a severe allergic reaction, it is possible to use drops with Dexamethasone or Prednisolone. As an alternative, combined agents with interferon, metacel and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory component are used.

Instillation of medicinal drops is carried out according to the following scheme:

in the first 6 days, 1-2 drops are instilled every 3 hours;
the next 4 days of instillation is carried out after 5 hours;
in the following days and until complete cure, instillations are made every 12 -18 hours.

Ointments are placed in the lower eyelid while the baby is sleeping twice or three times a day. If we talk about how long the disease is being treated, then the average duration of therapy is 7-10 days. If it is necessary to use several products at once, the break between their use should be at least 10 minutes.

Neonatal conjunctvitis

If a newborn is diagnosed with neonatal conjunctivitis, the cause of which is a blockage of the lacrimal gland or a reaction to the instillation of drops, a massage of the area between the eye and nose is prescribed. Massage treatment for conjunctivitis helps the lacrimal gland to restore its function.

Traditional therapy

Treatment of inflammation of the conjunctival membrane of the eye of newborns with the help of folk remedies is highly discouraged for a number of reasons.

They are as follows:

If the pathology is caused by an allergen, treatment with folk remedies can provoke a deterioration in the baby's condition.
Conjunctivitis caused by a bacterial agent will only develop more actively if not treated with medication.
No folk remedies are able to eliminate viral conjunctivitis.

Before visiting the doctor, you can carry out a small treatment at home using folk remedies. Treat the conjunctiva with infusions of chamomile, calendula, sage, green or black tea, aloe. To wipe in the prepared broth, soak a cotton swab, and then process the eye in one direction (towards the nose). Such a light medicinal massage for inflammation helps to eliminate crusts and pus from the eyes, eyelashes, eyelids.

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common ophthalmic diseases. This is an inflammatory process in the outer membrane of the eye, which can be of a viral, bacterial, fungal nature, or occur for other reasons.

Conjunctivitis in newborns requires special attention. Unlike eye inflammation in older children, in infants this disease is sometimes accompanied by local and general complications. It is very important for the child to maintain the ability to see, it is very important to carry out early diagnosis and develop competent treatment.

Infection of newborns with conjunctivitis occurs mainly during childbirth, when the fetus passes through the mother's genital tract. A common cause is gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia and other genital infections in the mother. That is why parents must be treated at the same time as the child.

Causes and Symptoms Eye Care Treatment

Cornflower flowers
Valerian root
Calendula
Chamomile
Red clover
Green tea
Meadow geranium
Yarrow
Herbal preparations

Contact with chemicals (this often happens when a baby is treated with various drugs after childbirth). This type of disease is manifested by slight reddening of the eyes and mucus secretion. After 2-3 days, spontaneous recovery occurs.
Infection with gonorrhea diplococci through the birth canal of the mother. Symptoms: discharge of purulent mucus, difficulty opening the eyes, severe swelling of the eyelids and conjunctival hyperemia, extensive corneal infiltration. The disease progresses rapidly and can lead to blindness.
Infection with the herpes virus through the birth canal. It is characterized by the appearance of bubbles on the eyelids, abundant discharge of serous fluid, significant swelling of the eyelids and conjunctiva, in severe cases keratitis develops.
Chlamydia infection through the genital tract of the mother. Symptoms: profuse mucopurulent discharge, conjunctival redness, eyelid edema, keratitis, progressive loss of vision.
Other bacterial infections, mechanical trauma to the eyes. This type is relatively easy, the only symptoms may be sensitivity to counting and redness of the eyelids. Purulent fluid is released in a small amount, but no changes are observed in the cornea of \u200b\u200bthe eye.
Obstruction of the tear ducts. It is manifested by reddening of the mucous membranes of the eye and edema of the eyelids.

In 90% of cases, bacterial conjunctivitis in newborns is diagnosed in a mild form. Its prevalence is due to the fact that initially in a baby, the so-called tear film cannot provide sufficient protection. The tear film should moisturize, cleanse, and protect the eyes from germs. In newborns, the immune system is still poorly functioning, moreover, they like to rub their eyes with dirty hands - as a result of this, inflammation occurs.

Eye care

Newborn eyes need special care. Wipe them with sterile disposable gauze dipped in warm boiled water. Move from the outer to the inner corner of the eye, without excessively rubbing the delicate skin. The used gauze should not be applied to the second eye.
Try to keep your baby's hands clean, because he often rubs his eyes with them.

For milder forms of conjunctivitis, treatment can be done at home. For this, herbs are used that are suitable for the body of newborns. We have collected for you some of the most effective and safe recipes.

Cornflower flowers

Cornflower is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial herb. It is completely harmless to newborns and helps treat the most common form of conjunctivitis - bacterial.

For a medicinal wash, pour 1 tablespoon of dried plant flowers with 1 cup boiling water, cover and soak for 15 minutes, then strain. Use a sterile pipette to instill this infusion for the child 5 times a day, you can also make eye compresses twice a day (the procedure lasts 15 minutes). Use a sterile bandage for compresses. Within 2-3 days, such treatment will give positive results.

Valerian root

Valerian root also helps to treat inflammatory eye conditions. To obtain a healing potion, grind the valerian root, brew 1 tablespoon of raw materials in 1 ½ cup of boiling water, boil for 2 minutes, then leave the product for 10-15 minutes. From the strained broth, make lotions on the eyelid several times a day.

Calendula

Conjunctivitis in newborns will quickly pass if calendula flowers are called for help. They not only relieve inflammation, but also destroy bacteria and fungi, and also have an immunostimulating effect. This means that calendula can even treat fungal conjunctivitis.

Getting the medicine: Combine 1 tablespoon of dried and crushed flowers with grass with 1 ½ cup boiling water, close the lid and heat in a steam bath for 30 minutes. Then remove the broth from heat, let it brew for 10-15 minutes, strain. Apply warm compresses to your eyelids several times a day.

Chamomile is used for many diseases in newborns, including inflammation of the eye membrane of an allergic or bacterial origin.

Preparation of the medicine: pour 1 tablespoon of chamomile with 2 cups of boiling water, cover and hold for 15 minutes, then strain. Rinse the eyelids of a small patient with warm infusion, and also do compresses several times a day. The treatment lasts 5-7 days.

Red clover

The meadow clover herb has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and bactericidal effects. It seals the blood vessels of the eye, binds and deactivates bacterial toxins. This plant is absolutely safe for newborns.

Getting the broth: Mix 1 dessert spoon of meadow clover herb with a glass of hot water, boil in a closed saucepan for 3 minutes, then remove the mixture from heat and leave for another 15 minutes. The filtered broth is used for warm eye compresses (repeat this treatment 4-5 times a day).

Green tea

People in China are used to treating eye diseases in adults and newborns with green tea. This is a good idea, because this drink relieves inflammation, soothes, fights infection.

Brew green tea as usual, just do not add sugar to it. The refrigerated agent is used to rinse the conjunctiva and compresses on the eyelids several times a day.

Meadow geranium

Treatment with meadow geranium leaves will help to quickly relieve inflammation, reduce mucus from the eyes, and relieve swelling of the eyelids.

Steep one dessert spoon of a dry plant in 1 ½ cup boiling water and leave under a lid for about 10 - 15 minutes. Strain, dilute the infusion with boiled water in a 1: 1 ratio. Moisten a gauze bandage in warm liquid, place it on the eyelid, cover the compress with foil or oilcloth on top. Repeat the procedure several times a day.

Yarrow

Newborns can be treated with yarrow flowers, as they have an anti-inflammatory and mild bacteriostatic effect.

Getting the medicine: add 1 tablespoon of dried yarrow flowers to ½ cup boiling water, cover and leave for 15 minutes. The eyelid is washed with a strained infusion and compresses are made several times a day.

Herbal preparations

The people are widely used the treatment of eye inflammation with herbal preparations. So, the following recipe is recommended for infants:

Cornflower flowers - 40 g;
Meadow geranium grass - 30 g;
Plantain leaves - 20 g.

To prepare the drug, add 2 tablespoons of the mixture to a glass of boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the medicine for 15 minutes. Make warm lotions from the strained broth several times a day.

You can treat the problem with a "flower" collection:

Blackthorn flowers - 20 g;
Chamomile flowers - 20 g;
Raspberry flowers - 20 g;
Tea rose flowers - 20 g.

The flowers are infused for one hour in a thermos (in the ratio of a tablespoon of the herbal mixture to a glass of boiling water), after which the drug is filtered and used to treat the eyes and warm compresses.

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It looks like a disease in a newborn baby

What is conjunctivitis and how does it manifest in children?

redness, clumping, swelling of the eyelids;
swimming eyes;
redness of the mucous membrane (hemorrhage in the conjunctiva);
profuse lacrimation;
mucous, purulent, watery discharge from the eyes;
feeling of grit in the eyes;
photophobia;
itching and pain in the eyes;
the child screams, is capricious, refuses to eat, does not sleep well.

Varieties of the disease

The following types of conjunctivitis are distinguished:

Adenoviral - the child becomes infected by airborne droplets. The baby's temperature rises to 39 ° C, chills, headaches, sore throat, enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes appear. First, the disease affects one eye, then spreads to the other. A characteristic feature is the release of a grayish liquid from the eyes, the appearance of small bubbles and separating small films on the inner side of the eyelids.
Enterovirus or hemorrhagic is a poorly understood disease provoked by an enterovirus. Transmitted by contact. Severe serous or purulent discharge from the eyes is characteristic. May affect cranial and spinal nerves.
Herpetic - the disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus, which enters the body by airborne droplets or by contact. Bubbles typical for herpes are added to the main symptoms.
Bacterial (chlamydial is isolated separately) - the cause of inflammation of the conjunctiva is pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, gonococci, pneumococci, etc.). Infection occurs in various ways, including in the womb. Infection often lies in wait for babies in kindergarten. The disease is characterized by greyish or yellowish greyish viscous discharge, which causes sticking of the eyelids. There is dryness of the diseased eye and the skin around it.
Allergic - the disease is characterized by severe lacrimation, burning, itching.

Conjunctivitis in infants and older children occurs in acute or chronic forms. The latter develops with weakened immunity of a month-old baby, metabolic problems, prolonged respiratory infections.

Causes of the disease

Diagnosis of pathology in infants

scraping, smear - with the help of special devices, altered cells are taken from the affected part of the eye and sent for analysis to the laboratory;
cytological examination - involves the use of a special dye, with the help of which a type of conjunctivitis is established, the pathogen is detected (bacteria, fungi);
direct immunofluorescence - the action is aimed at detecting chlamydia;
PCR - detects the slightest traces of a virus, fungus, bacteria by the remnants of their DNA;
allergen test.

What is the treatment?

Even if conjunctivitis affects one eye, both are treated during treatment.

All medicines for the treatment of children, both under one year old and after, should be prescribed by a doctor. Before you buy eye drops or ointments for your baby, you need to make sure that they can be used by a child of a certain age.

Pharmacy preparations

Disease of viral or bacterial origin requires a different approach. Medications containing antibiotics can be used to combat bacteria. They are usually prescribed for purulent discharge. Such eye drops for children are capable of curing diseases as:

Sulfacyl sodium;
Levomycetin 0.25%;
Tobrex.

For therapy, the doctor may prescribe Tetracycline or Erythromycin eye ointment. They contain antibiotics that kill bacteria effectively.

If the problem is triggered by a virus, antiviral drugs are needed - antibiotics are powerless here:

poludan drops are effective for herpes and adenovirus;
Oftalmoferon helps with viral and allergic pathologies;
zovirax ointment is used for herpes;
with conjunctivitis of viral origin Tebrofen ointment is used.

In case of a fungal disease, the action of the drug should be aimed at combating precisely the type of fungus that provoked the inflammation of the conjunctiva. Otherwise, therapy will be delayed.

Folk remedies

Wellness measures that strengthen the immune system and the physical condition of the baby are always useful. These are daily walks in the fresh air, hardening procedures, gymnastics.

Conjunctivitis is a common ophthalmic disease, which is the development of an inflammatory process on the mucous membranes of the eye.

Quite often, the problem is diagnosed in infants and even newborns - it is predominantly bacterial, less often allergic or adenoviral in nature.

In the article you will learn how and how to treat conjunctivitis in an infant or newborn baby.

Causes of conjunctivitis in infants and newborns

The immune system of a modern newborn baby is often still very weak and cannot effectively cope with a variety of infections. Premature babies are in a special risk group.

Poor sanitary and hygienic climate in the maternity hospital, as well as the presence of congenital pathologies in the development of the visual system, can also have an additional negative impact.

The most common reasons are:

Infectious lesions. This includes a number of bacteria and viruses - from chlamydia and staphylococcus to herpes, proteus and even Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infection is possible when passing through the birth canal, the presence of infection on obstetric instruments, etc.;
Allergic reactions. Any chemicals that get on the mucous membranes of the eyes, including some medications (for example, sodium sulfacil solution recommended for use as a local antiseptic) can irritate the conjunctiva and characteristic symptoms of the disease;
The presence of other ophthalmic diseases. If there are problems with the visual system in an infant (for example, inflammation of the lacrimal sac or blockage of the lacrimal canal), conjunctivitis can act as a secondary form of the disease that has developed against the background of the underlying pathology;
Autoimmune response. A rare pathology that develops in newborns and is associated with the conflicting work of several autoimmune systems. The etiology and mechanism of the problem has not been sufficiently studied, however, the initial symptoms coincide with the manifestations of the classic viral type of conjunctivitis, which affects both eyes, after which the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx are also included in the pathology, and other pathologies are formed.

Types and symptoms of conjunctivitis in infants

The symptomatology of conjunctivitis in newborns and infants depends significantly on the specific causative agent of the disease. The general manifestations, regardless of the cause of the formation of the pathological condition, usually include:

Profuse lacrimation;
Redness of the mucous membranes of the optic organ;
Puffiness of the eyelids;
Sour eyes.

The general symptoms are supplemented by other manifestations, depending on the type of conjunctivitis:

Viral... In the vast majority of cases, the causative agent is herpes or adenoviruses. Usually 1 eye of a child is affected, while the standard set of symptoms is accompanied by rashes in the form of small bubbles with transparent contents on the skin of the eyelids. The disease itself is sluggish, develops for a long period of time;
Staphylococcal... The skin around the eyes is actively inflamed and swollen, pus constantly accumulates along the edges of the visual organ, forming crusts and gluing both eyelashes and eyelids. The baby is very restless, wakes up regularly and screams from pain and sore eyes;
Pneumococcal... Discharged pus has a whitish tint and forms thin films. The eyelids not only become swollen and inflamed, but they also become covered with a small rash. Often the child's temperature rises greatly;
Gonococcal... Discharge from the eyes has a serous-bloody structure that quickly hardens in air. The eyelids are dense, swollen, bluish-purple in color and practically do not open, the inflammatory process affects not only the conjunctiva, but also the cornea. This type of conjunctivitis requires urgent diagnosis and complex treatment, since the likelihood of serious complications is high;
Diphtheria... It is characterized by a high fever in a child, a classic set of general symptoms, as well as the formation of fibrinous whitish films on the mucous membranes, when removed, the conjunctiva begins to bleed;
Chlamydial... In addition to the general manifestations of conjunctivitis, it is characterized by extremely abundant purulent secretions, which cannot be eliminated for a long time even by frequent washing. In this case, the pain syndrome is insignificant, the temperature is normal, the cornea and other elements of the eye are not affected;
Allergic... The child has profuse lacrimation, photophobia, severe itching and redness of the mucous membranes of the eye, as well as swelling. The temperature usually does not rise, purulent discharge is absent (these symptoms can appear when secondary ocular bacterial infections are connected).

Treatment of conjunctivitis of the eyes in infants

Consider how to cure conjunctivitis in a newborn with drugs. Conservative drug therapy is almost always the basis for the treatment of eye conjunctivitis in newborns and infants. Only in some cases, in the presence of serious complications and an advanced stage of the disease, an emergency surgical intervention may be required.

However, such cases in modern medical practice are rare, since they are associated with a generalized, very advanced bacterial lesion of all structures of the eye by individual gram-negative representatives of pathogenic microflora, for example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or enterococci.

Due to the presence of comprehensive neonatal monitoring in maternity hospitals and careful outpatient monitoring of a baby's 1 year old, such a situation is extremely unlikely.

The therapeutic regimen for the treatment of conjunctivitis is prescribed by a neonatologist, pediatrician, ophthalmologist or other specialized specialist based on a confirmed diagnosis, individual characteristics of the baby's body, the presence or absence of complications, and also taking into account the type of disease.

Possible drug combinations:

Bacterial conjunctivitis. Eye drops and antibiotic ointments are used. Advantage is given to narrowly targeted therapy, after the identification of a specific bacterial agent. As a supplement - local antiseptic treatment. For generalized infections, broad spectrum systemic antibiotics may be considered. Typical representatives are ointments based on Tetracycline or Erythromycin, drops based on Levomycetin, eye rinsing with furacilin solution;
Viral conjunctivitis. To eliminate the underlying symptoms, artificial tear drops and warm compresses are used. The basis of therapy is eye drops with recombinant interferon, as an adjunct for a herpetic nature - a remedy based on Acyclovir. When secondary bacterial infections are attached, drops with an antibiotic effective against the identified pathogenic agent. Typical representatives are Aktipol, Oftalmoferon, Poludan, Signicef, Ciproflaxacin (the last two are antibiotics);
Allergic conjunctivitis. Basic therapy is antihistamines in the form of drops based on receptor blockers. Typical modern representatives are Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, Astemizole. For severe allergic manifestations associated with a complex autoimmune response of the body, it is possible to use eye drops with corticosteroids, for example, Dexamethasone or Prednisolone. An alternative is combined agents containing metacel, interferon and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory component.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in infants with folk remedies

Traditional medicine is not applicable for the treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns, because under the conditions of comprehensive neonatal observation in maternity hospitals, mothers simply will not be allowed to test any non-traditional therapy methods on the child.

Treatment with folk recipes for babies at home also lends itself to fierce criticism from modern medicine, for a number of reasons:

With the allergic nature of the disease, the use of any herbal remedies can lead to an aggravation of symptoms and a worsening of the condition of a small patient;
In the case of a bacterial infection, certain popular methods (for example, instilling breast milk into the eyes) create the prerequisites for accelerating the growth of pathogenic microflora, which, in fact, gives the opposite effect to treatment;
With the viral nature of the disease, any folk remedies applied topically do not have any effect on the agent, creating only a placebo effect for the parents.

The only possible field of application of traditional medicine for the treatment of conjunctivitis in infants is a local antiseptic and anti-inflammatory treatment of mucous membranes, which can be used as an adjunct to basic therapy and only after mandatory agreement with the attending physician (pediatrician, ophthalmologist, etc.).

For this, infusions of chamomile, aloe, cornflower, black or green tea in a small concentration are used - cotton-gauze tampons are impregnated with the means, after which the conjunctiva of the eye is mechanically processed.

Features of purulent conjunctivitis in infants and treatment

Conjunctivitis, in which purulent formations are secreted on the surface of the mucous membranes of the eyes of a newborn or baby, is caused by bacterial lesions.

It can be both the primary form of the disease caused by infection of the child during the passage through the genital tract of a woman suffering from any form of bacterial-vaginal infection, non-sterility of the instruments and hands of the midwife, etc., or its secondary form, when against the background of an allergic, viral or an autoimmune reaction, the risks of background bacterial contamination increase.

The most acute types of purulent conjunctivitis are caused by gram-negative microflora - in particular, enterobacteria such as Klebsiella, Proteus, and E. coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In this case, not only the external mucous membranes, but also the cornea, the internal structures of the eye succumb to the risk of injury, which can lead to the most serious complications, up to complete blindness and destruction of organ tissues. At the same time, chlamydia, staphylococcus and moraxella do not cause such dangerous consequences, although in some cases the manifestations of the symptoms of the disease are brighter.

The basic principle of treatment of any purulent conjunctivitis is the accurate identification of the bacterial agent, the selection of appropriate antibiotics for local (sometimes systemic) effects, as well as additional antiseptic treatment of the conjunctiva.

A specific therapeutic regimen is prescribed by a pediatrician, neonatologist, ophthalmologist or other specialized specialist who treats a newborn or baby.

Complications and consequences

The list of major complications of conjunctivitis in infants usually includes:

Dry eye syndrome. Due to a serious infectious lesion and insufficient treatment, the baby may develop a pathology associated with a decrease in the production of tears, which is formed due to blockade of the corresponding tubules;
Blepharitis. Infectious inflammation of the eyelids is a frequent concomitant consequence of conjunctivitis;
Keratitis. Inflammatory processes in the cornea can be caused by individual bacteria, which leads to a deterioration in its transparency, the appearance of a thorn and other pathologies;
Scarring of the mucous membranes and middle tissue layers of the pupil. A rare complication in newborns and infants caused by a prolonged lack of adequate therapy for conjunctivitis;
Other pathologies, one way or another, negatively affecting the child's visual system.

Now you know how and how to treat conjunctivitis in an infant.

Children have weak immunity compared to adults, moreover, they pay less attention to the observance of simple hygiene rules, since they are very busy studying the world around them. Therefore, they have conjunctivitis much more often than in adults. This eye ailment requires an immediate response from parents. Ideally, you should show your child to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. But if help is needed urgently, and it is temporarily impossible to go to the doctor, folk remedies for conjunctivitis, tested by time and by whole generations of children, will come to the aid of parents.

Symptoms and signs

Most often, conjunctivitis is of viral origin, inflammation of the conjunctiva occurs due to damage to the membrane by the adenovirus. However, about 20% of all cases of the disease in children are bacterial in nature. - the inflammatory process is caused by staphylococci, gonococci, pneumococci, streptococci and even Koch's bacillus.

Often, children have allergic conjunctivitis, in which the shell of the eyeball does not adequately respond to a certain antigen. Sometimes inflammation is a consequence of mechanical damage - small debris got into the eye, the mucous membrane received microtrauma.

Symptoms in almost all types of the disease are similar: redness of the eyeball, the manifestation of a network of blood vessels on it, photophobia, pain in the eye, lacrimation.

With an allergic ailment, there is a rather severe itching, the child will almost constantly scratch and rub his eyes with his fists.

With a bacterial disease, pus will accumulate in the corner of the eye.

In some cases, with any type of disease, there is a decrease in vision, there is a feeling of a cloudy "veil" in front of the affected eye.

Conjunctivitis is most dangerous for children with blue eyes, as they are more sensitive to light. They have a longer and more severe illness than those with green or brown eyes.

In almost all cases, the disease is highly contagious.

What is the danger?

Incorrectly cured, as well as untreated conjunctivitis can become chronic,and then eye inflammations will recur with enviable regularity. A frivolous attitude towards such a serious ailment can cause rather serious complications. First, the inflammation will pass from the membrane to other organs of the eye, the pupil, the optic nerve, etc., will begin to suffer. Often, such complicated conjunctivitis leads to irreparable loss of vision.

Among the most common complications of the disease are fusion of the cornea with the iris, drop in visual acuity, the appearance of ulcers on the cornea of \u200b\u200bthe eye, and dry eye syndrome.

Sometimes the inflammatory process, with incorrect or untimely therapy, can go to neighboring organs, ears or lymph nodes.

When is it impossible to do with folk methods?

With pronounced symptoms of conjunctivitis, it is better to use pharmacy medicines:

Viral, as well as herpetic lesions of the eyeball and adenoviral eye diseases are treated drops with interferon, antiherpetic drugs.
With bacterial (purulent) conjunctivitis, the doctor prescribes drops with antibiotics.
Severe allergic inflammation of the conjunctiva requires antihistamine drugs, artificial tears.

If a child has a complex form of ailment, there can be no talk of any folk remedies.

Effective folk remedies

Folk remedies for this eye ailment are especially effective if used in combination with medications prescribed by a doctor. Usually, all folk methods for this disease are based on three applications - eye drops, solutions for lotions and solutions for rinsing.

Washing solutions

A useful and effective eye wash solution can be prepared from ordinary pharmacy chamomile. 10 grams of dry raw materials need to be poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for half an hour. An effective clover rinse is prepared in the same way. For the recipe, only the inflorescences of the plant are taken.

Everyone knows from childhood how to wash the affected eyes. tea leaves,it does not lose its relevance today.

Lotions

A very effective plant for lotions is considered marshmallow root.Buy it at the pharmacy, grind and brew a tablespoon with half a glass of boiled water.

Effectively help with severe inflammation and lotions with rosehip decoction. For such a solution, you will need a tablespoon of rose hips and a glass of boiling water.

You can cook infusion of cornflowers. For him, they take only the flowers themselves, without greenery. A tablespoon of chopped flowers is brewed with half a glass of boiled water and insisted for about an hour.

You can give your child lotions with the juice obtained from fresh cucumber.

Drops

Children over three years old can be dripped into the eyes honey solution. For its preparation, take a teaspoon of honey and three tablespoons of warm boiled water. Do not make drops with hot water, as honey will lose all its beneficial properties.

If aloe grows in the house, you can prepare drops from its juice. To do this, the juice obtained from the fleshy leaves must be mixed in half with boiled water (cool) or saline.

The danger of self-medication

Folk remedies are good when you need to temporarily relieve the unpleasant symptoms of an eye disease, but most of them are not intended for permanent long-term therapy.

The difficulty lies in the fact that it is quite difficult for parents at home to correctly diagnose the origin and causes of the disease, because the symptoms of different types of the disease are very similar.

And while mom and dad will diligently bury a child in their eyes that is not at all what is required in his situation, the inflammation will progress and spread further. Therefore, all remedies, both medicines and folk recipes, should be used for eye inflammation only with the approval of an ophthalmologist.

What can’t be done?

If a child has conjunctivitis, he should not be in a dusty room with very dry air, and his contact with any household chemicals should also be limited, especially if it contains chlorine and its derivatives.

When treating the eyes (it is necessary to rinse and instill the preparations in both eyes - both in the patient and in the healthy one), different cotton pads should be used, the spread of infection from one eye to the other should not be allowed.

In no case should the affected eyes be warmed up, warm compresses should be applied, and an eye patch should be applied, especially if the child has a bacterial form of the disease, because heat for microbes is a favorable environment for reproduction.

Flush your eyes properly.In this case, movements should be in the direction from the temple to the nose, and not vice versa.
Filter solutions thoroughlyfor washing and lotions. Since most folk recipes are prepared from crushed plant materials, one should very responsibly approach the issues of filtering solutions in order to exclude even the smallest particles of plants from getting into the sore eye.
Do not drop treatment abruptly. If you notice improvements and the redness is almost gone, you should not quit immediately. The symptoms of conjunctivitis disappear gradually, and therefore it is recommended to continue therapy for another 2-3 days after cure.
Give your child a separate towel and utensils.Remember that in 90% of cases, conjunctivitis is very contagious, in order to protect other family members, provide the sick person with personal items to avoid infection through the household route of others.

Watch the following video about popular folk remedies for conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis in a newborn. How to treat quickly: folk remedies, drugs, breast milk

Types of conjunctivitis in infants

Purulent conjunctivitis

Diagnostics and treatment

Prevention of conjunctivitis

In this article

Causes of bacterial conjunctivitis in infants

How quickly do the symptoms of conjunctivitis appear in babies?

Is it difficult to diagnose conjunctivitis in babies?

How is conjunctivitis treated in newborns by ophthalmologists?

What is conjunctivitis and how does it manifest in children?

Varieties of the disease

Causes of the disease

Diagnosis of pathology in infants

What is the treatment?

Pharmacy preparations

Folk remedies

How to avoid getting sick?

Causes

Symptoms

Diagnostics and treatment

Bacterial form

Viral conjunctivitis

Allergic type treatment

Neonatal conjunctvitis

Traditional therapy

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