Symptoms of conjunctivitis in adults and children are almost identical, but more difficult for children to hold back, not to rub or scratch the eye, which is why the irritation and redness of the eyes they are often more pronounced.

There are several types of conjunctivitis, but each of them can cause the following symptoms:

• Redness of the whites of the eyes;
• Swelling of the conjunctiva - the thin layer of tissue that covers the outer surface of the eyeball;
• Increased lacrimation;
• Itching, irritation and / or burning sensation in the eyes;
• Viscous discharge from the eye;
• The feeling is similar to that which occurs when the Eye of small foreign objects. Because of this, patients can often rub eye, causing conjunctivitis symptoms are often even more pronounced;
• Accumulations of discharge from the eyes on the eyelids and eyelashes, which can dry up and form a dense crust. Especially a lot of accumulated secretions, usually in the morning.

Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis

One of the most characteristic symptoms of this variety are viscous purulent conjunctivitis eye discharge that may be yellow, green or grayish hue. This symptom is not observed in all patients, but if it comes from, it is very likely that the patient is bacterial conjunctivitis Bacterial conjunctivitis - respond well to treatment . When conjunctivitis caused by bacteria, is often struck by only one eye, but a few days after the first symptoms of the infection may spread to both eyes. In some cases, this type of conjunctivitis causes severe dry eye. Sometimes bacteria also cause an increase in cervical lymph nodes, although most patients bacterial conjunctivitis does not extend beyond the eye. Increase in body temperature in this disease rarely noted and, as a rule, is low.

The first symptoms of viral conjunctivitis Viral conjunctivitis - the incidence increases   can occur in one eye, but after a while the infection affects the other eye. Since viral conjunctivitis is usually the result of respiratory infections (eg, common cold), the patient may complain of malaise, sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, chills, headaches, and other symptoms typical of colds.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is also often accompanied by a runny nose and sometimes the eyes become more sensitive to light. Symptoms such conjunctivitis or appear periodically - if the patient, such as an allergy to pollen of trees that bloom at certain times of year, or regular contact with certain allergens such as dust mites or animal dander. As a rule, along with strong lacrimation and redness of the whites of the eyes of patients with this disorder there is a pronounced swelling of the conjunctiva and eyelids.

Contact conjunctivitis

There are also contact conjunctivitis, which is not the result of an allergy, but just eye irritation. His reasons may be different cosmetics, some types of eye drops, household chemicals and other substances, accidentally fell into his eyes, as well as contact lenses. This abuse is usually redness of the eyes, burning or pain in the eyes, watery eyes, thick secretions but no - they are almost always a sign of infection. In some cases, pain in the eyes in contact conjunctivitis is very strong - as a rule, it appears as a result of contact with eyes, very toxic substances that can sometimes cause serious damage to the conjunctiva and other eye tissue.

Usually the symptoms are conjunctivitis soon after eliminating the cause of irritation: it is enough to remove contact lenses, wash the eye after being hit by a shampoo and so on. However, if the irritation was caused by the potent chemicals should seek medical advice.

Above it was a question of acute conjunctivitis Acute conjunctivitis - the most common eye disease Which proceeds with severe symptoms but generally is quite fast.

Chronic conjunctivitis

There is also a chronic conjunctivitis. This violation may occur symptoms such as mild to moderate itching in the eyes, feeling the presence of a foreign body in the eyes, slight swelling of the conjunctiva. In addition, in patients with chronic conjunctivitis eyes can often tire quickly. Many people do not pay special attention to these symptoms, believing that their appearance is connected with the work and inadequate rest. In fact, the cause of chronic conjunctivitis may be as poor working conditions (eg work in dusty environments), and poor nutrition, and certain violations, among them - astigmatism Astigmatism - lenses, glasses or surgery?   and problems with metabolism.

Acute conjunctivitis - a disease which carries a lifetime most people. Most often acute conjunctivitis infectious origin affect children in children's groups. The younger the child, the harder it is to observe good personal hygiene. When immature immunity it contributes to the rapid spread of infection.

Acute conjunctivitis - the reasons for the onset of disease

Conjunctivitis - an acute inflammation of the conjunctiva - conjunctiva covering the rear surface of the front surface of the eyelids and the eyeball until cornea. On the origin of acute conjunctivitis can be infectious, allergic, due to the impact of natural or physical factors that develops against the background of common diseases.

The most common acute infectious conjunctivitis. These in turn are divided into bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic. Such diseases are transmitted by contact and generally through everyday objects used by the patient. Viral conjunctivitis can be caught and by airborne droplets.

Recently least frequent allergic conjunctivitis, which can be the result of both food allergies and allergies to various substances present in the air (e.g., pollen).

Symptoms of acute conjunctivitis

When pinkeye there is a certain incubation period - the time from infection to onset of symptoms. When bacterial conjunctivitis that period is equal to one - two days, with the virus - more. Thus, in the most common adenoviral conjunctivitis Adenoviral conjunctivitis - a frequent visitor in the offseason   The incubation period is 4-8 days.

The disease often begins with the appearance of foreign body sensation in one eye. Then there is redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, accompanied by itching, burning and pain. It appears as mucous discharge or mucopurulent character.

By the nature of redness can judge the depth of the defeat of the conjunctiva. If struck the surface layers and at the same time superficial blood vessels of the conjunctiva, the most intense redness of the eyes will be on the periphery closer to the cornea, it will come to naught. This redness is marked bright red color. If it affects the deeper layers of the conjunctival redness of color will have a slightly bluish tinge, it is less bright, and its intensity will decrease from the center to the periphery (the highest intensity will be around the cornea).

Often acute conjunctivitis is accompanied by general malaise, slight rise in temperature and severe headaches. The duration of acute conjunctivitis varies from 5 days to three weeks.

In most cases, acute conjunctivitis ends without any complications. But long flowing purulent conjunctivitis can cause corneal - ulcerative keratitis, which in turn will lead to scarring and loss of vision.

Acute conjunctivitis in children

Acute conjunctivitis in children is often membranous character. This appears moderate edema Prevention and treatment of edema - it is important to understand the root cause   age, bright redness of the conjunctiva with the presence of petechial hemorrhages (hemorrhages) and mucopurulent film is easily removed with a cotton swab How to use sanitary pad - basic precautions   or eliminate their own when a baby crying.

Membranous conjunctivitis is particularly associated with its origin. Thus, in diphtheria acute conjunctivitis in a child it has a membranous character, but in this film barely separated from the conjunctiva and leave behind a bleeding surface.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute conjunctivitis

Before treatment of acute conjunctivitis study conducted conjunctival discharge. Smears after a special dye look under the microscope - it allows us to estimate the composition of microflora discharge. Microbiological examination - a crop nutrient discharge to the environment, which allows you to accurately set the bacterial pathogen and its sensitivity to different antibiotics.

Treatment of acute conjunctivitis begin immediately after the taking of the material for analysis. Conjunctival sac washed with antiseptic. For this purpose, suitable weakly pink solution of potassium permanganate solution furatsilina or 1: 5000. After washing the eye instilled 30% solution Albucidum (sodium sulfatsil, children prepare a 15% solution) or with solutions of antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future?   a wide range of actions, such as 0, 25% solution of chloramphenicol, 0, 3% solution of gentamicin. You can lay in the conjunctival sac of 1% tetracycline eye ointment.

After the test results are known, the treatment is adjusted, if necessary.

Acute conjunctivitis should be identified and being treated in time.

Galina Romanenko