In the body of every person, even completely healthy, there is staphylococcus, which until a certain time is in a sleeping state. As soon as certain favorable conditions occur, these bacteria are activated and provoke the development of certain diseases. It should be noted that, in the first place, elderly people, as well as preschool children, infants, and those who have greatly reduced immunity, fall into the risk zone. Most often, bacteria develop in the eyes. Staphylococcus on the epidermis in the region of the organs of vision spreads quite quickly. If untreated, staphylococcus can lead to complete loss of vision, and in especially severe cases a fatal outcome is possible.
Disease development
Staphylococcus can be detected not only in adults, but even in newborns. It is proved that a pathogenic bacterium is constantly on the body, and only favorable conditions that provoke an increase in the number of bacteria can provoke a disease of the organs of vision. In the absence of adequate therapy, staphylococcus affects the visual apparatus further, which often leads to damage to the organs of vision.
The development of ocular staphylococcus is affected by the state of the immune system. Pathogens enter the eyes through wounds, damaged mucous membranes of the skin, unwashed hands, as well as bodily contacts. Moreover, the carrier may not always have a staph infection. When pathogens get into the eyes, their active spread and reproduction begins. After some time, bacteria can significantly affect healthy areas of the organs of vision. You can become infected with staphylococcus of this type by sneezing and using common household items.
Causes
The main causes of staphylococcal eye infection:
- non-compliance with basic hygiene rules;
- injuries of the organs of vision;
- chronic endocrine diseases;
- alcohol abuse;
- prolonged use of vasodilator drugs and antibiotics;
- previous viral diseases;
- hypothermia.
Other factors
With an injury or in the eyes of a foreign body, the disease will develop quite rapidly. In some cases, immediate medical attention may be required. With inadequate treatment of staphylococcus in the eyes of the golden and epidermal appearance and the advanced course of this condition, retinal hemorrhage may occur. Staphylococcus is a rather complex organism, characterized by resistance to various irritants. Therefore, the dishonesty of doctors and the use of non-sterile instruments becomes the cause of a possible infection of a person directly in a medical facility.
Disease transmission mechanism
The most common reason for the development of staphylococcus eye is reduced immunity, which can not fight bacteria. In addition, the bacteria that cause this disease are very quickly transmitted by airborne droplets from the patient to a healthy person. Infection often occurs when using a towel, as well as other household items belonging to the patient.
You can catch this eye disease during communication, close contact, and also when sneezing. Staphylococcus eye can develop in a person with any chronic diseases, since in this case immunity is also significantly reduced. Staphylococcus often develops in those who use antibiotics uncontrollably, neglect the rules of personal hygiene or rub their eyes with dirty hands. By the way, any eye injuries, even the slightest, as well as bathing in dirty water, prolonged use of vasoconstrictors, regular exposure to cold and various viral infections can also lead to the development of staphylococcus throughout the entire visual apparatus.
Symptoms
Most often, newborns suffer from staph infections in the eyes. This happens for various reasons. In infants in the eyes, Staphylococcus aureus can occur due to weak immunity, babies can be infected in a medical facility. The carriers of the disease can be parents who do not suspect the presence of infection.
A child may become infected by a mother who has been diagnosed with urinary tract infections during pregnancy. Staphylococcus on human skin can live asymptomatically, manifesting itself only under certain factors. It is important not to miss the first symptoms in order to prevent the spread of infection.
Conjunctivitis is the first sign of disease. Its beginning can be recognized by the following symptoms of staphylococcus in the eyes of a child and an adult:
- conjunctival hyperemia (redness);
- burning or itching;
- increased sensitivity of the eyes to light, often painful;
- swelling;
- in the eyes a sensation of sand;
- after waking up the eyes are "glued" from pus, crusts form.
With the spread to other parts of the eyes of the infection and the inflammatory process, symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and in some cases, fever can occur.
Pathological diseases
The following are diseases that affect the occurrence of this disease:
- Ciliary mite. In this case, the ciliary edge of the eyelids becomes inflamed, causing some discomfort. This disease is 100% quite difficult to cure, but it is possible by reducing the growth rate of your own eyelashes.
- Blepharitis is caused by a special type of staphylococcus, which quickly adapts to different temperatures, strong antiseptics, drying and ultraviolet exposure. Therapy is recommended to be performed at the initial stage, because otherwise blepharitis becomes acute, and the recovery process will be quite lengthy. The patient's vision may deteriorate, which, of course, affects the performance and health.
- Keratitis Corneal inflammation occurs. The cause of keratitis can be trauma. Mostly this pathology manifests itself in the form of an expression of photophobia, opacification, lacrimation, redness, blepharospasm, a decrease in the transparency of the cornea and soreness of the eyes. Keratitis can also be infectious.
- Dacreocystitis The development of inflammation in the lacrimal sac is noted, it occurs due to an increase in the number of staphylococcus, as well as a result of colds. The main symptoms of dacreocystitis are swelling and a feeling of fullness of the lacrimal sac, increased and causeless lacrimation, sharp pains near the inner eye, as well as fever and secretion of pus or fluid when pressed.
- Endophthalmitis. In fact, this is an inflammatory process with the formation of pus, which affects the vitreous body. It is worth noting that this is a rather dangerous pathology, which without quality therapy can lead to complete loss of vision. Endophthalmitis occurs mainly due to eye injury and inflammatory processes, to which staphylococcal infection joins.
To ensure that your eyes are always healthy, you need to monitor their cleanliness and prevent harmful microorganisms from entering them. But even if this disease appears, you should immediately choose the optimal treatment regimen and start therapy.
Diagnostics
Staffilococcal infection is the most common agent that affects the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes. Only an experienced ophthalmologist can identify it and distinguish it in appearance from other types of bacteria.
The diagnostic methods selected for the subsequent treatment of pathology caused by staphillococcal infection are selected by a specialist taking into account the severity of the manifestations:
- General tests - blood, urine, feces are standard for all types of disease. They are necessary to identify the infection inside the body and determine the degree of its effect on the body.
- Bacterial culture - discharge from the eyes, urine. Screening is a prerequisite for the proper selection of bacteriophages and antibiotics.
- A blood test for antibodies is carried out in order to establish the ability of the immune system to resist pathogenic bacteria.
- Specialized ophthalmological studies - the degree of visual function impairment, the area of damage to the vascular wall, the depth of infection penetration inside (behind the eyeball along the nerve fiber and mucous membranes, muscles) are revealed.
Treatment
Staphylococcus susceptible to people of all ages. Very often, it occurs in newborns due to weak immunity. The causative agent of this disease is able to quickly spread over the entire perimeter of the visual apparatus in a short time, therefore, at the first signs, it is necessary to choose the right treatment as soon as possible. Bacteria can cause permanent damage to the eyes without medical attention.
The first symptom of epidermal staphylococcus of the eyes in an infant, child or adult may be conjunctivitis, which leads to swelling of the eyelids, burning, purulent discharge, lacrimation and photophobia. Without surgical treatment, the disease progresses very quickly. Symptoms such as weakness, headache, and fatigue appear. Body temperature may rise slightly.
Staphylococcus aureus can be cured with local medicines for eye infections and general restorative therapy. During illness, to reduce pain, it is necessary to use glasses with dark glasses, which are able to protect the mucosa from wind and dust. Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to antibiotics, therefore, they are prescribed only when the infection provoked the development of concomitant diseases.
Antibacterial
It is necessary to begin treatment of staphylococcus in the eyes with the use of drops and ointments, which have antibacterial agents of a wide spectrum of action in the composition:
- chloramphenicol ointments and drops are an effective tool to combat staphylococcus;
- tetracycline ointment is used for infectious inflammation of the eye;
- drops and ointments with the addition of fluoroquinols quickly remove the symptoms of the disease, and are also used in the prevention of eye infections.
From inflammation
In order to quickly cure and remove the inflammation that occurs due to the spread of staphylococcus, the following drugs must be used:
- Drops "Albucid";
- furatsilinovy solution;
- potassium permanganate.
Folk methods
The medications prescribed by your doctor are recommended to be combined with eye washings, which can be done up to six times a day. For eye baths, you can use herbs that can withstand the microbe. This includes chamomile, calendula and hypericum. You can use tea leaves. During eye rinsing, the hands should be clean and the cotton swabs used for the procedure sterile.
Prevention
There are not so many precautionary measures against the introduction of pathogenic flora, and it is easy to get used to them. First of all, you must observe your own hygiene:
- avoid repeated use of disposable napkins;
- have a separate clean towel for each family member;
- wash your hands regularly and touch their eyes as little as possible.
In addition, contact lens hygiene should be observed. They must change in accordance with the instructions: every day, every month or once a quarter. Before putting on and removing it is necessary to thoroughly wash hands with soap and wipe dry with a clean towel. The lenses themselves should be washed and stored in a sterile solution, which should be replaced after each contact with fingers or debris, dirt.