What is conjunctivitis and how to deal with it?

Have you ever experienced itching and itching in the eyes, which is accompanied by redness and profuse tearing? Such symptoms often occur when the eyes get dust or sand, but they can also be caused by conjunctivitis - inflammation of the eye mucosa.

Depending on the cause, they distinguish bacterial, viral and allergic conjunctivitis . The causative agent of bacterial conjunctivitis is most often staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci, and viral - adenovirus and herpes virus. Both of these forms of the disease are very contagious, and they are easy to get infected from an infected person. As for allergic conjunctivitis, it can develop as a result of exposure to various allergens, including cosmetics, wool and dust, drugs, household chemicals, and other chemicals. Also, allergic inflammation can be caused by the flowering of any plants, so this form of the disease most often develops in the spring.

Quite often conjunctivitis occurs in children. This is due to the fact that they have a habit of rubbing their eyes with dirty hands. In addition, in children, conjunctivitis often occurs against the background of colds. The most affected are people suffering from lesions of lacrimal passages or nasal mucosa, vitamin deficiency or metabolic disorders.

The main signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

• Itching and burning in the eyes
• Redness of the protein
• Redness of the skin of the eyelids
• Increased photosensitivity
• Sensation of sand in the eyes
• Sedation
• Abundant purulent discharge from eyes of gray or yellowish color
• Swelling of eyelids
• Allergic conjunctivitis is often accompanied by pruritus and nasal congestion.

Despite the fact that conjunctivitis can pass without treatment, it is still not advisable to let the disease run its course, because any form of inflammation can develop into a chronic one. Chronic conjunctivitis is the most dangerous form of the disease, which is most difficult to treat.

Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the cause of inflammation:

• Antibacterial drops are used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis.
• To treat viral conjunctivitis antibiotics are not effective, so patients are prescribed antiviral ointments or drops.
• Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis requires, first of all, the cessation of contact with the allergen, if possible. In addition, the doctor helps the patient to choose suitable antihistamine drops. Sometimes immunosuppressants are also prescribed.
• In any form of conjunctivitis, it is also necessary to regularly wash the eyes of purulent discharge, otherwise an environment favorable for infection will be created. Usually, a solution of potassium permanganate or boric solution is used for this. Also, washing with infusion of chamomile or compresses from cold tea is done.
• For bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, patients should avoid close contact with other people to prevent the spread of infection. Sometimes it is recommended to comply with bed rest.
• People who wear lenses should stop using them for the duration of treatment.

In most cases, the treatment of conjunctivitis has a favorable prognosis and lasts about a week. For the prevention of conjunctivitis, it is enough to observe basic rules of personal hygiene:

• Regularly wash hands and face
• Do not rub your eyes with dirty hands
• Use a personal towel
• Avoid contact with infected people.

It is very important to teach the child to observe the rules of personal hygiene. This will save him not only from conjunctivitis, but from many other infections.