Types of Conjunctivitis

Depending on the cause of the disease can be bacterial conjunctivitis (caused by bacteria), viral, chlamydial, fungal, allergic.

Adrift conjunctivitis are divided into acute, subacute and chronic. Acute conjunctivitis begin suddenly with cramps or pain in the eyes and takes 5 to 20 days. Subacute conjunctivitis begins not so sharply. Chronic conjunctivitis develops gradually, is characterized by persistent and prolonged course.

• Acute bacterial conjunctivitis

In this disease, the conjunctiva reddened and swollen, there is severe photophobia, lacrimation. The children in this form of conjunctivitis in the surface layers of the cornea appear places inflammatory seal, the disease becomes filmy character - appears mucopurulent film is easily removed with a cotton swab How to use sanitary pad - basic precautions . The groups of children infected children from each other. The incubation period (time from infection to the introduction of the first signs of the disease) is usually 1-2 days.

• Viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is most often caused by adenoviruses. But there may be herpes, measles, and other types of conjunctivitis. The symptoms of conjunctivitis appear, or simultaneously with the defeat of the upper respiratory tract, or a little earlier. The incubation period - 4-8 days. Home Island: tearing, redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, sometimes it appear petechial hemorrhages. Selections minor mucous. Initially, one eye is affected, and in 1-3 days - second. The process may be involved the cornea - the transparent outer shell on the front surface of the eye, and shows the small seal inflammatory cornea slightly cloudy. This corneal opacity keeps for a long time.

May appear multiple hemorrhages in the conjunctiva (for hemorrhagic). These hemorrhages dissolve at different times depending on the value of: point - 3-6 days, extensive - 2-3 weeks.

• Fungal conjunctivitis

Fungal conjunctivitis caused by various types of fungi (actinomycetes, molds, yeast, and others.) That enter the eye from the soil, are passed through vegetables, fruits, and also from human and animal patient. Features manifestations of the disease depend on the type of fungus. In order to determine exactly what caused conjunctivitis should see a doctor.

• Allergic conjunctivitis

Depending on whether it is a substance (allergen) triggered disease will vary and its manifestations. Allergic conjunctivitis usually observed in individuals with hypersensitivity to various substances, and are prone to other manifestations of allergy. For allergic conjunctivitis characterized by marked lacrimation, photophobia, burning and itchy eyes, a runny nose with a combination of conjunctivitis.

Medicinal conjunctivitis is very common and usually develops within six hours after taking the medication: swelling rapidly growing Prevention and treatment of edema - it is important to understand the root cause   conjunctiva, itching, a burning sensation in the eyes, copious mucous discharge. In some cases (after a prolonged topical medications) occur subacute (an average of 4 months), conjunctivitis, which decays slowly after discontinuation of the drug.

• Chronic conjunctivitis

Chronic conjunctivitis develops gradually, is characterized by persistent and duration: the feeling of a foreign body in the eye, redness of the conjunctiva, its surface is uneven velvety appearance.

A special form of allergic conjunctivitis is a spring katar- chronic, acute in the spring and summer inflammatory disease of the conjunctiva, which occurs in the leading role played by an increased sensitivity to the ultraviolet part of the spectrum of sunlight.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Bacterial or bactericidal conjunctivitis - is, as the name implies, an eye infection caused by bacteria. Three of the most common causative agent of this type of conjunctivitis - Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus.

How does conjunctivitis depends on the particular pathogen, but in most cases, patients experience the following symptoms:

• Redness of the whites of the eyes;
• Burning and feeling of sand in the eyes;
• Pain - usually slight or moderate;
• Thick, sticky discharge from the eyes. Because of the backlog on the eyelids and eyelashes discharge patients is often difficult to open my eyes in the morning;
• A slight increase in sensitivity to light. Severe photophobia usually observed only in severe forms of adenoviral conjunctivitis, as well as infection of the cornea.

Fever during this type of conjunctivitis is rare - it is more typical for viral (particularly - adenovirus) conjunctivitis.

Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

Typically, patients with bacterial conjunctivitis ill Bacterial conjunctivitis - respond well to treatment , It is enough to home treatment. However, if the infection is severe and / or its symptoms persist for more than two weeks, the patient may require treatment with antibiotics. Most often in such cases, use eye drops with chloramphenicol or fusidic acid.

The course of treatment lasts for seven days, and during that time the vast majority of patients have symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis disappear completely. As a rule, the only side effects of antibiotic eye drops are a tingling or burning sensation in the eyes. If you notice after applying the eye drops strong burning sensation, blurred vision, eye redness and other distressing symptoms, as soon as possible inform your doctor.

Herpetic conjunctivitis

Among the herpesvirus eye infections often causes herpes virus type 1 - the same, because of which there is a so-called cold lips. Herpes virus type 2, the causative agent of genital herpes rarely causes infections of the eye.

The exact number is difficult to establish media herpes, but it is known that he was a child becomes infected with a huge number of people. Every once in a human body, the virus stays there for life, although most of the time it is inactive, and for some people it never activated. Sometimes, however, herpes can cause not only familiar to many a cold on the lips, and eye infection. The virus usually affects not only the conjunctiva and cornea, and in some cases, and eyelids. The vast majority of superficial infection, but sometimes there is an infection of deep structures of the eye such as the retina.

At 1-2 two people in 1000 at least once in life develops herpetic conjunctivitis. Most often the first signs of infection occur in people aged 30 to 40 years, and many of them had previously been episodes of herpes sores on the lips. Herpes conjunctivitis is slightly more common among average people who wear contact lenses. The symptoms of conjunctivitis such are usually red eyes, eye pain, photophobia, liquid, watery discharge Watery discharge: Signs rules and conditions   eyes and a slight decrease in visual acuity. Often, patients appear herpetic rash on the edge of the eyelids. Its form small bubbles which in a few days after the burst, and can be quite painful. If you suspect a herpes conjunctivitis patients are usually sent to an ophthalmologist, and he carried out a detailed examination to ensure that the infection does not hit the deep structures of the eye.

In mild cases, commonly used antiviral eye drops or ointment, e.g., ganciclovir or acyclovir Acyclovir - as it is safe? . These drugs do not kill the virus, but inhibit its reproduction and reduce the risk of infection and damage to the cornea. If the herpes virus has spread to the deeper structures of the eye, the doctor may prescribe, in addition to antiviral drugs with corticosteroid drops.

Follicular conjunctivitis

As for viral and bacterial infections can develop

follicular conjunctivitis - the so-called disorder in which patients, in addition to other symptoms of conjunctivitis Symptoms of conjunctivitis - bright display Appear follicles on the conjunctiva - small, bulging, Jelly blisters that resemble grains of rice.