Conjunctivitis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eye Drops. We analyze eye disease conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis after sleep

Inflammatory eye diseases are the most common ophthalmic pathology. Each type of this ailment has its own name, which characterizes the place of localization of the disease. And since the eye belongs to the most complex human anatomical organ, the list of such diseases is simply huge. According to official statistics, it is the conjunctiva of the eye that is most often exposed to the negative effects of pathogenic factors.

This is the only mucous part of the optic organ that is in direct contact with the external environment. It is the thin and transparent outer shell of the eye that is the first to take on all the negative influences of the environment. And if the human immune system cannot cope with external stimuli, then the response to them is the development of the disease.

Such an inflammatory process unites a huge group of diseases, which are based on similar symptoms and a different nature of the onset of the disease. That is why the treatment of conjunctivitis of the eyes should be aimed not only at eliminating external signs inflammation, but also on the establishment of the causes that caused this pathology.

Conjunctivitis symptoms

What is conjunctivitis can be judged not only by the patient's complaints, but also by external characteristic features that are visible even to the naked eye. Indeed, regardless of the reasons for the development of the disease, any type of this inflammation proceeds with almost the same symptoms. :

itching, burning, and foreign body sensation in the eyes;
subconjunctival hemorrhage;
discharge from the eyes;
photophobia;
severe swelling of the eyelids.

Of course, you can list a number of other additional markers. But all of them will already indicate the form and characteristic features of inflammation, the treatment of which, regardless of the type of inflammation, should be prescribed only by a doctor. Moreover, this must be done taking into account the existing features of the disease, as well as on the basis of laboratory analyzes and after hardware examination of the visual organ.

It is important to remember that the causes and treatment of eye inflammation are inextricably linked. Only by diagnosing the nature of the provoking factors can you determine exactly what and how to treat conjunctivitis.

Eye care at the initial stage of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis refers to a disease that, with proper treatment, always has a favorable outcome. It should also be borne in mind that the earlier treatment is started, the higher the percentage of cured eye inflammations. Moreover, some forms of the disease, even without drug treatment, can go away on their own and without complications. But taking into account the fact that this disease does not allow to lead a usual lifestyle, it is physically exhausting and deprives a person of working capacity, the main thing that worries every sick person is how to quickly cure conjunctivitis. That is why at the first discomfort in the eyes, you should immediately seek the advice of a doctor.

If the visit to the clinic is postponed for valid reasons, you should not wait for the development of the disease, but it is better to start treatment immediately. But this must be done carefully and taking into account the fact that the nature of the disease is still unknown. And this means that the basis of the initial therapy should be a thorough various antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drugs. By the way, quick-curing solutions can be prepared either independently, according to prescriptions, or purchased at a pharmacy. The most popular of them are:

eye compresses from chamomile tincture, eyebright or aloe;
rinsing the eyes with pure black or green tea;
treatment of eyelids and eyelashes with furacilin or saline solution, for the preparation of which one teaspoon of salt is diluted in one glass of boiled water;
applying comfrey or calendula ointment under the lower eyelids.

When rinsing the eyes with tinctures, decoctions or solutions, a number of important rules must be observed. First, a tampon must be used for each eye, and secondly, even if one visual organ is healthy, it must also undergo drug treatment, and thirdly, all tinctures and decoctions must be freshly prepared.

Classification of conjunctivitis

Despite the fact that conjunctivitis and its treatment are in modern medicine a well-studied issue, unambiguously it is impossible to answer unambiguously how and how to get rid of it quickly, unfortunately. The insidiousness of this disease lies in the fact that, with the same symptoms, it has a huge number of varieties, which are classified according to the following parameters:

type: allergic and;
reason: trauma, burns with drugs, exposure to toxins, tonsillitis, rhinitis, flu, vitamin deficiency;
form: and chronic;
provoking factor: virus, fungus, bacteria, allergen or combined infection;
morphological type: purulent, follicular, membranous, catarrhal and papillary conjunctivitis.

It is important to know that only a doctor can help you get rid of conjunctivitis efficiently and quickly. It is he who will conduct laboratory diagnostics, will carefully examine the eyes, listen to the patient's complaints, analyze all the events preceding the disease, and, based on the data obtained, determine the type, form and causes of inflammation, which ultimately will help to correctly build the drug therapy scheme.

The type of conjunctivitis determines the method of treatment

Each type of inflammation has its own method of treatment, which is based on a specific list of drugs. Today, the most common pathologies of the conjunctiva are the following types of inflammation:

is caused by an adenovirus and is usually transmitted by airborne droplets... The disease is always acute, accompanied by high temperature, weakness, headache and swollen lymph nodes.
Angular conjunctivitis develops after diplobacillus Morax-Axenfeld gets on the mucous membrane of the eye. Inflammation is acute and is a chronic disease. Morax's conjunctivitis is always accompanied by a stringy discharge, which is localized in the corners of the eyes.
Herpetic conjunctivitis is caused by a virus herpes simplex... It is transmitted by contact and less often by airborne droplets. In children, this type of inflammation usually develops with chickenpox, since the herpes virus is the main pathogen chickenpox... By the way, you can learn in detail how to treat conjunctivitis in children from the recommendations that the famous doctor Komarovsky gives in his book and on his website.
Allergic conjunctivitis develops in response to exposure to an allergen. It is always accompanied by subconjunctival bleeding, severe swelling of the eyelids and profuse lacrimation. Pollen from plants, animal hair, household dust, toxins and even low temperatures can act as an allergen. For example, cold conjunctivitis is the body's response to frosty air. It is always accompanied by sharp pain in the eyes and severe lacrimation.
Acute nonspecific catarrhal conjunctivitis develops against the background of a variety of coccal flora. The incubation period is short. Pronounced symptoms, the main ones of which are subconjunctival hemorrhage and purulent discharge from the eyes appear already on the first day of the disease. The inflammation usually affects both visual organs and is always accompanied by pain and heaviness in the eyes.
Dry conjunctivitis is a consequence of a malfunction of the lacrimal glands, which, in turn, leads to a change in the chemical composition and the amount of lacrimal fluid secreted. With conjunctivitis of this form, the structure of the mucous membrane of the eye is disturbed and visual acuity worsens.

Thus, having determined the type of inflammation, you can not only find out how to get rid of conjunctivitis, but also whether it is contagious, how it is transmitted, which medicine works best and how much a particular inflammation is treated.

Duration of treatment for conjunctivitis

Any disease requires timely and appropriate treatment. And even such, at first glance, a harmless disease like conjunctivitis can be cured quickly, or started and eventually get more serious health problems. Therefore, it is not worth ignoring even a slight swelling of the eyelids and a small one, because the duration of the course of conjunctivitis will depend on the timely measures taken, the treatment of which is early stages will be more efficient and correspondingly faster.

But before you know how long conjunctivitis is treated, you need to determine the nature and nature of eye pathology. It is from the data obtained that how many days the incubation period will last, how and how to treat this type of inflammation, what methods of its transmission exist and what is the maximum allowable recovery period.

I cannot cure conjunctivitis - this complaint is often heard by doctors from patients who have been self-medicating for a long time. As a rule, in such situations, the disease has either passed into or overgrown with new symptoms and even gave to other parts of the visual organ. That is why conjunctivitis of the eye should not be allowed to flow, the treatment of which must be started as early as possible.

What specialist treats conjunctivitis

Treatment for conjunctivitis in adults should begin with a visit to an ophthalmologist. It is he who will accurately establish the diagnosis, tell you what to do in such a situation, prescribe the necessary medications and give important recommendations... But what kind of doctor treats conjunctivitis in children, parents can ask the local pediatrician. It is he who must first examine the child, ask parents about previous events, establish the causes of inflammation, indicate how to treat and establish how this disease is transmitted. And only in the most difficult cases, a pediatric therapist should write a referral to an ophthalmologist for parents.

Treatment of various forms of conjunctivitis in adults

With conjunctivitis of the eye, treatment in adults is prescribed depending on the nature of the course of the disease. Moreover, targeted drugs are prescribed only after cytological examination separated from the eye. For each, its own group of drugs is assigned:

Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated. These include eye drops containing solutions of chloramphenicol, gentamicin or erythromycin. Instillation is performed strictly four to six times a day. Among the recommended ointments are tetracycline, neomycin, erythromycin. In order not to repeat the infection before instillation, the eyes are thoroughly washed and purulent discharge is removed from the eyelids.
Herpetic conjunctivitis is treated in combination therapy with tablets, eye drops and ointments. The recovery period depends on the clinical form of the disease, each of which is treated with anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs. If conjunctivitis is accompanied by a rash, then it is treated with brilliant green, and antiherpetic ointments, such as Zovirax, Virolex, Acyclovir, are placed under the eyes. In complicated forms, immunomodulators are used and in some cases even antibiotics.
The angular appearance can only be cured with antibiotics that are part of the corresponding ointments and eye drops... If left untreated, it can have negative effects on the organs of vision. Therefore, the later treatment is started, the longer the recovery period will be. The recommended treatment period for angular conjunctivitis in adults is one to two months.
If conjunctivitis is of an allergic nature, then the first thing to do is to stop the effect of the allergen on the patient's body. As they say, remove the provoking factors and relief will immediately come, puffiness will go away, lacrimation will stop and redness of the eyes will decrease. But this does not mean that the disease will completely disappear. The unpleasant ones will simply be removed and there will be short-term relief, which will be replaced by periodic exacerbations. In the treatment of allergic inflammation, antihistamines are mainly prescribed, and only in the most severe cases, hormonal drugs. The duration of therapy is 1-2 weeks. But if it is not possible to eliminate the access of the allergen to the patient or to establish its appearance, then the recovery period can be delayed for a long time.

It is important to remember that it is not difficult to treat conjunctivitis in adults, and the success of recovery directly depends on the strict fulfillment of all the doctor's prescriptions and careful adherence to the rules of personal hygiene.

Pediatric conjunctivitis treatment

It is the responsibility of the parents to treat conjunctivitis in children. They should be the first to notice swelling of the eyelids, purulent discharge from the eyes, subconjunctival hemorrhage, as well as the restless state of the baby in a child. A pediatrician or ophthalmologist should tell you how to treat it. Unlike the treatment of conjunctivitis in adults, who understand with all the doctor's recommendations, it is much more difficult to get rid of the painful symptoms of the child's eyes. Firstly, children, especially the younger age group, are most often susceptible to this disease, secondly, they constantly rub their eyes with their hands, thereby complicating the healing process, and thirdly, children's conjunctivitis is most often contagious and easily passes from sick to healthy to kid.

Today, many moms and dads are known children's doctor Komarovsky will tell you how to cure conjunctivitis in children. On his website, you can find the answer to any question regarding, find out how the definition of its types is transmitted, get advice on how best to treat inflammation of the eyes, what medicine can be used for mom during lactation, and also how to remove purulent crusts from the eyes of a baby. Komarovsky on his Internet resource has collected a unique collection of photo and video lessons for young parents, in which you can clearly see how to properly care for a sick baby, what forms of childhood conjunctivitis are, what subconjunctival hemorrhage looks like and how a sick mother does not infect a child during breastfeeding ...

Precautions for conjunctivitis

It is important to always keep in mind that effective treatment conjunctivitis largely depends on careful adherence to basic rules of personal hygiene. Do not forget that in acute period inflammation, human immunity is weakened, which means that the risk of re-infection of the optic organ increases. And in order to prevent this, a person must constantly monitor the cleanliness of his hygienic, bedding and household items, wash his hands regularly, not visit crowded places and load his eyes as little as possible. Do not forget that conjunctivitis in an adult and a child is often contagious, so all precautions must be observed from the first day of the disease.

Conjunctivitis - what it is and how to treat the disease in adults and children. The pathology is based on inflammation of the conjunctiva of various etiologies. At the first sign of conjunctivitis, it is better to see a doctor right away. The disease can be unpredictable, especially in people with weakened immunity and concomitant infectious diseases.

The main causes of conjunctivitis are:

infection of the mucous membrane of the eyes with microbial flora (staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative agents of syphilis and diphtheria);
multiplication of viruses as a result of direct contact with a virus carrier or as a complication of an acute respiratory viral disease;
exacerbation of allergic reactions;
damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes with the development of traumatic conjunctivitis.

Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs after infection through the contact-household route. At the same time, the number of bacteria, which are classified as opportunistic microflora, sharply increases.

In adults, the first symptoms of conjunctivitis are usually not associated with respiratory viral disease... Conjunctival inflammation occurs on its own. At a pronounced stage, the eyes turn red, and severe itching appears. Conjunctivitis edema usually affects one affected eye. It itches and hurts a lot. A few days after the onset of the disease, photophobia and mucopurulent discharge appear.

In the viral form of inflammation, follicles can form on the mucous membrane of the eyes with the development of follicular conjunctivitis, as well as pseudomembranes (pseudomembrane form of the disease). At the same time, the lymph nodes located in the neck and behind the ear are enlarged. A specific sign of the bacterial form of the disease is the appearance of a purulent viscous discharge of yellow or green color from the eyes. At the same time, pain syndrome, the mucous membrane is dry, and the skin around eyeball severely edematous.

Many do not know what to do if the eye is swollen and reddened. People are starting to use drugs that are in the home medicine cabinet, but this is not recommended. To determine which conjunctivitis develops in a particular patient can only qualified specialist after receiving the diagnostic results.

Classification

Depending on the nature of the course, conjunctivitis is acute and chronic, as well as sluggish. If, at the first signs of the disease, you do not seek professional help, the inflammatory process may subside after a while without treatment. With weakened immunity, conjunctivitis can quickly turn into an infectious form, giving purulent complications.

Also, experts have identified a separate classification related to the etiology of the disease.

The main types of conjunctivitis, depending on the cause of the inflammatory process:

bacterial (angular, purulent, papillary, gonococcal, diphtheria, gonorrheal, pneumococcal);
chlamydial;
viral (herpesvirus, adenovirus, catarrhal);
(candidal, coccidous);
traumatic (chemical, thermal, cold).

To determine the exact type of disease, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination. Without diagnostics, it is difficult to find local drugs that should be effective against certain viruses, bacteria or fungi.

Diagnostics

Comprehensive diagnostics makes it possible to determine a specific causative agent of the disease and choose the most effective drug therapy... The diagnosis is made by an ophthalmologist based on the results of the examination.

Effective treatment of conjunctivitis is impossible without a preliminary examination, including the following procedures:

external examination to detect redness, injection of the eyeball and determine the pathological discharge from the eyes;
cytological and bacteriological examinations of scrapings, smears from the conjunctival region;
determination of the titer of antibodies in a tear or blood serum to certain pathogens;
skin-allergic, nasal tests with suspicion of the development of allergies;
biomicroscopy of the eye;
instillation test.

When specific causes of the inflammatory process are identified, consultation of specialized specialists is required, including an allergist, infectious disease specialist, venereologist, and otolaryngologist.

Which doctor treats conjunctivitis

Which doctor should I contact for conjunctival inflammation? To correctly determine the disease and get rid of the main symptoms of pathology, an ophthalmologist can provide first aid for eye diseases. This specialist has the necessary knowledge, skills and capabilities to carry out diagnostics, select effective medications taking into account contraindications and develop preventive measures, preventing frequent relapses of the underlying pathology.

Medication treatment

Timely treatment prevents the consequences of the disease and reduces the risk of getting sick again against the background of a protracted course of inflammation. It is important to observe clinical guidelines and all doctor's prescriptions, use complex methods. But at the same time, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the inflammatory process. In any case, the treatment continues for several weeks. It is impossible to cure even a simple form of inflammation in one day.

Drugs for the treatment of infectious conjunctivitis

Infectious or bacterial conjunctivitis should be used first. They stop the growth of pathogenic microflora, prevent the appearance of complications after severe inflammation of the conjunctiva and the addition of a secondary infection.

Common medicines for the bacterial form of the disease:

. Acts against gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms.
Tobrex. Drops have a wide spectrum of action, suppress the reproduction of infectious pathogens, thereby reducing signs of inflammation of the conjunctiva.
Levomycetin drops... The tool is effective against many bacteria and some viruses, has an affordable price.
Erythromycin and tetracycline ointments... It is recommended to lay it at night when bacterial conjunctivitis appears.

Some drugs to fight infectious conjunctivitis

Remember that bacterial conjunctivitis is dangerous to others. Sick leave is issued for a while acute symptoms with a margin of several days. You can understand that conjunctivitis has passed by the disappearance of all signs of the disease. Besides antibiotics, homeopathy is widespread. With its help, it is possible to increase the local immunity of the mucous membrane of the eyes and reduce the number of recurrences of inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Treatment of viral conjunctivitis with drops

The viral form of pathology can be recognized by characteristic symptoms(transparent discharge from the eyes, redness of the mucous membrane). It occurs independently or against the background of ARVI. The main way to treat the viral type of inflammation of the conjunctiva is the use of antiviral drugs. With a high risk of secondary infection, when green snot and purulent discharge from the eyes appear, antibiotics are additionally prescribed.

Common topical medications for treating viral conjunctival inflammation include:

Ophthalmoferon. The drug has an antiviral immunostimulating effect, it is also used in the presence of an allergic component.
Aktipol. The tool is an inducer of interferon, has antiviral properties, accelerates the recovery of mucous membranes and metabolic processes.
Oftan Idu... The drug is actively used in the treatment of the herpetic form of the disease. Use it in courses of 2-3 weeks. Buried in the area several times a day.

Some drugs to fight viral conjunctivitis

Drug treatment for allergic conjunctivitis

To combat allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamines are used primarily in the form of drops. Additionally, drugs from the same group are prescribed, but in tablet form: Claritin, Zirtek, Suprastin. It is imperative to use tear substitutes (Oftolik, Inox), since the mucous membrane allergic form the disease is usually excessively dry and inflamed. Corticosteroid drops are prescribed for severe disease and only on the recommendation of a doctor (Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisol).

It is forbidden to discontinue treatment with topical drugs when the symptoms of the disease decrease. With conjunctivitis, you can not prematurely quit therapy. It is necessary to apply the prescribed number of days and do instillations with antiseptics. If conjunctivitis is not treated, there is a high risk of complications not only in one eye, but also the transfer of infection to the neighboring eye and nearby tissues.

Treatment with folk remedies for different types of conjunctivitis

Can conjunctivitis be cured with traditional medicine? This question is always relevant. Experts believe that folk remedies can only be used when the eye does not hurt much and the inflammation is not pronounced. Herbal remedies can be used as an adjunct to the main therapy. It is important to understand that traditional medicine alone cannot cure the disease completely - this requires serious antiviral and antibacterial drugs, effective antiseptics that stop the spread of an infectious inflammatory process and prevent complications.

Common home methods for the main forms of conjunctivitis (bacterial, viral, traumatic, allergic):

pharmacy chamomile for the preparation of infusions and decoctions, with which you can wipe your eyes, remove mucopurulent discharge;
tea leaves as a local antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent;
decoction of bay leaf for antiseptic treatment of an inflamed eye;
tincture of calendula, which is added to water to wipe and rinse the mucous membranes of the eyes (5 drops per glass of boiled water).

Possible complications

Complications of conjunctivitis occur with an advanced form of the disease, a strong weakening of the immune system. The spread of the infectious process to the deep layers of the eye, adjacent tissues is possible. Conjunctivitis can be complicated, can lead to ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane, scarring and decreased vision.

Recovery period

The recovery process after recovery lasts several weeks. During this time, dry eyes and moderate discomfort may persist.

Try not to expose your eyes to increased visual stress, work less at the computer and read, use moisturizing drops - analogs of natural tears.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of the development of conjunctivitis consists in compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards and refusal to use individual hygiene items, lenses of strangers. With the development of viral and bacterial inflammation of the conjunctiva, it is necessary to prevent infection of healthy people. Prevention of conjunctivitis in contact with a patient consists in the use of antibacterial eye drops (albucid) for several days.

During the day, you should not touch the mucous membrane with dirty hands, and when using new cosmetics, it is necessary to conduct a skin test on the inner side of the wrist. This will prevent the development of an allergic form of the disease.

Video

If conjunctivitis of the eye has developed, treatment in adults and children is carried out depending on the etiology of the disease. This pathology often occurs suddenly and proceeds very rapidly. Symptoms and treatment of such a disease is determined by the doctor, because the therapeutic approach largely depends on the form of the disease.

Most people are faced with such a pathology every year, and many are thinking about how to quickly get rid of conjunctivitis, because the manifestations of the disease extremely complicate the life of every person. The consequences of such a disease sometimes lead to serious disturbances on the part of the body, sometimes vision may deteriorate, and retinal lesions appear. To avoid all these dangerous conditions, it is recommended to seek medical help in a timely manner and undergo appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

What is the disease and its types?

What is conjunctivitis, it is interesting to know everyone who is faced with a similar diagnosis. This ailment affects most people with chronic pathologies of the nasopharynx. Inflammation of the conjunctiva occurs with a decrease in immunity and the presence of pathogenic microflora. The incubation period of infection can be from 4 to 14 days, depending on the state of the body. The characteristic of the pathology depends on the provoking factor, which are viruses, bacteria and allergens.

Ocular conjunctivitis has the following types:

Allergic. Represents acute illness which can last for a long time. At the same time, there is no pathogenic flora and the allergen is the main culprit.
Bacterial. The disease occurs in the presence of favorable conditions. It is highly contagious and is triggered by bacteria entering the body.
Chlamydial. The rarest type of this pathology. The main developmental factor is chlamydia, which accidentally enter the conjunctiva. The disease takes its origin from damage to the reproductive organs of this venereal pathology.
Viral. It occurs, as a rule, against the background of a cold. Microorganisms provoke pathology with a significant decrease in immunity.

The causes of conjunctivitis are different and depend on the nature of the pathogen. The onset of the disease is often attributed to the cold season and is associated with a weakened protective function of the body. In case of allergic conjunctivitis, the causes are associated with the factor that provoked its occurrence, namely:

with dust;
with animal hair;
with plant pollen.

Allergic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye manifests itself very rapidly and is often combined with asthma, dermatitis, hay fever and rhinitis.

The causes of conjunctivitis of a bacterial nature lie in the activation of pathogens, which most often include staphylococci. Although streptococci and pathogens of pneumonia and gonorrhea may sometimes be present.

Chlamydial inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye is a consequence of a venereal disease that occurs first in the genitourinary system, and then spreads to other organs. A viral lesion is quite common, herpes can be its cause. But usually this type of disease is provoked by an adenovirus, which can manifest itself as damage not only to the eyes, but also to the mucous membranes of the larynx and nose.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The signs of conjunctivitis differ depending on the causative agent of the inflammatory process. The disease always develops rapidly and is very easy to identify. Any conjunctivitis, the diagnosis of which begins with taking the discharge from the eyes for examination, can be easily distinguished by the presence of characteristic manifestations.

Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis:

light and copious discharge from the eyes, usually of a liquid consistency, resembling tears;
severe itching of the eyelids;
the conjunctiva of the eye has moderate edema;
sneezing;
mucous nasal discharge.

A distinctive feature of this type is the presence of a characteristic itching, which differentiates it from other forms of the disease.

Chlamydial conjunctivitis symptoms are as follows:

profuse purulent discharge from the eyes;
sticking of the eyelids and the formation of crusts;
deterioration of vision;
an increase in regional lymph nodes;
general poor health;
long course - from 2 weeks or more;
the formation of follicles on the cornea;
hyperemia of the sclera;
retinal and corneal lesions;
the appearance of tinnitus;
temperature increase.

Signs of conjunctivitis of bacterial etiology:

moderate swelling of the eyelids;
thick and purulent discharge from the eyes;
redness of proteins;
clumping of the eyelids after a night's sleep;
feeling of sand in the eyes;
painful perception of light.

Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis:

slight swelling of the eyelids;
light and fluid discharge from the eyes;
enlarged lymph nodes;
redness of the sclera;
damage to one or more eyes;
the presence of slight itching.

It should be noted that conjunctivitis in an adult and a child, which manifests itself even with a minimal set of symptoms, is very contagious. Viral and bacterial forms are especially common among preschool institutions, where any infection is transmitted very quickly.

If one of the family members has this pathology, then it is recommended to sleep separately and regularly change the pillowcase so as not to infect the rest.

The incidence peaks especially in people with weakened immune systems who have other foci of infection.

Treatment activities

How to quickly cure conjunctivitis is of interest to many who are faced with such a nuisance. The main therapeutic measures are aimed at the causative agent of the infection.

How to treat conjunctivitis of bacterial etiology:

Tetracycline ointment. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. The ointment should be placed under the eyelid several times a day in a dosage that will be determined by the doctor. Discomfort may occur when using this product.
Albucide. Such droplets are capable of destroying a wide range of microorganisms. They quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms in just a few days.
Erythromycin ointment. This composition belongs to the group of antibiotics and effectively fights against pathogenic microflora. The course of treatment and dosage should be determined by the doctor.

Viral conjunctivitis should be treated comprehensively. Fixed assets used in therapy:

Antiviral and immunostimulating drugs. Interferon, Levomax, Amiksin are often prescribed. These drugs help to increase protective forces organism and have antiviral activity.
Anti-inflammatory drops. They are used to speed up the healing process and get rid of unpleasant symptoms. These drugs include Diclofenac, Medeksol. These drops belong to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, therefore, they are not prescribed without preliminary diagnosis.
Vitamins. It is very important during treatment to take complexes intended for a weakened immune system. It is best to use special vitamins. They usually contain significant amounts of substance C and folic acid.

How to cure chlamydia conjunctivitis? This requires:

Take antibacterial drugs. Most often, tetracycline is used, which has a detrimental effect on chlamydia.
Make applications using ointments. In most cases, an erythromycin or tetracycline compound is prescribed, which has a pronounced antimicrobial activity.
Apply non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops. In this case, Dexamethasone or Indomethacin is indicated.

How to treat conjunctivitis caused by allergens in adults and children:

Eliminate the cause of the disease. You should identify the pathogen and try to break contact with him.
Use antihistamines. These include: Zodak, Tsetrin, Suprastin, etc. They help to reduce unpleasant symptoms. Lacrimation is eliminated, itching disappears.
Flush eyes with saline. For these purposes, you need to use a cotton pad. Movements should be carried out from the edge of the eyelid to the nose. For each eye, use a new cotton pad, abundantly moistened with the solution.

Conjunctivitis treatment in adults and children is also carried out using traditional medicine methods. It must be remembered that this approach cannot replace the main therapeutic effect.

Therapy can be carried out with a decoction of chamomile, which relieves inflammation, resulting in reduced redness. To prepare it, you will need 2 tbsp. l. dry raw materials, which need to be filled with 300 ml of boiling water and cooked over low heat for 5 minutes. After that, the liquid should be cooled and filtered. Then use to rinse the eyes every 4 hours.

Conjunctivitis of the eye is also treated aqueous solution propolis, cornflower and elderberry flowers.

Prevention and complications

The consequences of conjunctivitis can be hazardous to eyesight. A long-term disease leads to the formation of adhesions. Conjunctivitis complications are as follows:

corneal lesions;
deterioration of vision;
inflammation of the eyelid;
a constant feeling of dryness in the eyes;
accumulation of purulent contents in the eye chamber;
hearing impairment.

Why does conjunctivitis of the eye occur, how to get rid of it and what to do to prevent the development of the process? What is the characteristic of conjunctivitis treatment? Everyone needs to know this, since the pathology is quite common and can affect any person.

This inflammatory disease everyone has it with varying degrees of severity. The chlamydial type of the disease is especially dangerous, in which dangerous complications can occur not only on the eyes, but also on cardiovascular system... Prevention of conjunctivitis of the eyes is aimed primarily at strengthening the immune system. An organism that has strong protection is rarely exposed to such ailments.

Conjunctivitis, the prevention of which also consists in maintaining personal hygiene, can last from several days to a month, which is dangerous with complications.

The main preventive measures:

Taking vitamins during an exacerbation of acute respiratory viral infections and flu.
Tempering the body with contrast shower... Active lifestyle.
Revision of the diet and the inclusion of a large amount of vegetable fiber.
Elimination of allergens.
Timely access to a doctor at the first alarm calls from the body.
Use only personal hygiene items.

For the prevention of the chlamydial form of the disease, the reorganization of the reproductive organs and a barrier method of protection against sexually transmitted infections are shown.

Now it is generally accepted that such an ailment as is often found in children. But this is a big mistake. Every day, doctors register a considerable number of patients with eye complaints. This is an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of the eyeball. The patient's blood vessels burst, which causes reddening of the membrane. The eyes begin to water. How serious is this problem and how can it be treated?

General symptoms

Conjunctivitis symptoms can manifest in different ways. But all signs have the same nature - it is an inflammation of the eyes. Other symptoms accompany the main symptom and may include:

purulent discharge (blood impurities are possible);
tearing;
unpleasant burning sensation;
swelling of the eyelids;
sticking of the eyelids in the morning;
decreased vision in the pathological process.

In severe conditions, the patient may experience headache, weakness of the body, likely enlargement of the lymph nodes.

These were common symptoms, but some types of conjunctivitis deserve special attention.

Varieties of conjunctivitis

The bacterial form is provoked by microbes staphylococcus and streptococcus... The disease can manifest itself if dust or dirt gets into the eyes. The virus infects the eyeball in stagnant bodies of water. At the same time, purulent discharge begins to appear from the eyes.

The pneumococcal form differs in that microscopic hemorrhages appear on the eyeball. Usually they are clearly visible on the conjunctiva. In addition, a whitish veil begins to appear on the mucous membrane, which can be easily removed with cotton pads (or a swab). Most often, so-called infiltrates (formations with an admixture of blood and lymph) appear on the cornea. This pathology often manifests itself as side effects after infection with colds.

Acute epidemic conjunctivitis is also called Koch-Weeks conjunctivitis... It differs in that it has sluggish symptoms. Usually, this pathology manifests itself in the form of sharp jumps and is of a very contagious nature. A lot of hemorrhages and discharge of pus appear on the conjunctiva.

The gonococcal form is caused by the Neisser virus. This problem can occur in both children and adults, when the infection from the infected genitals is carried by hands through hygiene products (soap, towel, bedding, etc.).

Gonoblenorrhea. This disease is a real scourge for newborns. Usually, the disease is transmitted from mother to child through the birth canal at the moment when a woman gives birth. Both eyes are affected. The baby cannot open the eyelids, outside the skin color becomes bluish-red. Pus, similar to rotten meat, breaks through the eye slits. Bleeding is possible. If you don't start timely treatment, in the area of the eye, blood flow is disturbed and a purulent ulcer can form in this place, which will subsequently provoke the formation of a thorn. And, in turn, complete blindness.

The diphtheria form is caused by a diphtheria bacillus. In this case, the main symptoms are profuse conjunctival hemorrhage and its swelling. In this case, the shade of the eyelids is characterized by a blue color. Gray films form on the conjunctiva that bleed if removed.

The viral form is formed as a result of infection of the body with colds. In this case, both eyes hurt. The symptoms of the disease are as follows. The serous substance is easily separated from the corneal mucosa. On the conjunctiva of the eyelids, lymphoid follicles are formed.

It differs from other types of the disease in that the conjunctiva swells very much. It is divided into catarrhal, filmy and follicular forms. The catarrhal form is the easiest to treat. But the cornea is attacked by a virus and forms many small and coin-like infiltrates.

The epidemic form is provoked by an enterovirus. A distinctive feature of this ailment is a very strong effusion of blood, which are called hemorrhages. It turns out that the eye from the side seems completely swollen. But symptoms appear either at night or in the morning.

An allergic form is a consequence of a reaction to a substance that is not tolerated by the body. Eyes swell, begin to itch, tearing increases.

The giant papillary shape is characteristic of those groups of people who wear contact lenses... In this case, the disease increases in size and looks like papillae.

Pollinosis is a severe seasonal allergic form that occurs during the flowering period of a wide variety of herbs and flowers (for example, ragweed or poplar fluff). The symptoms are the same as those of the allergic form, but the consequences are much more severe and the nose is constantly blocked.

The dosage form can occur after the medicine has been in direct contact with the eyes. There is swelling, itching, burning, etc. The symptoms last for several hours.

Diagnostics

To correctly identify the problem, you need to seek help from a doctor. At the hospital, the doctor may send for an additional examination to clarify the exact diagnosis. To do this, it is sometimes sufficient to check the eyes on a slit lamp.

But there are times when the patient is prescribed the following types of diagnostics.

Bacteriological examination... With this technique, antibiotic sensitivity is determined. More precisely, what types of antimicrobial drugs can act on microbes.
Polymerase chain reaction... By examining the sequence of DNA and RNA, viruses can be identified that use this code to develop disease.
identifies a specific allergen that causes an allergic reaction.

These studies can identify the disease when the doctor doubts the cause or when the symptoms become severe.

Treatment

In no case should conjunctivitis be treated on its own. As you can see, there can be a lot of varieties of the disease. And it can be very difficult to make a precise diagnosis. But each type of ailment is treated with its own methods.

General principles for the treatment of all types of conjunctivitis

The bacterial form is treated with eye drops and special ointments. They contain antibiotics. That is, they literally destroy all viruses. If the treatment does not help, the patient is referred for additional diagnostics in order to identify which antimicrobial agent the disease will respond to.

The gonococcal form of the disease is also treated with antibiotics. The course lasts until the patient has passed all the conjunctiva. But for this you need to start treatment on time in order to avoid serious problems with the cornea.

Important! To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to treat any diseases of the genital organs in time. Sodium sulfacil (30%) is instilled into the eyes of newborns. This process is repeated three times with a pause of 3 minutes.

Viral form. In this case, the medicine must contain an interferon component. In parallel, the doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs and tear drops to get rid of the dry eye effect. In order to prevent the virus from developing again, the body is strengthened with immunostimulating drugs.

Traditional medicine can greatly help in the treatment of the viral form. But you need to use it only as an additional tool. To do this, use compresses for the eyes of chamomile, sage, etc.

When herpes is considered the cause of conjunctivitis, the patient needs to use medications that include acyclovir. Ophthalmoferon drops are very helpful.

Adenovirus is one of the types viral infection, but, unlike other inflammatory processes, it is very difficult to treat it. Therefore, in addition to medications, which include interoferon, the patient is added antibacterial drugs. This will avoid relapse. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe an "artificial tear".

The allergic form is treated with antihistamines. In this case, the form of the medicine is unimportant. It can be drops, pills, and potions. But experts still recommend using drops, because they are absorbed faster. But the drops have harsher side effects.

The doctor may prescribe a combination treatment that will include an artificial tear, diphenhydramine and interferon. But in very severe cases, anti-inflammatory drugs are used without a steroid form.

The fungal form is treated with antifungal agents. Usually these are drugs such as nystatin, amphotericin B, levorin. In addition, the doctor prescribes nystatin ointment, which is applied to the infected surface before bedtime.

The diphtheria form is treated in the following way. After finding the source of the disease, the patient is injected with anti-diphtheria serum. Every hour, the problem area must be washed with antiseptics. In parallel, the patient drinks antibiotics and sulfonamides.

Chronic form of the disease

The most difficult problem is a neglected ailment. He is treated in a complex, based on additional diagnostics. The biggest problem with chronic conjunctivitis is getting the diagnosis right.

Chronic conjunctivitis usually occurs as a result of constant external exposure to the eyes (dust, computer radiation, etc.). In addition, the chronic form of conjunctivitis can provoke various eye diseases.

In order to cure a lingering ailment, some doctors prescribe lotions infused with:

boric acid (2%);
resorcinol solution;
borax solution (2%);
chamomile or sage.

A neglected disease is treated for a long time. To do this, you need to be patient and accurately follow all the doctor's prescriptions.

Table. The best medicines for treatment.

Types of drugs

Depending on the type of illness, the doctor prescribes different kinds medicines.

Drops, which are buried directly into the eyeball. This is one of the most effective ways... Since the medicine acts directly at the source of the disease. These include: Floxal drops, Albucid solution (20%).
... Their purpose is to destroy an infection, a virus. But they have one bad one by-effect... Together with microbes, they destroy positive bacteria. Therefore, after taking antimicrobial drugs, a rehabilitation course is required in the form of a vitamin and mineral course. Usually these drugs fight against diseases such as: staphylococcus, gonococcus, chlamydia, etc. Erythrocin ointment, Tetracycline ointment, Acyclovir helps well against the above bacteria.
Hormonal or non-hormonal drugs... It all depends on the severity of the infection. For example, severe forms conjunctivitis is best treated hormonal drugs, and use non-hormonal analogues in the early stages of the disease.
Artificial tear preparations are an additional remedy and allow you to treat dry eye (eyeball). This symptom occurs as a consequence of dystrophic conjunctivitis and other types of diseases.
Antihistamines used to treat allergic conjunctivitis. But the doctor can prescribe these drugs in a complex together with others. medication(for example, with antibiotics, or non-steroidal drugs).

Attention! Antihistamines can be used for up to 7 days.

Prophylaxis

In order to protect yourself and others from this disease, you must follow the instructions below. As you know, this is a very contagious disease. If one family member falls ill with conjunctivitis, separate hygiene products (towels, bed linen, etc.) should be used, it is better to put the patient on a separate bed and minimize contact with him. But in order not to get sick yourself, the following recommendations should be followed:

timely undergo medical examinations, check your eyesight and not start the onset of the disease;
reduce the risk of contracting conjunctivitis by using high-quality cosmetics without an expired shelf life;
observe safety rules, do everything possible so that the workplace does not spoil health;
follow the rules, take good care of them;
do not contact with possible allergenic objects or plants;
wash your hands with soap and water;
to wash, use only clean water.

Conclusion

Conjunctivitis is a serious illness. Even on initial stage it is very unpleasant when the eyes are constantly watering, pus is secreted and you constantly feel discomfort. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner so that the disease does not become chronic. Then it will be very difficult to treat a lingering ailment. But you can avoid the manifestation of the disease with ordinary hygiene, for example, washing your hands and frequent changes of underwear and bed linen.

Video - Treatment of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is the most common disease of all eye diseases - it is associated with the easy spread of infection in humans. But there is also a non-infectious form of conjunctivitis - allergic, which occurs after exposure to an allergen on the mucous membrane of the eye.

Conjunctivitis is not considered dangerous and is easily treatable, but subject to timely and correct determination of the root cause of the disease. To do this, you need to know how conjunctivitis proceeds, how the infection occurs and adhere to the rules of hygiene.

In this article, you will learn: how conjunctivitis begins and proceeds in adults, what types and forms of the disease exist, research methods and methods of treatment, as well as possible complications and preventive measures.

What is conjunctivitis?

How does conjunctivitis develop in adults? Source: o-glazah.ru

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, often of an infectious nature. The causative agents of infections usually enter the eye exogenously, less often endogenously... Depending on the pathogen, bacterial, viral, chlamydial, fungal conjunctivitis are distinguished.

The causative agents of bacterial conjunctivitis

The causative agents of bacterial conjunctivitis are staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci, Escherichia coli, gonococci, diphtheria and Koch-Weeks, diplobacillus Morax-Axenfeld and others.

It occurs at any time of the year in the form of sporadic cases or epidemic outbreaks among all age groups of the population. Viral conjunctivitis also includes epidemic adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, herpetic and measles conjunctivitis, etc. Chlamydia includes trachoma and paratrachoma (conjunctivitis with inclusions) conjunctivitis.

Among the conjunctivitis of a non-infectious nature, the number of allergic conjunctivitis (phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, medicinal, atonic conjunctivitis, spring catarrh) has significantly increased.

Allergic conjunctivitis can be caused by various allergens - infectious agents, medicines, cosmetics, household chemicals, physical and chemical factors in enterprises. Conjunctivitis occurs as a result of direct action on the conjunctiva of various physical and chemical factors.

The development of conjunctivitis may be associated with chronic diseases- inflammation paranasal sinuses nose, pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, helminthic invasion, etc. A significant role in the onset of the disease is played by the reactivity of the organism, which determines the nature of the course and features of the clinical manifestation of conjunctivitis.

The clinical picture depends on the cause of conjunctivitis, however, all etiological forms of the disease are characterized by a number of common signs - edema and hyperemia of the conjunctiva, mainly eyelids and transitional folds, the presence of mucous (catarrhal conjunctivitis) or purulent (purulent conjunctivitis) discharge.

Children often have a membranous form of conjunctivitis, characterized by moderate swelling of the eyelids, bright hyperemia of their conjunctiva, the presence of small hemorrhages and a mucopurulent film that can be easily removed with a cotton swab. The most severe form of membranous conjunctivitis develops with diphtheria.

Often, for example, with adenoviral and chlamydial lesions, the so-called follicular conjunctivitis occurs, which occurs with the appearance on the conjunctiva of transitional folds of small translucent formations of a pale pink color - follicles.

By the nature of the course, acute, subacute and chronic conjunctivitis are distinguished. Acute conjunctivitis begins suddenly with cramps or pain, first in one eye, then in the other eye. Against the background of severe hyperemia, hemorrhages are often observed. Conjunctival injection of the eyeball, conjunctival edema develop.

Sometimes the swelling of the conjunctiva of the eyeball reaches a significant size, as a result of which it is impaired in the palpebral fissure (conjunctival chemosis). Abundant (mucous, mucopurulent and purulent) discharge appears. Acute conjunctivitis can be accompanied by general malaise, fever, and headache. The duration of acute conjunctivitis ranges from 5-6 days to 2-3 weeks.

In subacute conjunctivitis, in contrast to acute conjunctivitis, clinical symptoms are less pronounced. Chronic conjunctivitis develops gradually, is characterized by a persistent and prolonged course. Patients complain of discomfort, a feeling of a foreign body in the eye.

The conjunctiva of the eyelids and transitional folds is slightly hyperemic, loosened, its surface has an uneven velvety appearance. A complication of chronic conjunctivitis can be damage to the cornea with the development of keratitis.

Classification of conjunctivitis

Acute and chronic processes are distinguished along the flow. The incidence depends on the seasonality, and the etiology on the climatic conditions. In the autumn-winter period, the frequency of viral and bacterial conjunctivitis is high, and in the spring-summer period - allergic.

In cold and temperate latitudes, the cause of the disease is mostly pneumococcus, and in hot climates, Koch-Weeks epidemic conjunctivitis is more common. In Russia, staphylococcal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye is common.

By the type of inflammatory process, the following forms of conjunctivitis are distinguished:

Catarrhal - allergic, adenoviral inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye.
Purulent - staphylococcal infection.
Follicular - trachoma, paratrachoma.
Filmy - with diphtheria and pneumococcal lesions.

Conjunctivitis also occurs due to a number of factors that increase the risk of the disease:

Damage to the eyeball.
The presence of a foreign body.
Inflammatory processes oral cavity or / and the nasopharynx.
Hypothermia.
Fatigue of the visual apparatus.
Having contact with a patient with viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.
Postponed blepharitis, dacryocystitis, keratitis.

Causes of the disease

Source: meditalk.ru

Bacterial conjunctivitis, as a rule, occurs when infected by a contact-household route. At the same time, bacteria begin to multiply on the mucous membrane, which are normally few in number or not at all part of the normal conjunctival microflora. The toxins released by the bacteria cause a pronounced inflammatory response.

Infection with viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis can be transmitted by household contact or airborne droplets and are acutely infectious diseases. Acute pharyngoconjunctival fever is caused by adenovirus types 3, 4, 7; epidemic keratoconjunctivitis - adenoviruses of 8 and 19 types.

Viral conjunctivitis can be etiologically associated with the viruses of herpes simplex, herpes zoster, chickenpox, measles, enteroviruses, etc. The most common causative agents of bacterial conjunctivitis are staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, mycobacteriosis.

In some cases, it is possible to infect the eyes with pathogens of gonorrhea, syphilis, diphtheria. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis in children is often associated with diseases of the nasopharynx, otitis media, sinusitis. In adults, conjunctivitis can develop against the background of chronic blepharitis, dacryocystitis, dry eye syndrome.

The development of chlamydial conjunctivitis in newborns is associated with infection of the child during the passage through the birth canal of the mother. In sexually active women and men, chlamydial eye lesions are often combined with diseases genitourinary system(in men - with urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis; in women - with cervicitis, vaginitis).

Fungal conjunctivitis can be caused by actinomycetes, molds, yeast-like and other types of fungi.

Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by the body's hypersensitivity to any antigen and in most cases serves as a local manifestation of a systemic allergic reaction. The causes of allergic manifestations can be drugs, alimentary (food) factors, helminths, household chemicals, plant pollen, demodex mite, etc.

Non-infectious conjunctivitis can occur when the eyes are irritated by chemical and physical factors, smoke (including tobacco), dust, ultraviolet light; metabolic disorders, vitamin deficiencies, ametropia (hyperopia, myopia), etc.

How is conjunctivitis in adults: symptoms

Source: glazam.info

Specific manifestations of conjunctivitis depend on the etiological form of the disease. Nevertheless, the course of conjunctivitis of various origins is characterized by a number of common features. These include:

swelling and hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the eyelids and transitional folds;
discharge of mucous or purulent secretions from the eyes;
itching, burning, lacrimation;
a feeling of "grit" or a foreign body in the eye;
photophobia, blepharospasm.

Often the main symptom of conjunctivitis is the inability to open the eyelids in the morning due to their sticking together with dried discharge. The reason for the incidence of conjunctivitis is somewhat complicated, because the nature of the disease can be of a different nature (viral, bacterial, allergic). Let us dwell in more detail on the types of conjunctivitis and their main symptoms.

Spicy

As a rule, acute conjunctivitis is of infectious origin. Its beginning is characterized by sharpness (that is, it arises immediately), there are no precursors. Basically, it affects both eyes at the same time. The main symptoms are:

Lachrymation;
Cut in the eyes;
A burning sensation in the eyes;
Photophobia;
Swelling of the eyelids;
Edema of the conjunctiva, its sharp redness;
Profuse discharge of pus, sticking of the eyelids;
Sometimes a runny nose and general disorders (insomnia, headaches, fever) are possible;
In some cases, the symptomatology has a weak character of manifestations, expressed in a slight reddening of the conjunctiva and the scarcity of discharge.

Chronic

This form of conjunctivitis is characterized by its gradual onset, accompanied by unpleasant and painful sensations for the patient:

The severity of the eyelids;
Tingling eyes;
Burning, gritty sensation over the centuries;
Strengthening of manifestations in the evening, complication of work in the presence of an artificial sensation due to them.

Chronic conjunctivitis is characterized by weak changes in the conjunctiva: there is slight redness, roughness and turbidity, the discharge is insignificant. As for the specificity of the course of the disease, it is characterized by its own duration with an alternating change of states towards exacerbations.

Viral

Most often, this form of conjunctivitis occurs with an infection that appears in the upper respiratory tract (adenoviral or herpetic), in addition, it also occurs with ordinary sore throat or a cold.

The viral form of conjunctivitis is quite common today, it is contagious, and therefore often acquires the scale of a real epidemic. Viral conjunctivitis in children and adults can be triggered by a wide variety of viruses.

As for the symptoms, they are as follows:

Profuse lacrimation;
Eye irritation and redness;
Often, the lesion begins in one eye with the subsequent transition to the other.

A characteristic feature of this form is the presence of subtypes of the disease such as adenoviral conjunctivitis, herpetic conjunctivitis and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.

Adenoviral

This form of conjunctivitis is acutely infectious, and most often its causative agents are adenoviruses of this type such as 3,4, 7 and 7a, as well as 10 and 11 adenoviruses. Most often, outbreaks of this form of the disease occur in spring / autumn and mainly among children's groups.

Infection with adenoviral conjunctivitis

Infection is carried out by means of an airborne method through coughing and sneezing, in some cases - when the pathogen hits the mucous membrane. Then there is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, followed by the development of conjunctivitis. The involvement of the cornea in the process is extremely rare, the overall visual acuity is not reduced.

Duration incubation period up to 8 days. The onset of the disease is characterized by the occurrence of severe nasopharyngitis in combination with an increase in temperature. The second wave of its increase is accompanied by manifestations of conjunctivitis in one of the eyes, and a few days later - in the other. There is swelling of the eyelids, redness of the mucous membrane. Mucous discharge appears, regional lymph nodes increase.

Adenoviral conjunctivitis can manifest itself in three forms:

Catarrhal form. Inflammatory manifestations are expressed on a small scale, discharge appears in small amounts, redness is small. The duration of the disease is about a week with a mild course.
Filmy form. It occurs in 25% of the total number of cases of adenoviral conjunctivitis. As the name implies, the mucous membrane of the eye is covered with thin, easily removable gray-white films. In some cases, they can also be quite tightly soldered to the surface of the conjunctiva, which is accompanied by the appearance of an exposed bleeding surface.
These manifestations require testing for diphtheria. The disappearance of the films usually leaves no marks, but some cases leave minor scars.
Follicular form. In this case, the mucous membrane is covered with small bubbles, which sometimes can be large in size. The consequences of adenoviral conjunctivitis can subsequently manifest itself in dry eye syndrome, which is formed due to a violation in the function of creating tear fluid.

Herpetic

For this form of conjunctivitis, the source of inflammation is the ingestion of the herpes simplex virus on the mucous membrane of the eye. Children are predominantly susceptible to herpetic conjunctivitis, and, as a rule, only one eye is affected.

The disease is characterized by the duration of the course, in almost all cases, the main symptom, in addition to the traditional redness of the eyelids, lacrimation and edema, is a rash on the skin of the eyelids with the formation of herpetic vesicles.

Like adenoviral conjunctivitis, herpetic conjunctivitis can be in catarrhal or follicular form (with the exception of the membranous form), which determines the corresponding course of the disease.

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis

This form of conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and the adult population is affected. Whole groups and families get sick, while keratoconjunctivitis is caused by one of the types of adenovirus.

The transmission of infection is carried out through contact (household items, hands, underwear, etc.). From the moment of infection to the manifestations of the disease, it takes about a week. The transfer of this form of the disease forms lifelong immunity to it.

The first symptoms of conjunctivitis in this form are expressed in the following conditions:

Headache;
Slight weakness;
Sleep disturbances;
Initially, one eye gets sick, then the second;
There are complaints about "clogged" eyes;
Eye discharge;
Lachrymation;
Swelling of the eyelids, redness of the mucous membrane;
The appearance in some cases of easily removable films on the surface of the mucous membrane;
Perhaps an increase in lymph nodes near the ear, in the submandibular region;
In some cases, there is a feeling that vision has deteriorated, which occurs due to the inflammatory process;
The duration of the disease is up to 2 months.

Bacterial

Source: zrenie.online

This form of the disease, as a rule, occurs due to injury to the conjunctiva, nose diseases of one type or another, frostbite, disorders that have a destructive effect on the integrity of the eyelid membranes.

In these cases, there is an active multiplication of bacteria and other microorganisms of a harmful type, the most common of which are staphylococci and streptococci. In some cases, infection can occur with prolonged exposure to dusty conditions.

It is noteworthy that the bacterial form of conjunctivitis differs from others, it is characterized by the following symptoms:

Great swelling of the eyelids, which makes it difficult to open the eyes;
Profuse purulent discharge;
Certain types of bacteria provoke the formation of foamy-type secretions that can stretch slightly;
Possible small hemorrhages in the eyeball area;
In the morning, the eyelids are very sticky;
The eyes are subject to rapid fatigue;
Often the patient experiences a burning sensation and severe itching In eyes;
The defeat can affect one eye, and then the second;
The eyelids and eyeball are reddened.

Allergic

As the cause of this form of conjunctivitis, it is noted, as you might guess, allergic reactions, which are formed in relation to a particular substance (allergen). Often these include household chemicals and cosmetics, food, pollen, medicines, etc.

These include the main, inherently typical manifestations of conjunctivitis:

Severe swelling of the eyelids (lower and upper);
Redness of the eyelids and eyes;
Severe itching;
There may be a strong burning sensation in the eyes;
Soreness when exposed to bright lighting;
The appearance of mucous or purulent discharge.

Chlamydial

Chlamydial conjunctivitis, chlamydia of the eyes or ophthalmochlamydia - all this is the same definition of eye damage by chlamydia. As indicated by research statistics, chlamydial conjunctivitis occurs in about 30% of all cases of conjunctivitis.

Chlamydia of the eyes occurs both among adult men and women, while it can correspond to one of the following possible forms:

Trachoma or paratrachoma;
Basin conjunctivitis;
Chlamydial uveitis (in this case, inflammation is formed in the area of the choroid);
Chlamydial episcleritis (inflammation of episclera is inflammation of the connective tissue located between the sclera and conjunctiva);
Conjunctivitis that occurs simultaneously with Reiter's syndrome;
Chlamydial meibolitis (meibolian glands located in the eyes are inflamed) arising from the transmission of chlamydia from an animal to a host (that is, chlamydia has a zoonotic nature of origin).

Features of chlamydial conjunctivitis

In the overwhelming majority of cases, chlamydia of the eyes is characterized by its asymptomatic course, and its manifestation is determined by the specifics of the accompanying factors (the duration of the infection in the body, the area affected by it, the characteristics of the organism of an individual nature).

Often, chlamydial conjunctivitis becomes a disease concomitant with the main type of chlamydia (that is, genital chlamydia). It should also be noted that conjunctivitis in newborns often occurs precisely in this form, while it is aggravated for them by damage to another type of organs, thereby provoking other forms of severe lesions affecting the respiratory system.

One eye is initially affected, after (about a third of cases) a transition to the second occurs. There is redness of the mucous membrane, slight lacrimation, photophobia is moderate. From 3-5 days in patients, as a rule, there is a disease of the lymph nodes in the area of the auricles from the side of the lesion, and eustachitis can also form.

Diagnostics

Source: medaboutme.ru

Diagnosis of conjunctivitis is carried out by an ophthalmologist based on complaints and clinical manifestations... To clarify the etiology of conjunctivitis, anamnesis data are important: contact with patients, allergens, existing diseases, connection with the change of season, exposure to sunlight, etc. External examination reveals hyperemia and edema of the conjunctiva, injection of the eyeball, the presence of discharge.

To establish the etiology of conjunctivitis, laboratory tests are carried out:

Cytological examination of scraping or smear-imprint.
Bacteriological examination of a smear from the conjunctiva.
Determination of the titer of antibodies (IgA and IgG) to the suspected pathogen in the lacrimal fluid or blood serum, a study for demodex.
With allergic conjunctivitis, they resort to skin-allergic, nasal, conjunctival, sublingual tests.

If conjunctivitis of a specific etiology is detected, it may be necessary to consult an infectious disease specialist, venereologist, phthisiatrician; with an allergic form of the disease - an allergist; with viral - an otolaryngologist.

Of the special ophthalmological methods of examination for conjunctivitis, biomicroscopy of the eye, fluorescein instillation test, etc. are used. Differential diagnosis of conjunctivitis is carried out with episcleritis and scleritis, keratitis, uveitis (iritis, iridocyclitis, choroidocystaliculoma), acute obstructive dysteriocystitis of the eye, acute obstructive blight.

Treatment

Conjunctivitis is a serious disease that requires a qualified approach during treatment. Treatment should be selected depending on the causes of the onset and development of the disease. The treatment of conjunctivitis requires adherence to general principles:

It is necessary to consult a specialist, but if the treatment is started on its own, and the symptoms last more than two days, an appointment with an ophthalmologist is mandatory.
Even if one eye is affected, the medicine must be dripped into both eyes. The healthy eye should be buried first, and then the sick one. It is forbidden to touch a healthy eye with dirty hands.
In the event of the appearance of conjunctivitis in one of the family members, it is strictly forbidden to use common accessories.
Do not put on an eye patch, because this creates a favorable environment for the multiplication of bacteria and microbes, and in this case, the infection can also affect the cornea of the eye.
Before instilling eyes, it is necessary to remove plaque from pus and mucus. It is imperative to flush your eyes with a solution of potassium permanganate or furacilin in a ratio of one to five thousand.

Treatment of viral or bacterial conjunctivitis occurs with the use of interferon, as well as drops and ointments containing antibiotics. Since there is a connection between the weakening of the immune system and the defeat of the conjunctiva by the virus, it is desirable to restore immune system sick.

For this, a course of multivitamins with trace elements, as well as herbal remedies to stimulate the immune system, can be prescribed.

When treating allergic conjunctivitis, it is necessary, first of all, to remove the allergen where the person lives. But this is not always possible, since the cause of the allergy is not always clear. If the manifestations of allergies are small, then artificial tears and cold compresses can be used.

For moderate allergy symptoms, the doctor may prescribe treatment with non-steroidal antihistamines in the form of drops or tablets. Anti-inflammatory steroid drops are used to treat severe allergies.