A cataract is called a disorder in which there is clouding of the lens of the eye and caused them various vision problems. The lens - a transparent structure located behind the pupil, through which light falls on the retina. Most often develop cataracts in the elderly as a result of the aging process, but sometimes there is a cataract in children and infants.

There are two types of cataracts in children:

• Congenital cataracts Cataracts - how to solve the problem completely?   children present from birth, or its symptoms occur soon after birth;
• Acquired cataracts children - manifests itself in a few months or years after birth.

Cataracts in young patients - a rare phenomenon: it is observed, on average, three or four children of ten thousand.

To prevent the development of cataracts, especially congenital, almost impossible. However, if a woman during pregnancy should be carefully doctor's advice on the prevention of infectious diseases (including, if necessary, making vaccination), the risk of developing cataracts in the future baby can be greatly reduced. For women who already have children with a diagnosis of "cataract", and who are planning to get pregnant again, you should talk to your doctor - maybe they will be advised to undergo the procedure of genetic counseling, which allows couples to assess the risk of genetic diseases in their future offspring.

Symptoms of cataracts in children

Symptoms depend on how pomutnen the lens, where it is the area of ​​turbidity, and amazed if one or both eyes.

When the child is very small, to identify the signs of cataracts alone can be difficult. However, the newborn's eyes are examined a few days after birth, and again - after six to eight weeks. If at this time the symptoms of cataract Symptoms of cataracts - listen to your body   already exist, they are found, but sometimes they appear later.

In cataract in a child can indicate the following features:

• Poor vision - you may notice that the child does not recognize objects, and less active than the other kids, watching the eyes of the people around them;
• Rapid uncontrolled eye movements;
• White or gray pupil or both pupils - this could also a sign of other serious diseases, and this should be reported immediately to the doctor.

In addition, some children with cataract, is especially difficult to see in bright light.

At the slightest suspicion that your child has vision problems, consult a doctor.

Causes of cataracts in children

Cataracts in children can be caused by many factors, although in some cases to establish the cause is not possible.

Genetic factors. In many cases, cataracts in the newborn is the result of various disorders in the genes, which he received from his parents, and because of which one or both of the lens of the eye began to develop properly. It is estimated that every fifth child in cataract patients have a family history of congenital cataracts. In addition, the cataract can be associated with chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down's syndrome.

Infectious diseases during pregnancy. The following infections transferred by a pregnant woman can lead to congenital cataracts Congenital cataracts - the problem of childhood   her child:

• Rubella - a viral infection in which the skin appears pinkish-red rash;
• Toxoplasmosis - parasitic infection, pathogens are transmitted through food, water or soil, which were infected cat feces;
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - a common viral infection that usually causes mild symptoms, but sometimes can lead to serious consequences;
• Chickenpox - a relatively harmless but highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus;
• Herpes simplex virus Herpes simplex - in fact, not so simple   - The type of virus which causes the common cold and, in some cases, other diseases.

Causes of acquired cataracts in children may include:

• Galactosemia - a disorder in which the body of the child is not cleaved galactose;
• Eye damage - for example, as a result of injury or surgical operation on the eye;
• Toxocariasis - a rare parasitic infection, which sometimes affects the eyes. Her pathogens transmitted from animals to humans through infected feces.

Diagnostics

It is important to cataract in a child has been identified as soon as possible, as it can significantly reduce the risk of serious vision problems.

In many cases, children's cataracts detected in the surveys, which are conducted in the first days and months of life. The doctor points out how to move the baby's eyes (in particular, whether they are moving objects), and how they look. If the eye looks blurred, it may be a sign of cataracts. Children also check the eyesight surveys in kindergartens and schools. However, if you think a child has become less visible, do not wait for a planned survey, and immediately go to the doctor.

If you suspect a cataract child should be sent as soon as possible to an ophthalmologist .  Before you start a survey, the doctor puts on the mucous membrane of the eye special drops that extend pupils .  They do not cause the child discomfort, and the effect lasts for hours .  Then the doctor will examine the baby's eyes using an ophthalmoscope - a special tool with lighting and a magnifying glass that allows a good view of the internal structure of the eye .  A cataract is diagnosed if the doctor finds cataract eye, or if your child is absent or weakly expressed in the so-called red reflex from the fundus .  Red reflex resembles red-eye effect in the pictures - it is a reflection of light from the deep structures of the eye .  If the survey reflex is detected, or if it is very weak, it may indicate that the lens of the eye pomutnen .

Mycoplasma can cause illness in children. Basically mycoplasmosis in children occurs in the form of destruction of the respiratory and nervous system. There are other organs and lesions. These diseases are usually slow prolonged duration.

What types of mycoplasma to cause disease in children

There are many species of mycoplasmas, but mostly mycoplasmosis in children is caused by species, which was named Mycoplasma pneumonia. This pathogen is transmitted by airborne droplets. You can also send it from mother to child during childbirth.

Once in the blood, Mycoplasma is the most significant changes in the respiratory tract. Particularly severe disease develops in the newly-born children. In children, the older (8-10 years of age) are more common form of the disease erased. Children of secondary school age, as well as very small Delhi, seriously ill.

Sometimes respiratory mycoplasmosis in children combined with the defeat of those bodies by other respiratory viruses, including influenza virus. Such combinations often lead to pneumonia.

How is respiratory mycoplasmosis in children

The incubation period in children mycoplasma lasts one - two weeks, but can be as shorter or longer (up to five weeks). In most cases the process takes place in the form of acute respiratory disease. The process may involve as bronchi and lungs with the development of mycoplasma pneumonia Mycoplasma pneumonia - respiratory pathogens .

In children of different ages mycoplasmosis may proceed differently. For preschoolers and primary school children mycoplasmosis flows often easy. It begins slowly with nasal congestion, dry cough, and a small rise in temperature. Sometimes complicated by the addition of otitis purulent character. As a rule, after two weeks recovery occurs.

Heavier mycoplasmosis occurs in children of secondary school age. The disease begins acutely, with a rise in temperature to 38-40˚S and lasts up to three to five days. The child grows toxicosis, there is lethargy, anxiety, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, pain in bones and joints, sometimes paroxysmal abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms .

Catarrhal symptoms of the upper respiratory tract (cough, runny nose, sore throat) last at least two weeks. The cough is often paroxysmal (pertussislike) character. In severe disease often appears in cyanosis nasolabial triangle and fingertips. Sometimes the skin appears maculopapular rash, which disappears after about three days. Rash can occur in mucous membranes, such as in hard and soft palate. Join catarrhal conjunctivitis and otitis Catarrhal otitis media - the spread of infection .

When pneumonia often affects the lower parts of the right and the left lung with a primary location of inflammatory foci in the right lung. This almost always suffers from the cardiovascular system of the child: there is palpitation.

On radiographs for pneumonia can see small and large pockets of infiltration, sometimes there are areas of atelectasis (wears off) lung tissue. Signs of inflammation present in the blood (increased leukocyte count, increased ESR).

Status of children with mycoplasmosis gradually improved during the week, but then a long period of time can hold a slight fever, cough, and nasal congestion. The total duration of the disease about two weeks. If you joined pneumonia, the child is ill for about a month.

Other mycoplasma children

Mycoplasmosis can lead to the defeat of the nervous system in children. Develop meningitis, meningoeetsefality, polyneuritis. The combination of mycoplasma infection with some respiratory virus may have some special characteristics. For example, the combination of adenovirus infection mycoplasma and impedes the development of asthmatic syndrome, characteristic of the latter. But the mixed infections are usually harder than normal mycoplasmosis.

Diagnosis and treatment

The causative agent of the disease can be detected in the sputum of the child by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - revealed the genome of the microorganism. Furthermore, enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) can detect the presence of antibodies in the blood.

Treatment of mild forms of the disease is carried out as a treatment for ordinary acute respiratory viral infection - the appointment of a hearty drink, antihistamines, expectorants, vasoconstrictor nose drops Vasoconstrictor nose drops - use with caution! .

In severe mycoplasma appointed antibiotics, which are sensitive mycoplasma - tetracycline and macrolides. Children in particular often appointed azithromycin (sumamed).

Galina Romanenko