Ophthalmologists know that this serious disease is quite widespread among adult patients and children. The treatment of purulent conjunctivitis should be carried out by an experienced specialist, so self-medication, the advice of "knowledgeable" neighbors and friends in this case are unacceptable. The disease can be of several varieties, and therefore the effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the correct diagnosis.
Purulent conjunctivitis is a lesion of the mucous membrane of the eye that is caused by pathogenic bacteria. The main symptom of this disease is the release of exudate (purulent contents) from the affected eyes. In addition, the patient, as a rule, feels a strong burning sensation and irritation of the eyeball. It should be said that with a timely visit to a specialist, treatment is carried out quite quickly and effectively, but provided that the patient strictly observes the doctor's recommendations.
Causes of the disease
Microbes that get on the mucous membrane of the eye are the main cause of the development of the disease. It often develops when the eyes rub with your hands, when a speck that was previously infected with bacteria gets on the mucous membrane. More often, the infection affects both eyes at the same time, but it happens that the time difference between the manifestations of clinical signs can be 2-3 days.
As a rule, the treatment of purulent conjunctivitis of the eyes in adults (and children) depends on what caused the ailment:
- gram-negative sticks - Proteus, Klebsiella, diphtheria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli;
- coccal flora - streptococcus, staphylococcus, gonococcus.
The development and treatment of purulent conjunctivitis in adults can be complicated by the presence of increased activity in the body of chlamydia, as well as pathogens of gonorrhea. In this case, not only contact with an infected person is sufficient, but also the use of his hygiene items, which retain pathogenic microflora.
Symptoms of the disease can occur two to three days after suffering a sore throat, which causes streptococcus, scarlet fever and other infectious diseases. As a rule, infection occurs by contact from an infected person or animal. Unfortunately, pets are also infected.
A large (and in some cases a decisive) role in the development of the disease is played by lowered immunity. In violation of sanitary standards, an infection can develop in the hospital, which is quite resistant to most antiseptics.
Allergic conjunctivitis
We can not say about the existence of allergic purulent conjunctivitis of the eyes. Its treatment has its own characteristics, which is associated with slightly different manifestations of the disease. Usually this is a strong irritation of the eyeballs and eyelids, which is manifested by their redness, itching. Purulent discharge is either absent or in small quantities. Household dust, plant pollen, food, animal hair, chemical irritants - all this can trigger the development of purulent conjunctivitis. Treatment in this case is primarily aimed at limiting the patient’s contact with the allergen. In addition, the use of antihistamines and anti-allergic drops (Olopatadine, Cromohexal, Dexamethasone, Allergodil) is recommended.
Classification
Depending on the microorganism that caused the disease, purulent conjunctivitis is divided into:
- gonococcal;
- streptococcal or staphylococcal;
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Gonococcal conjunctivitis
This is a fairly rare form of the disease. It develops in a newborn on the second day after childbirth. The cause of the disease is the infection of the mother with gonorrhea. This form is rare because pregnant women are usually examined and treated long before delivery. It usually occurs in antisocial families, where a woman does not register at the antenatal clinic, and is not observed during gestation.
The danger of this type of disease is the defeat of the cornea. The lack of treatment for purulent conjunctivitis in newborns and adults can lead to complete blindness. After treatment, scars remain on the conjunctiva.
Staphylococcal (streptococcal) conjunctivitis
Infection occurs by contact with an infected person during a handshake, the use of general personal hygiene products. The disease develops rapidly. Her acute period lasts approximately 12 days. In the absence of competent treatment, the disease becomes chronic: the exudate becomes serous and rather scarce. The symptoms of the disease are erased somewhat, it is more difficult to treat.
Pseudomonas conjunctivitis
This disease can develop as a result of microtraumas, with improper use of contact lenses, it also causes dust in the eyes. More often this disease develops in one eye, rarely capturing the second eye. This type of disease is characterized by the rapid development of clinical signs. Initially, lacrimation, photophobia are noted. After a day or two, purulent discharge appears. This leads to the formation of corneal erosion (superficial), through which the infection rushes inward. The disease can be complicated by keratitis - inflammation of the cornea. Scars form on the site of ulcers and erosion, which subsequently reduce visual acuity.
Symptoms of purulent conjunctivitis
The main signs of the disease include:
- swelling of the eyelids;
- photophobia;
- itching, burning, foreign body sensation;
- conjunctival hyperemia and eyelids;
- lacrimation
- mucopurulent discharge of a yellowish color, which glues the eyelashes and can make it difficult to open the eyes;
- weakness, fever (especially often in children), malaise.
The severity of symptoms depends on the type of microorganism that caused the disease. In some cases, not all symptoms appear, but only some of them. For example, exudate may not appear at all or stand out in huge quantities: a person in the morning can not open his eyes until he removes purulent discharge with the help of medications. Most often, the disease affects both eyes with a time difference from several hours to two days.
Which specialist should I contact for signs of illness?
Treatment of purulent conjunctivitis of the eyes in children and adults is carried out by an ophthalmologist. If for some reason there is no such specialist in your clinic, adult patients should consult a therapist and show the child to a pediatrician.
Diagnostics
An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor on the basis of a visual examination, identifying the main symptoms of the disease. In order to identify the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics, additional laboratory studies of eye discharge will be required.
Purulent conjunctivitis: treatment
We have already said, but we will repeat once again that the treatment of the disease must be started immediately after the diagnosis is established so that it does not go into a chronic form with irreversible complications. As a rule, an experienced ophthalmologist selects local treatment for the treatment of purulent conjunctivitis. Only in severe, advanced forms of infection with complications in the form of keratitis, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
Several times a day, the eyes are washed with antibacterial solutions (Rivanol, Levomycetin), antiseptics (pale pink solution of potassium permanganate). In the treatment of purulent conjunctivitis in children and adults during the day, it is necessary to instill antibacterial drops (Ciprolet, Tobrex, Cipromed, Okomistin, Phloxal).
In complex treatment, you can also use folk remedies (in agreement with the attending physician), namely washing eyes with decoctions of herbs: sage, chamomile, St. John's wort, yarrow, coltsfoot, freshly brewed tea. Over the eyelids before going to bed, eye ointments based on antibiotics (Erythromycinum, Phloxal, Tetracycline) are laid. The duration of treatment of purulent conjunctivitis of the eyes in adults and children is determined by the doctor. With independent cancellation of therapy, a relapse of the disease, the appearance of complications are quite likely.
Treatment regimen (for adults)
Treatment of purulent conjunctivitis should be phased. Immediately after sleep, the eyes are washed from purulent crusts. To do this, moisten a cotton ball or disk with a weak solution of manganese and wipe the eyelids and eyelashes. Then conjunctival sacs are washed with a syringe without a needle. This must be done in the morning, but if necessary, this procedure is repeated several times during the day.
Treatment continues with antibacterial eye drops. The doctor selects them taking into account the sensitivity to their composition of microflora, which caused the disease. The therapeutic effect will be achieved if one drop is dripped into each eye, since only a drop fits into the conjunctival sac of an adult and a child. The rest of the medicine just spills out. In the period of exacerbation of the disease, the eyes are instilled every hour. This will achieve the maximum therapeutic effect. The fact is that profuse lacrimation leaches the medicinal substance from the eye, not allowing it to act on the infection. Do not be afraid of an overdose of drugs. Eye drops, as a rule, have an exclusively local effect.
With an increase in purulent discharge, the eyes are washed again. At night, lay an ointment with an antibiotic over the eyelids. When the acute manifestations of the disease are reduced, the frequency of instillation is reduced to 6 times a day. Treatment continues until the signs of the disease completely disappear and another 3-5 days. This is necessary to prevent the transition of the disease from acute to chronic.
Conjunctivitis in children
Unfortunately, this disease occurs much more often in children than in adults. The famous pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky often speaks about this in his programs. Treatment of purulent conjunctivitis in children, in his opinion, rejects any self-medication, especially if the disease is detected in a newborn or a child up to a year.
The baby should be urgently shown to the doctor even if the treatment does not lead to an improvement in the condition of the baby's eyes within two days. In addition, it is necessary to call a doctor at home with photophobia, even if (according to parents) redness of the eyeball seems insignificant. With this symptom, the child squints, squints at the bright light, can rub his eyes. If a child is disturbed by a decrease in visual clarity, cutting pain in the eyes, an urgent need to call a doctor, Komarovsky believes. Emergency help will require the appearance of watery vesicles on the upper eyelid.
The causes of the appearance of this disease in children are the same: contact with eyes of infections and bacteria. If there are animals in the house, then it is they who can become carriers of the disease, and if adult members of the family who have stronger immunity can not accept the disease, then in children the purulent conjunctivitis will appear several times during the year.
Baby treatment
Wake up the baby in the morning, clean the eyes with a cotton swab dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and for each eye requires a separate swab. Carefully open the eyelid and moisten with the same solution, moving the exudate to the inner corner, conjunctiva. Some parents find this easier to do with a rubber bulb or syringe without a needle.
For the treatment of purulent conjunctivitis in children, drops are used necessarily. In each eye, carefully moving the lower eyelid, add a drop of “Levomycetin”. Even if at the moment only one eye is affected, the second must be treated without fail. This procedure is repeated every hour and a half. With a rare instillation (up to five times a day), microbes get used to the antibiotic contained in the drops, which is fraught with the transition of the disease into a chronic form.
If the separation of pus continues, the treatment with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate must be repeated another 2-3 times. Before going to bed, the baby is filled with Tetracycline ointment (as prescribed by a doctor) in conjunctival sacs.
Prevention
To prevent the development of this serious disease, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of hygiene:
- do not use other people's hygiene items;
- Do not rub your eyes with your hands;
- wipe them only with sterile disposable handkerchiefs;
- correctly use and process contact lenses;
- in bright sunshine do not give up sunglasses.
In maternity hospitals to prevent conjunctivitis in newborns carry out special preventive measures.