Allergic conjunctivitis may develop after direct contact with the allergen eye tissues, and may be due to ingestion of food or medicines that cause allergies. In addition, there is an infectious-allergic form of conjunctivitis that develops, usually in young children in the background of primary tuberculosis.

Causes allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis - a disease associated with an excessive response of the immune system to normally harmless substance for him. Substances that cause such reactions are called allergens. The most common allergic conjunctivitis develops in direct contact with allergens eye tissue, that is, is in the nature of the contact conjunctivitis. To contact conjunctivitis and hay fever is caused by pollen and manifests itself in the form of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

Nevertheless, allergic conjunctivitis can also develop in response to receipt of various foods or drugs, which act as allergens.

There is infectious-allergic conjunctivitis, when allergic process develops in response to the introduction into the body any infection. A typical allergic conjunctivitis infectious keratoconjunctivitis is phlyctenular that develops in children under three years amid sensitization (sensitization) of the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis

Symptoms depend on the cause that provoked it. Thus, when seasonal hay fever allergic conjunctivitis appears in the period of seasonal flowering plants and manifests itching, burning, cutting in the eyes, excessive tearing, photophobia. The eyelids of the patient's swollen, the conjunctiva is also swollen and reddened. It affects both eyes at the same time, the phenomenon of conjunctivitis accompanied by allergic rhinitis, allergic process increases until until interrupted by contact with an allergen.

Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis may develop after ingestion of the allergen inside. Allergic process usually develops after 6-24 hours after ingestion of sensitizing product. Often there is an allergy to the reception of strawberries, nuts, eggs, citrus fruits. In most cases, this conjunctivitis occurs in people predisposed to allergies and runs in families. For allergic conjunctivitis in children often develop on the background of atopic (congenital) dermatitis.

Fliktunulezny keratoconjunctivitis as infectious and allergic process in response to the development of primary TB in children Tuberculosis in children - Actual problems of modern   It meets today quite rare. At the same toxins or breakdown products of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the source of primary tuberculosis Primary tuberculosis - a negative contact with mycobacteria   spread and fixed on the conjunctiva. In this case, the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in infants manifested as redness, swelling of the conjunctiva, appearance limbus (the junction of the sclera with the cornea) one or more yellowish-grayish rounded nodules surrounded vasodilation. The process often involves the cornea, which develops superficial keratitis. Keratoconjunctivitis is often accompanied by eczematous skin changes at the wings of the nose and the corners of the mouth.

Any type of allergic conjunctivitis can be complicated by the addition of a bacterial infection, and the process can take a purulent character. Allergic conjunctivitis in a child can acquire bacterial membranous character, and this is a direct threat to vision.

Diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis

The diagnosis is set based on questioning and examination of the patient and confirm the data of laboratory inspection. Thus, in allergic conjunctivitis in a patient's blood is detected an increased amount of one of the types of leukocytes - eosinophils. A large number of eosinophils is found in the scrapings from the conjunctiva and eyelid of the patient. Immunological studies revealed a high content of blood immunoglobulin E (IgE). In addition, an allergist can perform specific tests for allergies.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

First of all, in allergic conjunctivitis are trying to avoid contact of the body to the allergen that caused the disease. Appointed as hypoallergenic diet Hypoallergenic diet - the salvation for the stomach Excluding food, often causing sensitization is eggs, strawberries, citrus, nuts, sweets, pastries, and so on.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis in adults begins with prescribing drugs that suppress allergic reactions. For this purpose, appoint antihistamines from allergic conjunctivitis general (systemic) and local action. Systemic antihistamines are modern drugs such as Claritin Claritin - histamine receptor blocker , Erius and others. Local eye drops are prescribed by allergic conjunctivitis as Allergodil, Gistimet, opatanol and so on. Assign as eye drops on the basis of sodium cromoglycate (kromogeksal) possessing anti-allergic effect.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis in children follows the same principle. Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis folk remedies today is not viewed by most experts as used in this herbal preparations are composed of biologically active substances that can enhance allergic reactions.

Galina Romanenko

Conjunctivitis - is redness and swelling of the mucous membranes of the eyes, and the surface of the eyelids. The mucous membrane of the eye called the conjunctiva, hence the name of the disease Conjunctivitis - a very common problem. As a rule, it is easy to spread, especially among children in kindergartens and schools.

And as conjunctivitis often spreads through the hands, it is important to wash them thoroughly. If you share a cloth towel or personal items with someone who has conjunctivitis, it is possible to "pick up" the infection itself.

Causes of conjunctivitis

The agents of conjunctivitis may be bacteria, viruses, fungal organisms, allergens as well as substances and items causing the irritation.

Factors that increase the likelihood of infection (bacterial or viral) conjunctivitis:

• Children or elderly age. Children are probably more susceptible to this disease because the school or kindergarten, they are more likely than adults to come into contact with sick people. Older people are more vulnerable to eye infection does weaken the immune system, which often is a result of the natural aging process;
• Transferred recent infection respiratory infection such as a cold;
• Diabetes or other conditions that can weaken the immune system;
• Corticosteroids, especially for a long time. Preparations of this type can also lead to weakening of the immune defense;
• Bacterial blepharitis, inflammation of the eyelids, or - in some cases the bacteria caused the disease can spread to the conjunctiva.

The reasons for the development of giant papillary conjunctivitis usually the contact lenses and, in rare cases, surgery on the eyes (or rather - the thread used for sutures), as well as artificial lenses.

Conjunctivitis contact components may be caused by household chemicals, shampoo, chlorinated water, smoke and so forth.

The exact causes of allergic conjunctivitis Allergic conjunctivitis - and for different reasons As well as other types of allergies are unknown. Triggers of allergic reactions are very diverse; it may be, e.g., pollen, dust mites, animal dander, cigarette smoke, food, and so on.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Redness
• Itching or burning in the eyes
• Tearing. The eyes may produce a transparent or white shade thickish liquid.
• From the eye stands out gray or yellow pus. A common symptom of conjunctivitis - is when you wake up with a sticky dried pus from eyelids.
• Increased sensitivity to light.

These symptoms can only be in one eye or both eyes of a "migrate" into the second. When viral conjunctivitis symptoms usually occur in one eye, and can then appear in the other.

If you suspect that you have conjunctivitis, contact your doctor so that he has appointed an effective treatment.

In this case, access to a doctor is a must. In young children, the symptoms of conjunctivitis may indicate an ear infection, so as soon as possible to see a doctor.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis the doctor examines the eye and asks about symptoms. Sometimes, with a cotton swab How to use sanitary pad - basic precautions   it collects stand-ocular fluid for analysis on the presence of bacteria or other infections.

First aid for conjunctivitis

Because conjunctivitis rarely causes very severe symptoms, emergency first aid at this disease is not required. If signs of an eye infection is recommended only remove contact lenses if you wear them regularly to make cold compresses to the eye, and as the need to take painkillers. If the patient's condition worsens, or if for 5-6 days does not appear any signs of improvement, consult your doctor.

Contagious conjunctivitis

The causative agents of bacterial or viral conjunctivitis Viral conjunctivitis - the incidence increases   can be transmitted from person to person, but they do not always lead to the development of eye infections infected. For example, adenoviruses are easily transmitted by airborne droplets, but in most cases cause respiratory infections, but not conjunctivitis.

Chlamydia usually infects only the genitals, and in order that it led to the development of conjunctivitis, must match a number of factors - in particular, the bacteria need to get on the conjunctiva, and the patient must be somewhat weakened immune defenses.

How dangerous conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis rarely causes any complications - especially in adult healthy people. Serious consequences of conjunctivitis are most often found in patients with weakened immune systems and in infants who were born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation). The most severe of the possible consequences of conjunctivitis:

• Meningitis;
• Cellulitis (infection of the deeper layers of the skin);
• Sepsis;
• Pneumonia.
• Other possible complications of conjunctivitis:
• Otitis media;
• Severe photophobia;
• Ulceration of the cornea.

Preventing conjunctivitis

Measures for the prevention of infectious conjunctivitis:

• Wash your hands often with warm water and soap. If there is no soap, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol;
• Try as sparingly as possible touching your eyes;
• Several times a day, clean the eyelids and eyelashes from the secretions accumulated there (this will reduce the chance of infection of others);
• Wash your hands before and after using the eye drops or ointment to the eye;
• Do not use the same applicator for instillation drug in infected and healthy eyes;
• Do not use objects used by patients with infectious conjunctivitis Infective conjunctivitis - options Origin For example, his glasses, eye drops, pillows, cosmetics, and so on;
• Throw away cosmetics for the face (not only for the eyes!) And contact lenses that you have used before infection conjunctivitis;
• Thoroughly clean the glasses that you wear while ill conjunctivitis, as well as their enclosures;
• After recovery, wash all bedding in hot water;
• If your child is sick infectious conjunctivitis, do not let him go to school as long as he does not recover completely.