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Conjunctivitis: a careful cleaning to do
In the event of traumatic conjunctivitis, the doctor will simply clean the eye carefully, remove the foreign body if necessary and prescribe antiseptic eye drops to avoid any risk of infection.
An antihistamine
The allergic conjunctiva is certainly the most difficult to treat. At the time of the crisis, the doctor will prescribe antihistamine drops to your child for ten days or so. If the inflammation is particularly severe, he may also need to give him corticosteroid eye drops. Finally, if the ENT sphere is affected, he will certainly prescribe an oral antihistamine. Subsequently, to avoid recurrence, it will be necessary to flee the responsible allergen. And this is the whole difficulty! The allergist may have to perform painless skin tests to identify the culprit (s) and consider possible desensitization.
What is it ?
Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory reaction of the conjunctiva, this thin protective membrane that covers the eye and the inside of the eyelids. When it is attacked by a virus, bacteria, allergen or even a foreign body such as dust, it turns red. Then quickly occurs a very annoying feeling of sand in the eyes and tearing appears. Sometimes the secretions turn yellowish and are so large that the eyelids stick together when you wake up.
4 types of conjunctivitis
Microbial conjunctivitis. Often associated with an episode of nasopharyngitis, microbial conjunctivitis is easily recognizable because the infection causes large purulent secretions that go as far as sticking baby’s eyelids when they wake up. It also happens that a small ball of pus forms at the inner corner of his eyelid. Several germs (streptococcus, staphylococcus?) Can be at the origin of this infection which generally affects both eyes, the child contaminating his second eye by bringing his hands to his face.
The viral conjunctiva. Particularly contagious, it usually affects both eyes and is characterized by very marked tearing and photophobia (the light hurts his eyes). It is not uncommon for it to appear against a background of pharyngitis, chickenpox or measles.
Traumatic conjunctivitis. Midge, grains of sand, dust can get into the eye and cause significant inflammation.
The allergic conjunctiva. If her symptoms are similar to those of traumatic conjunctivitis, the child constantly rubbing his eyes as if he wanted to make sand from them, she returns at regular intervals and touches both eyes. And above all, it is usually accompanied by other signs such as rhinitis, asthma or eczema.
Antibiotic eye drops
Antibiotic eye drops. The doctor will prescribe it for you in case of microbial conjunctivitis. Stick to the duration of its prescription, usually a week, even if the symptoms disappear quickly. Otherwise the infection may recur. Never use eye drops on your own that have been prescribed for another episode of conjunctivitis. Not only do these products, once opened, not keep for more than 15 days, but above all, each antibiotic eye drops are adapted to a specific type of bacteria.
Drops regularly
If a virus is the cause of conjunctivitis, just like a cold, there is no specific treatment. Only regular instillation of antiseptic drops is indicated to relieve the child and avoid superinfection. Healing usually occurs in 3 to 4 weeks. The risk of contagion is high, for you as well as for his brothers and sisters or his little comrades. Wash your hands well after each treatment, ask him to do the same and prevent him from rubbing his eyes as much as possible.