Very often, young mothers have to deal with the fact that their baby’s eyes begin to swim and water. After sleep, the eyelids stick together, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, and the child becomes capricious and restless. Most often, with such signs, the diagnosis is disappointing - conjunctivitis in newborns is quite common.

Both those who have just been discharged from the maternity hospital and those who have long settled down within the walls of their home get sick. Since the disease is easily confused with (inflammation of the lacrimal sac) or simple non-opening of the lacrimal duct, a young mother needs to know the symptoms of the disease and how to cure conjunctivitis when the diagnosis is confirmed.

In order not to confuse conjunctivitis with any other diseases, it is very important to know the exact symptoms that distinguish it from other eye diseases found in children. This will help make an accurate diagnosis in the first days of the disease and determine how to treat conjunctivitis in newborns.

Signs of viral inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye in infants include:

• profuse lacrimation;
• redness;
• first the inflammation appears in one eye, and then the second one becomes infected;
• the eyes may become covered with a thin whitish film.

If it is purulent conjunctivitis, the symptoms will be somewhat different:

• the baby's eyes will be filled with pus;
• after sleep they will be difficult to open, as the pus will stick together;
• swelling;
• tearfulness;
• redness;
• irritation of the mucous membrane;
• most often only one eye is affected, less often both.

In any case, at the first signs of conjunctivitis, you should immediately seek diagnosis from a pediatric ophthalmologist. Based on special examinations, he will confirm or refute the diagnosis and only after that will prescribe medications and tell you how to cure conjunctivitis in such a small person.

Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or drop anything into your baby’s eyes: this can only worsen the course of the disease. Where does this inflammation come from in newborns?

Causes of conjunctivitis in infants

Even if complete sterility and ideal hygiene are observed when caring for a newborn baby, he or she runs the risk of contracting conjunctivitis. The causes of this disease in newborns can be very different. The form of the disease depends on the factors that provoke inflammation of the eye mucosa: it is purulent or viral conjunctivitis.

Among the reasons, the most common are:

• weakened immune system;
• while passing through the birth canal, the child may contract an infection of gonorrhea or chlamydia, which very actively affects the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• all kinds of bacteria living in the mother’s body;
• if the mother is infected with genital or oral herpes;
• failure to comply with basic hygiene rules - improper care of the newborn’s body;
• foreign body or dirt getting into the eye.

Some factors do not depend on a woman, but some can still be taken into account and try to prevent such offensive mistakes. After all, the health of your baby in the future will depend on them. Therefore, you need to think about cleanliness and sterility in advance, so as not to infect the child already in the birth canal. Prevention is much easier than cure.

Types of conjunctivitis: purulent and viral

How do these forms of inflammation differ in newborns?

1. Purulent conjunctivitis affects in most cases only one eye, is characterized by thick purulent discharge and is most often caused by improper care and unsterility. It is easier and faster to treat, although it is much more difficult to tolerate than a viral infection.
2. Viral conjunctivitis in newborns affects one eye after the other and is most often caused by various viruses. Despite the fact that it occurs more easily, it is much more dangerous for the baby. An infection can enter the body and disrupt the functioning of internal organs.

In any case, both forms of the disease are very painful and cause a lot of trouble and worry, both for the child and for everyone at home. Therefore, it is so important to find out as soon as possible how to treat conjunctivitis in newborns and in what doses.

How to treat conjunctivitis in newborns

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes a number of medications and procedures that help cleanse the newborn’s eyes of accumulated pus and inflammation in the shortest possible time and completely safely. These could be:

• washing with a solution of furatsilin, decoctions of chamomile, calendula and sage;
• instillation of chloramphenicol drops;
• massage of the nasolacrimal duct.

The doctor will write prescriptions and give detailed advice on how to cure conjunctivitis in a baby. If you doubt something, be sure to ask him for advice, but do not rely on your intuition in such an important matter, which will not lead to anything good. Remember: folk remedies in this case are only good for adults. And only a professional should solve problems with a child’s health.

What to do if the disease does not go away

Often inflammation of the eye mucosa in children of such a young age drags on even with timely treatment. The duration of the disease is different for everyone and depends on the child’s immunity, nutrition and general health.

Don't know what to do if conjunctivitis doesn't go away? Just be patient. Your nervous and anxious state is transmitted to the baby: surround him with warmth, care, love and affection. Continue the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor, and very soon the baby will look at you with his radiant eyes cleared of pus.

Even knowing how to cure conjunctivitis in a baby - be it purulent or viral - you cannot rely on traditional medicine and the advice of neighbors who know everything. A prerequisite for a complete recovery is a timely visit to a doctor who will professionally tell you how and how to treat conjunctivitis in newborns correctly and safely.

Few people in childhood are spared such a disease as conjunctivitis. Even children, whom caring parents cannot take their eyes off, are not immune from rubbing their eyes with dirty hands, and there is no way to hide from dust in windy weather. In view of this, it is necessary to know how conjunctivitis manifests itself in newborns and how it is treated.

Symptoms of the disease

Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the conjunctiva of the eye; in other words, the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed. Although the eyelids and tear fluid create mechanical barriers to infection, when the immune system is weakened, bacteria and viruses attack mercilessly. Sometimes the disease is allergic in nature.

Although the baby cannot yet say what exactly is bothering him, with this disease the result, as they say, is “obvious”, or rather, before our eyes. So, signs of conjunctivitis in an infant:

• eyes turn red and swell;
• possible formation of yellow crusts on the eyelids, especially in the morning, discharge of pus from the eyes;
• after sleep, it is difficult to open the eyelids, they are literally glued together;
• the baby is capricious in bright lighting due to photophobia;
• sleeps poorly, appetite reduced.

Children who have learned to speak will complain of pain, a burning sensation in the eyes, as if something had gotten there. Vision temporarily deteriorates and becomes blurry. In infants, the clinical picture is much more pronounced than in adults: swelling from the eyes can spread to the cheeks, and an increase in body temperature is possible.

Classification

Conjunctivitis, of course, should be treated by a doctor. But if, due to circumstances, it is impossible to quickly seek medical help, you need to help the child before the medical examination. To do this, it is important to know the types of conjunctivitis, because, depending on the pathogen, treatment will differ.

Bacterial conjunctivitis- there is pus, the eyelids stick together, the conjunctiva and the skin around the eye are dry. At first, as a rule, only one eye becomes inflamed, and later the infection spreads to the second.

Viral conjunctivitis- a companion to ARVI, that is, it occurs along with high fever, runny nose and sore throat. The lesion always begins in one eye, quickly moving to the second, while the discharged fluid is clear and abundant. Eyelashes do not stick together.

Allergic conjunctivitis- clear liquid flows from the peephole, I really want to rub the affected area. Often accompanied by frequent sneezing. Symptoms go away if the allergen is removed.

How to treat

If you start treatment on time and correctly, you can cope with the disease in 2 days. The problem is that not all medications are suitable for treating a one-month-old baby.

The basis of therapy is eye rinsing (if there is pus), after which eye drops are used depending on the type of infection and the age of the patient. Let's consider what effective remedies are used in the treatment of children under one year old.

When is conjunctivitis bacterial?

For bacterial infections, use anti-conjunctivitis drops that contain an antibiotic. These include:

1. Phloxal. The active ingredient is ofloxacin. Allowed from birth. Administer 1 drop 4 times a day.
2. Tobrex. The active ingredient is tobramycin. Newborns – 1-2 drops up to 5 times a day. For older children - every 4 hours.
3. Levomycetin. Use with caution in children under 2 years of age. 1 drop is instilled into the conjunctival sac at intervals of 5 hours.
4. Tsipromed (ciprofloxacin). Allowed for children from 1 year. They are instilled depending on the situation, from 4 to 8 times.
5. Oftaquix (levofloxacin). Also in pediatric practice it is used to treat children after 1 year. Every 2 hours, 1 drop, but no more than 8 times a day.
6. Albucid. Please note that Sulfacyl sodium (pharmaceutical name Albucid) is available in two concentrations: 20% and 30% solution. So, children under one year of age use only the 20% form. It is not recommended to start treatment with this medicine, as a strong burning sensation occurs when instilled. The child does not forget the pain, so the second, third and subsequent instillations will turn into torture for both the baby and you. The medicine is administered 1-2 drops up to 6 times a day.

An excellent remedy, approved from birth

It is recommended to apply ointment at night, as the therapeutic effect from it is longer than from drops. For the smallest children, floxal and tetracycline ophthalmic ointments are suitable (precisely the ophthalmic one, the one with a substance concentration of 1%).

When is conjunctivitis viral?

Interferon is our body’s protector from viruses

Antiviral drops either contain interferon or a substance that stimulates its production. A group of these drugs acts as immunomodulators that relieve local inflammation. Some of them act as anesthetics (reduce pain). Interferon-based products stimulate the restoration of affected tissues.

1. Ophthalmoferon (based on alpha-2b recombinant interferon). Diphenhydramine and boric acid included in the composition additionally provide an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect. Newborns can be treated.
2. Aktipol (para-aminobenzoic acid). An interferon inducer, that is, it stimulates the production of its interferon. The instructions say that clinical trials have not been conducted on children, so the drug can be used in children when the expected benefit outweighs the possible risk.

Interferon drops are always stored in the refrigerator, so warm them in your hand to room temperature before injecting them into the conjunctiva.

When is conjunctivitis allergic?

If you suspect an allergy in your newborn, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only early identification of the allergen can significantly help the baby, because all antihistamines only relieve symptoms, but do not remove the cause. Moreover, antiallergic drops have age restrictions:

1. Cromohexal (cromoglicic acid). Used in children over 2 years of age, but with caution.
2. Opatanol (olopatadine). According to the instructions, it is allowed from 3 years of age. The effect of the drug has not been studied on infants.
3. Allergodil (azelastine hydrochloride). Used in children from 4 years of age.

Therefore, if you suspect allergic conjunctivitis in a newborn, give him an antihistamine, for example, fenistil drops for oral administration, and visit a pediatrician and, if necessary, an allergist.

About proper instillation

1. Newborns are only allowed to put drops into their eyes using a pipette with a rounded end.
2. Lay the baby horizontally on a flat surface. It’s good if there is an “assistant” nearby to fix the head.
3. If the drops “live” in the refrigerator, do not forget to warm them up in your hand. You can check the temperature by placing a drop on the back of your wrist. If there is no feeling of cold or warmth, proceed with the procedure.
4. With pre-washed hands, pull back the lower eyelid and drop 1-2 drops into the inner corner. It is believed that only 1 drop of solution can fit into the conjunctival sac, the rest will go to the cheek. But, since the child often spins and does not like this procedure, manufacturers advise administering 1-2 drops. Excess liquid is blotted with a sterile disposable napkin.

Familiarize yourself with the technique of instilling drops

General principles of treatment

1. Almost all drops have a limited shelf life after opening. You need to monitor this and not use them after the expiration date.
2. Even if one eye is affected, the medicine is instilled into both.
3. It is important that the pipette does not touch the eye when instilled, otherwise it will become infected.
4. Even if the baby closes his eyes, drip into the inner corner between the eyelids. When he opens his eyes, the medicine will still go where it is needed.
5. If there is a lot of pus or mucus in the eye, first cleanse it, otherwise no drops will help: they will dissolve in a huge accumulation of bacteria. Children's eyes are washed with warm chamomile decoction, tea leaves, furatsilin solution or ordinary boiled water, using sterile cotton wool.
6. Frequent instillation during the acute course of the disease is due to the fact that with profuse lacrimation, the medicine is quickly washed away, which means its effect stops after half an hour. For this reason, putting ointment behind the eyelid at night is effective: its effect lasts until the morning.
7. Treatment is continued for another three days after the symptoms have disappeared.

Chamomile, having an anti-inflammatory effect, is suitable for washing the eyes. For this, a decoction is prepared

Prevention

To get conjunctivitis as little as possible, you need to follow simple hygiene rules:

• bathe and wash the child daily;
• the room, toys, and bedding must be clean;
• the newborn should have his own towel, with a separate one for the face and for washing;
• regularly wash your baby’s hands with soap, in particular after a walk; Older children should be taught proper hand washing from an early age;
• regularly walk with the baby in the fresh air, the more the better;
• foods consumed, especially fresh fruits, are washed thoroughly;
• baby food should be balanced and complete;
• If possible, ensure that the child does not rub his eyes with dirty hands, especially when playing in the sandbox;
• regularly ventilate and moisten the children's room;
• do not contact sick children.

Needless to say, treating children always requires greater concentration and effort on the part of parents. But conjunctivitis can be quickly defeated. Follow the doctor's recommendations, be patient, and the problem will be solved in 2-3 days.

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common ophthalmological diseases. This is an inflammatory process in the outer shell of the eye, which can be viral, bacterial, fungal in nature, or occur for other reasons.

Conjunctivitis in newborns requires special attention. Unlike inflammation of the eyes in older children, in infants this disease is sometimes accompanied by local and general complications. In order for a child to maintain vision, it is very important to conduct an early diagnosis and develop competent treatment.

Infection of newborns with conjunctivitis occurs mainly during childbirth, when the fetus passes through the mother's reproductive tract. A common cause is gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections in the mother. That is why parents need to be treated at the same time as the child.

Causes and symptoms Eye care Treatment

• Cornflower flowers
• Valerian root
• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Clover
• Green tea
• Meadow geranium
• Yarrow
• Herbal infusions

1. Contact with chemicals (this often happens when a baby is treated with various drugs after birth). This type of disease is manifested by slight redness of the eyes and mucus secretion. After 2-3 days, spontaneous recovery occurs.
2. Infection with diplococci gonorrhea through the mother's birth canal. Symptoms: discharge of purulent mucus, difficulty opening the eyes, severe swelling of the eyelids and conjunctival hyperemia, extensive infiltration of the cornea. The disease progresses rapidly and can lead to blindness.
3. Infection with the herpes virus through the birth canal. It is characterized by the appearance of blisters on the eyelids, copious discharge of serous fluid, significant swelling of the eyelids and conjunctiva, and in severe cases, keratitis develops.
4. Chlamydia infection through the mother's reproductive tract. Symptoms: copious mucopurulent discharge, redness of the conjunctiva, swelling of the eyelids, keratitis, progressive loss of vision.
5. Other bacterial infections, mechanical eye injuries. This type is relatively mild and the only symptoms may be sensitivity to counting and redness of the eyelids. A small amount of purulent fluid is released, but no changes are observed in the cornea of ​​the eye.
6. Obstruction of the tear ducts. It manifests itself as redness of the mucous membranes of the eye and swelling of the eyelids.

In 90% of cases, mild bacterial conjunctivitis is diagnosed in newborns. Its prevalence is due to the fact that initially the baby’s so-called tear film cannot provide sufficient protection. The tear film is supposed to moisturize, clean, and protect your eyes from germs. Newborns have a poorly functioning immune system, and they also like to rub their eyes with dirty hands - as a result of this, inflammation occurs.

Eye care

Newborns' eyes require special care. Wipe them with sterile disposable gauze soaked in warm boiled water. Move from the outer to the inner corner of the eye, but do not rub the delicate skin excessively. Used gauze should not be used on the other eye.
Try to keep your baby's hands clean, as he often rubs his eyes with them.

For mild forms of conjunctivitis, treatment can be done at home. For this, herbs suitable for the body of newborns are used. We have collected for you some of the most effective and safe recipes.

Cornflower flowers

Cornflower is a plant with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. It is absolutely harmless to newborns, and helps treat the most common form of conjunctivitis - bacterial.

To obtain a medicinal wash, pour 1 tablespoon of dried plant flowers into 1 cup of boiling water, cover and soak for 15 minutes, then strain. Use a sterile pipette to instill this infusion into your child 5 times a day; you can also make eye compresses twice a day (the procedure lasts 15 minutes). For compresses, use a sterile bandage. Within 2-3 days this treatment will give positive results.

Valerian root

Valerian root also helps treat inflammatory eye diseases. To obtain a healing potion, grind valerian root, brew 1 tablespoon of raw material in 1 ½ cups of boiling water, boil for 2 minutes, then infuse the product for 10-15 minutes. Make lotions on the eyelid from the strained broth several times a day.

Calendula

Conjunctivitis in newborns will quickly go away if you call on calendula flowers for help. They not only relieve inflammation, but also destroy bacteria and fungi, and also have an immunostimulating effect. This means that calendula can even treat fungal conjunctivitis.

Preparation of the medicine: combine 1 tablespoon of dried and crushed flowers with herbs with 1 ½ cups of boiling water, cover with a lid and heat in a steam bath for 30 minutes. Then remove the broth from the heat, let it brew for 10-15 minutes, strain. Apply warm compresses to your eyelids several times a day.

Chamomile is used for many diseases in newborns, including inflammation of the eye membrane of allergic or bacterial origin.

Preparation of the medicine: pour 1 tablespoon of chamomile with 2 cups of boiling water, cover and hold for 15 minutes, then strain. Wash the little patient’s eyelids with warm infusion, and also make compresses several times a day. Treatment lasts 5-7 days.

Clover

Red clover grass has anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and bactericidal effects. It seals the blood vessels of the eye, binds and deactivates bacterial toxins. This plant is absolutely safe for newborns.

Preparation of the decoction: mix 1 dessert spoon of meadow clover grass with a glass of hot water, boil in a closed saucepan for 3 minutes, then remove the mixture from the heat and leave for another 15 minutes. The strained decoction is used for warm eye compresses (repeat this treatment 4-5 times a day).

Green tea

In China, they are used to treating eye diseases in adults and newborns with green tea. This is a good idea, because this drink relieves inflammation, soothes, and fights infection.

Brew green tea as usual, just don't add sugar. The cooled product is used to rinse the conjunctiva and apply compresses to the eyelids several times a day.

Meadow geranium

Treatment with meadow geranium leaves will help quickly relieve inflammation, reduce mucus secretion from the eyes, and relieve swelling of the eyelids.

Steam one dessert spoon of dry plant in 1 ½ cups of boiling water and leave covered for about 10 - 15 minutes. Strain, dilute the infusion with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 1. Moisten a gauze bandage in the warm liquid, place it on the eyelid, cover the compress with foil or oilcloth on top. Repeat the procedures several times a day.

Yarrow

Newborns can be treated with yarrow flowers, as they have an anti-inflammatory and mild bacteriostatic effect.

Preparation of the medicine: add 1 tablespoon of dried yarrow flowers to ½ cup of boiling water, cover and leave for 15 minutes. The eyelid is washed with the strained infusion and compresses are made several times a day.

Herbal infusions

People widely use herbal remedies to treat eye inflammation. So, the following recipe is recommended for infants:

• Cornflower flowers - 40 g;
• Meadow geranium grass - 30 g;
• Plantain leaves - 20 g.

To prepare the medicine, pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into a glass of boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the medicine for 15 minutes. Make warm lotions from the strained broth several times a day.

You can treat the problem with a “flower” collection:

• Blackthorn flowers – 20 g;
• Chamomile flowers – 20 g;
• Raspberry flowers – 20 g;
• Tea rose flowers – 20 g.

The flowers are infused for one hour in a thermos (in the ratio of a tablespoon of plant mixture to a glass of boiling water), after which the potion is filtered and used to treat the eyes and warm compresses.

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Conjunctivitis in newborns is common. This is explained by the fact that in the first months of a baby’s life, his eyes are imperfect, the visual system is being formed, and therefore is vulnerable to infections. The progression of the disease usually progresses rapidly and, if treated incorrectly, can cause complications that will negatively affect vision in the future. For this reason, every mother should know in advance how to recognize conjunctivitis in a newborn, what the disease looks like in a photo, and how to treat a baby at home.

This is what the disease looks like in a newborn baby

What is conjunctivitis and how does it manifest in children?

With conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes occurs. The pathology is usually caused by an allergy or infection of viral origin, in more rare cases - bacterial or fungal origin. Conjunctivitis in children under one year of age and older is manifested by the following symptoms:

• redness, stickiness, swelling of the eyelids;
• swimming eyes;
• redness of the mucous membrane (bleeding in the conjunctiva);
• profuse lacrimation;
• mucous, purulent, watery discharge from the eyes;
• feeling of sand in the eyes;
• photophobia;
• itching and pain in the eyes;
• the child screams, is capricious, refuses to eat, and sleeps poorly.

If these symptoms appear, you should not self-medicate. It is necessary to show the baby to an ophthalmologist, since such signs often indicate other eye diseases (inflammation of the cornea, lacrimal sac, non-opening of the lacrimal duct, etc.).

Types of disease

The following types of conjunctivitis are distinguished:

• Adenoviral - a child becomes infected through airborne droplets. The baby's temperature rises to 39°C, chills, headaches, sore throat, and enlarged submandibular lymph nodes appear. The disease first affects one eye, then moves to the other. A characteristic symptom is the discharge of grayish fluid from the eyes, the appearance of small bubbles and small detachable films on the inside of the eyelids.
• Enteroviral or hemorrhagic is a little-studied disease provoked by an enterovirus. Transmitted by contact. Characterized by strong serous or purulent discharge from the eyes. May affect cranial and spinal nerves.
• Herpetic – the disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus, which enters the body through airborne droplets or contact. The main symptoms include blisters characteristic of herpes.
• Bacterial (chlamydial is isolated separately) – the cause of inflammation of the conjunctiva is pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, gonococci, pneumococci, etc.). Infection occurs in various ways, including in the womb. Infection often awaits children in kindergarten. The disease is characterized by a cloudy, viscous discharge of a grayish or yellowish color, causing the eyelids to stick together. There is dryness of the diseased eye and the skin around it.
• Allergic – the disease is characterized by severe lacrimation, burning, itching.

Conjunctivitis in infants and older children occurs in acute or chronic forms. The latter develops with a weakened immune system of a month-old baby, problems with metabolism, and prolonged respiratory infections.

Causes of the disease

A newborn's eyes are vulnerable to conjunctivitis because he lacks tears, which protect the organ of vision from the penetration and spread of infections. When the baby was in the womb, he did not need them, and therefore the tear ducts were closed with a gelatinous film, which usually breaks through after the first cry of the newborn. It takes time for them to form properly, and therefore even at 4-7 months, a year, the eyes of an infant are very vulnerable.

The first tears in a baby appear at 1.5-3 months, but still do not completely protect the eyes from viruses, bacteria, fungi, which are the most common cause of inflammation of the conjunctiva. Pathogenic microorganisms can infect a baby’s eyes while still in the hospital, especially if he was born premature or weakened.

Conjunctivitis can be congenital (for example, chlamydial). In this situation, infection occurs during childbirth or in the womb, if during pregnancy she suffered from a bacterial or viral illness or there are genital tract infections.

The reasons for the development of conjunctivitis in newborns also include poor nutrition, poor hygiene, high indoor humidity, and excessively bright colors. Smoke, chemicals, and poisonous gas can provoke the disease.

Diagnosis of pathology in infants

Diagnosing conjunctivitis in a newborn during examination by a doctor usually does not cause difficulties. To determine the causative agent of the disease, a specialist may prescribe the following research methods based on the collected material:

• scraping, smear - using special devices, changed cells are taken from the affected part of the eye and sent for analysis to the laboratory;
• cytological examination - involves the use of a special dye, with which the type of conjunctivitis is determined and the pathogen (bacteria, fungi) is detected;
• direct immunofluorescence - the action is aimed at detecting chlamydia;
• PCR – detects the slightest traces of a virus, fungus, bacteria from the remains of their DNA;
• allergen test.

In addition to these tests, a blood test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), bacteriological, seroscopic, histological and other examination methods may be needed. After determining the culprit of the disease (virus, bacteria, fungus, allergen), the doctor will prescribe treatment aimed at destroying it.

What is the treatment?

Therapy for infants is specific, so self-medication is unacceptable. Typically, conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial in nature and is transmitted to humans due to poor hygiene. This means that during illness it is necessary to limit the baby from contact with other children and, if possible, with adults.

Even if conjunctivitis affects one eye, both are treated during treatment

All medications for the treatment of children, both up to one year old and after, must be prescribed by a doctor. Before you buy eye drops or ointments for your baby, you need to make sure that they can be used by a child of a certain age.

During treatment, both eyes of the newborn must be treated, even if symptoms of the disease appear in only one. Therapy begins with a healthy eye so that inflammation does not spread to it. You need to use a different swab for each eye. Before using eye drops, they must be cleared of pus and washed with a special solution.

Pharmacy drugs

If the cause of conjunctivitis is an allergen, it must be detected and removed from the baby’s environment. When this is not possible, the child's contact with the allergic substance should be limited as much as possible. During treatment, the baby can be given an antihistamine in the form of eye drops or tablets.

A disease of viral or bacterial origin requires a different approach. Medicines containing antibiotics can be used to fight bacteria. They are usually prescribed for purulent discharge. The following eye drops for children can cure diseases:

• Sulfacyl sodium;
• Levomycetin 0.25%;
• Tobrex.

For therapy, the doctor may prescribe Tetracycline or Erythromycin eye ointment. They contain antibiotics that effectively kill bacteria.

If the problem is caused by a virus, antiviral medications are needed - antibiotics are powerless:

• Poludan drops are effective against herpes and adenovirus;
• Oftalmoferon helps with pathologies of a viral and allergic nature;
• Zovirax ointment is used for herpes;
• For conjunctivitis of viral origin, Tebrofen ointment is used.

In case of a fungal disease, the action of the drug should be aimed at combating precisely the type of fungus that provoked inflammation of the conjunctiva. Otherwise, the therapy will be delayed.

Folk remedies

At home, without consulting a doctor, only eye rinsing is acceptable. A decoction of chamomile, sage or weak tea is useful here. After the first signs of conjunctivitis appear, rinsing is done every two hours, then three times a day. To do this, soak a cotton pad in a herbal decoction and wash the eyes, moving from the temple to the nose. Treat until all signs of the disease disappear.

To prevent chlamydial or herpetic conjunctivitis in a pregnant child, a pregnant woman should monitor her health and get tested in a timely manner. Having discovered a problem, it is necessary to treat diseases that can be transmitted to the child before birth.

You can protect an already born baby from conjunctivitis by following the rules of hygiene. It is necessary to keep the apartment clean and ventilate the room. Newborn care items should be almost sterile. It is important to ensure that family members do not touch the child without first washing their hands. It is also necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the baby’s hands and eyes. An older child must be weaned from the habit of rubbing his eyes with his hands.

Health activities that strengthen the baby’s immunity and physical condition are always useful. These include daily walks in the fresh air, hardening procedures, and gymnastics.

Conjunctivitis is a common ophthalmological disease, which is the development of an inflammatory process on the mucous membranes of the eye.

Quite often the problem is diagnosed in infants and even newborns - it is predominantly bacterial, less often allergic or adenoviral in nature.

In this article you will learn what and how to treat conjunctivitis in an infant or newborn child.

Causes of conjunctivitis in infants and newborns

The immune system of a modern newborn child is often still very weak and cannot effectively cope with a variety of infections. Premature babies are at particular risk.

An additional negative impact can also be exerted by a poor sanitary and hygienic climate in the maternity hospital, as well as the presence of congenital pathologies of the development of the visual system.

The most common reasons:

• Infectious lesions. This includes a number of bacteria and viruses - from chlamydia and staphylococcus to herpes, Proteus and even Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infection is possible through passage through the birth canal, infection on obstetric instruments, etc.;
• Allergic reactions. Any chemicals that come into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, including some medications (for example, sodium sulfacyl solution recommended for use as a local antiseptic) can cause irritation of the conjunctiva and characteristic symptoms of the disease;
• Presence of other ophthalmological diseases. If there are problems with the visual system in an infant (for example, inflammation of the lacrimal sac or blockage of the lacrimal duct), conjunctivitis can act as a secondary form of the disease that develops against the background of the main pathology;
• Autoimmune response. A rare pathology that occurs in newborns and is associated with the conflicting work of several autoimmune systems. The etiology and mechanism of the problem have not been sufficiently studied, however, the initial symptoms coincide with the manifestations of classic conjunctivitis of the viral type, affecting both eyes, after which the pathology also includes the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx, and other pathologies are formed.

Types and symptoms of conjunctivitis in infants

The symptoms of conjunctivitis in newborns and infants significantly depend on the specific causative agent of the disease. Common manifestations, regardless of the cause of the pathological condition, usually include:

• Profuse lacrimation;
• Redness of the mucous membranes of the visual organ;
• Swelling of the eyelids;
• Souring of the eyes.

The general symptoms are supplemented by other manifestations, depending on the type of conjunctivitis:

• Viral. In the vast majority of cases, the causative agent is herpes or adenoviruses. Usually 1 eye of the child is affected, and the standard set of symptoms is accompanied by rashes in the form of small blisters with transparent contents on the skin of the eyelids. The disease itself is sluggish and develops over a long period of time;
• Staphylococcal. The skin around the eyes becomes actively inflamed and swollen, and pus constantly accumulates along the edges of the visual organ, forming crusts and gluing both eyelashes and eyelids. The baby is very restless, regularly wakes up and screams from pain and pain in the eyes;
• Pneumococcal. The released pus has a whitish tint and forms thin films. The eyelids not only become swollen and inflamed, but also become covered with a pinpoint rash. Often the child’s temperature rises sharply;
• Gonococcal. Discharge from the eyes has a serous-bloody structure that quickly hardens in air. The eyelids are dense, swollen, bluish-purple in color and practically do not open; the inflammatory process affects not only the conjunctiva, but also the cornea. This type of conjunctivitis requires emergency diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, since there is a high probability of serious complications;
• Diphtheria. It is characterized by high fever in the child, a classic set of general symptoms, as well as the formation of fibrin whitish films on the mucous membranes, upon removal of which the conjunctiva begins to bleed;
• Chlamydial. In addition to the general manifestations of conjunctivitis, it is characterized by extremely copious purulent discharge, which cannot be eliminated for a long time even with frequent rinsing. In this case, the pain syndrome is insignificant, the temperature is normal, the cornea and other elements of the eye are not affected;
• Allergic. The child experiences excessive lacrimation, photophobia, severe itching and redness of the mucous membranes of the eye, as well as swelling. The temperature usually does not increase, there is no purulent discharge (these symptoms may appear when secondary ocular bacterial infections are associated).

Treatment of eye conjunctivitis in infants

Let's look at how to cure conjunctivitis in a newborn with the help of drugs. The basis for the treatment of eye conjunctivitis in newborns and infants is almost always conservative drug therapy. Only in isolated cases, in the presence of serious complications and an advanced stage of the disease, emergency surgery may be required.

However, such cases in modern medical practice are rare, since they are associated with generalized, very advanced bacterial damage to all structures of the eye by individual gram-negative representatives of pathogenic microflora, for example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or enterococci.

Due to the availability of comprehensive neonatal control in maternity hospitals and careful outpatient monitoring of the baby’s 1st year of life, such a situation is extremely unlikely.

The therapeutic regimen for the treatment of conjunctivitis is prescribed by a neonatologist, pediatrician, ophthalmologist or other specialized specialist based on a confirmed diagnosis, the individual characteristics of the baby’s body, the presence or absence of complications, and also taking into account the type of disease.

Possible drug combinations:

• Bacterial conjunctivitis. Antibiotic-based eye drops and ointments are used. Preference is given to highly targeted therapy after identifying a specific bacterial agent. As an addition - local antiseptic treatment. For generalized infections, the use of broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics may be considered. Typical representatives are ointments based on Tetracycline or Erythromycin, drops based on Levomycetin, eye rinsing with furatsilin solution;
• Viral conjunctivitis. Artificial tear drops and warm compresses are used to eliminate basic symptoms. The basis of therapy is eye drops with recombinant interferon; as a supplement for herpes, Acyclovir-based products are used. When secondary bacterial infections occur, drops with an antibiotic effective against the identified pathogenic agent are used. Typical representatives are Actipol, Oftalmoferon, Poludan, Signicef, Ciproflaxacin (the last two are antibiotics);
• Allergic conjunctivitis. Basic therapy is antihistamines in the form of drops based on receptor blockers. Typical modern representatives are Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, Astemizole. For severe allergic manifestations associated with a complex autoimmune response of the body, it is possible to use eye drops with corticosteroids, for example, Dexamethasone or Prednisolone. An alternative is combination agents containing metacel, interferon and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory component.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in infants with folk remedies

Traditional medicine is not applicable for the treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns, since under conditions of comprehensive neonatal observation in maternity hospitals, mothers simply will not be allowed to test any non-traditional therapy methods on their child.

Treatment of infants with folk recipes at home is also subject to fierce criticism from modern medicine, for a number of reasons:

• If the disease is of an allergic nature, the use of any herbal remedies may lead to an exacerbation of symptoms and a deterioration in the condition of the small patient;
• In the case of a bacterial infection, certain popular techniques (for example, dropping breast milk into the eyes) create the prerequisites for accelerating the growth of pathogenic microflora, which, in fact, has the opposite effect of treatment;
• If the disease is viral in nature, any folk remedies applied topically have no effect on the agent, creating only a placebo effect for parents.

The only possible area of ​​application of traditional medicine for the treatment of conjunctivitis in infants is local antiseptic and anti-inflammatory treatment of the mucous membranes, which can be used as an addition to basic therapy and only after mandatory consultation with the attending physician (pediatrician, ophthalmologist, etc.).

For this, infusions of chamomile, aloe, cornflower, black or green tea are used in small concentrations - cotton and gauze swabs are soaked with the products, after which mechanical treatment of the conjunctiva of the eye is performed.

Features of purulent conjunctivitis in infants and treatment

Conjunctivitis, in which purulent formations are released on the surface of the mucous membranes of the eyes of a newborn or infant, is caused by bacterial lesions.

This can be either the primary form of the disease, caused by infection of the child during passage through the genital tract of a woman suffering from any form of bacterial-vaginal infection, non-sterility of the midwife’s instruments and hands, etc., or its secondary form, when against the background of an allergic, viral or an autoimmune reaction, the risks of background bacterial infection increase.

The most acute types of purulent conjunctivitis are caused by gram-negative microflora - in particular enterobacteria such as Klebsiella, Proteus, as well as Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In this case, not only the external mucous membranes are at risk of damage, but also the cornea and internal structures of the eye, which can lead to the most serious complications, including complete blindness and destruction of organ tissue. At the same time, chlamydia, staphylococci and moraxella do not cause such dangerous consequences, although in some cases the symptoms of the disease are more pronounced.

The basic principles of treatment of any purulent conjunctivitis are accurate identification of the bacterial agent, selection of appropriate antibiotics for local (sometimes systemic) action, as well as additional antiseptic treatment of the conjunctiva.

A specific therapeutic regimen is prescribed by a pediatrician, neonatologist, ophthalmologist or other specialized specialist treating a newborn or infant.

Complications and consequences

The list of main complications of conjunctivitis in infants usually includes:

• Dry eye syndrome. Due to a serious infectious lesion and insufficient treatment, the baby may develop a pathology associated with a decrease in tear production, which is formed due to a blockade of the corresponding tubules;
• Blepharitis. Infectious inflammation of the eyelids is a common concomitant consequence of conjunctivitis;
• Keratitis. Inflammatory processes in the cornea can be caused by individual bacteria, which leads to a deterioration in its transparency, the appearance of a cataract and other pathologies;
• Scarring of the mucous membranes and middle tissue layers of the pupil. A rare complication in newborns and infants caused by prolonged lack of adequate treatment for conjunctivitis;
• Other pathologies, one way or another, negatively affecting the child’s visual system.

Now you know how and how to treat conjunctivitis in an infant.

Children have weak immunity compared to adults; moreover, they pay less attention to observing simple hygiene rules, since they are very busy studying the world around them. Therefore, they develop conjunctivitis much more often than adults. This eye disease requires an immediate response from parents. Ideally, you need to show your child to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. But if help is needed urgently, and it is temporarily impossible to go to the doctor, folk remedies for conjunctivitis, tested by time and by entire generations of children, will come to the aid of parents.

Symptoms and signs

Most often, conjunctivitis is of viral origin; inflammation of the conjunctiva occurs due to damage to the membrane by an adenovirus. However, about 20% of all cases of the disease in children are bacterial in nature.- the inflammatory process is caused by staphylococci, gonococci, pneumococci, streptococci and even Koch's bacillus.

Children often have allergic conjunctivitis, in which the lining of the eyeball reacts inadequately to a certain antigen. Sometimes inflammation is a consequence of mechanical damage - small debris gets into the eye, the mucous membrane receives microtrauma.

The symptoms of almost all types of the disease are similar: redness of the eyeball, the appearance of a network of blood vessels on it, photophobia, pain in the eye, lacrimation.

With an allergic disease, quite severe itching is observed; the child will almost constantly scratch and rub his eyes with his fists.

With a bacterial disease, pus will accumulate in the corner of the eye.

In some cases, with any type of disease, vision loss is observed, and a feeling of a cloudy “veil” appears in front of the affected eye.

Conjunctivitis is most dangerous for children with blue eyes, as they are more sensitive to light. Their disease lasts longer and more severely than those with green or brown eyes.

In almost all cases, the disease is highly contagious.

What is the danger?

Improperly treated, as well as undertreated conjunctivitis can become chronic, and then eye inflammation will recur with enviable regularity. Failure to take such a serious illness seriously can cause quite serious complications. First, the inflammation will spread from the membrane to other organs of the eye, the pupil, optic nerve, etc. will begin to suffer. Often such complicated conjunctivitis leads to irreparable loss of vision.

Among the most common complications of the disease are fusion of the cornea with the iris, decreased visual acuity, the appearance of ulcers on the cornea of ​​the eye, and dry eye syndrome.

Sometimes the inflammatory process, if treated incorrectly or untimely, can spread to neighboring organs, ears or lymph nodes.

When are traditional methods not enough?

For pronounced symptoms of conjunctivitis, it is better to use pharmaceutical medications:

• Viral as well as herpetic lesions of the eyeball and adenoviral eye diseases are treated interferon drops, antiherpetic drugs.
• For bacterial (purulent) conjunctivitis, the doctor prescribes antibiotic drops.
• Severe allergic inflammation of the conjunctiva requires antihistamines and artificial tears.

If a child has a complex form of the disease, there can be no talk of any folk remedies.

Effective folk remedies

Folk remedies for this eye disease are especially effective if used in combination with medications prescribed by a doctor. Typically, all folk methods for this disease are based on three applications - eye drops, lotion solutions and rinsing solutions.

Wash solutions

A useful and effective eye wash solution can be prepared from ordinary pharmaceutical chamomile. 10 grams of dry raw materials should be poured with a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. Using the same scheme, an effective clover rinse is prepared. For the recipe, only the inflorescences of the plant are taken.

Everyone has known since childhood how to wash affected eyes. tea leaves, it does not lose its relevance today.

Lotions

It is considered a very effective plant for lotions. marshmallow root. Buy it at the pharmacy, grind it and brew a tablespoon with half a glass of boiled water.

Lotions with rosehip decoction also help effectively with severe inflammation. For such a solution you will need a tablespoon of rose hips and a glass of boiling water.

Can be cooked infusion of cornflowers. For him, only the flowers themselves are taken, without greenery. A tablespoon of crushed flowers is brewed with half a glass of boiled water and left for about an hour.

Before going to bed, you can give your child lotions with the juice obtained from fresh cucumber.

Drops

Children over three years old can use drops in the eyes honey solution To prepare it, take a teaspoon of honey and three tablespoons of warm boiled water. You cannot make drops with hot water, as honey will lose all its beneficial properties.

If aloe grows in the house, you can prepare drops from its juice. To do this, the juice obtained from the fleshy leaves must be mixed in half with boiled water (cool) or saline.

The danger of self-medication

Folk remedies are good when you need to temporarily relieve the unpleasant symptoms of an eye disease, but for the most part they are not intended for constant long-term therapy.

The difficulty lies in the fact that it is quite difficult for parents at home to correctly diagnose the origin and causes of the disease, because the symptoms of different types of disease are very similar.

And while mom and dad diligently put in the child’s eyes something completely different from what is required in his situation, the inflammation will progress and spread further. Therefore, all remedies - both medications and folk recipes - should be used for eye inflammation only with the approval of an ophthalmologist.

What can't you do?

If a child has conjunctivitis, he should not be in a dusty room with very dry air, and his contact with any household chemicals should also be limited, especially if it contains chlorine and its derivatives.

When treating the eyes (you should rinse and instill drugs into both eyes - both the sick and the healthy), you should use different cotton pads; you must not allow the infection to spread from one eye to the other.

In no case should the affected eyes be warmed up, warm compresses applied, or an eye patch applied, especially if the child has a bacterial form of the disease, because warmth for microbes is a favorable environment for reproduction.

• Rinse your eyes properly. The movements should be in the direction from the temple to the nose, and not vice versa.
• Filter solutions carefully for rinsing and lotions. Since most folk recipes are prepared from crushed plant materials, you should take a very responsible approach to filtering solutions to prevent even the smallest plant particles from getting into the sore eye.
• Do not stop treatment abruptly. If you notice improvements and the redness has almost disappeared, you should not stop treatment immediately. Symptoms of conjunctivitis disappear gradually, and therefore it is recommended to continue therapy for another 2-3 days after cure.
• Provide your child with a separate towel and dishes. Remember that in 90% of cases, conjunctivitis is very contagious; to protect other family members, provide the sick person with individual things to avoid infecting others through everyday life.

Watch the following video, which talks about popular folk remedies for treating conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis in a newborn child under one year of age is not uncommon and can lead to unpleasant complications, but with timely treatment, in most cases the disease can be dealt with easily and quickly. Therefore, parents should know in advance what to do, how to recognize and treat such eye damage in a child.

This common disease can develop in a person at any age, including shortly after the birth of a baby, in a month-old and a one-year-old child. In this article we will look at why this happens and how to deal with the disease.

The term “conjunctivitis” refers to a group of diseases in which a specific eye lesion develops: this is an inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. This mucous membrane is called the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis in a baby can develop even in the first days after birth - this may be due to infection during childbirth and some other factors.

Types of disease in infants

Conjunctivitis in an infant can be of several types, which differ in the underlying cause of the condition. There are three main types:

Most often, a newborn develops a viral or bacterial form of the disease. In the first case, the condition is caused by specific viruses entering the child’s eyes, and in the second, by bacteria. Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by allergens: pollen, animals, dust. The form of the disease varies depending on what cause it is caused by.

If conjunctivitis in an infant occurs shortly after birth, it is referred to as congenital conjunctivitis. This happens if the child contracts an infection during childbirth. In this case, it appears within a few days.

Causes of the disease

The most common causes of conjunctivitis in infants under one year of age:

1. Infection in the eyes during childbirth if the mother is infected with chlamydia, gonococcal or other infection.
2. Reduced immunity, which in a newborn is not yet formed and is easily susceptible to infection.
3. Getting dirt into your eyes due to poor hygiene or by accident.
4. The mother is infected with herpes.
5. There is a high concentration of an allergen in the room to which the child has developed sensitivity.

Bacteria and viruses that cause conjunctivitis easily provoke the disease in a newborn, since the immune system is still imperfect and cannot repel an attack of infection.

Main signs and diagnosis

It is not difficult to recognize conjunctivitis in a newborn, since eye damage is quite obvious. However, depending on the cause that caused the disease, it has different distinctive signs. The doctor uses them to make a diagnosis. For example, in newborns it causes a bacterial infection.

Signs of bacterial conjunctivitis:

• profuse purulent discharge appears;
• eyelids swell;
• the eyelids begin to stick together, after sleep the eyes do not open or open with difficulty;
• At first, one eye is affected, the second may not be affected at first.

Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis in infants include:

• in most cases accompanies ARVI;
• the discharge is copious, but transparent, without pus;
• the infection affects both eyes at once or quickly spreads to the second;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• the swelling is not severe.

The allergic form is manifested by the following symptoms:

• discharge is light, similar to mucus;
• pronounced swelling of the eyelids;
• severe itching, the baby tries to rub his eyes, shows severe anxiety, and screams.

Depending on the form of the disease in children under one year of age, appropriate treatment is prescribed and carried out.

How and with what to treat conjunctivitis in newborns?

Treatment of conjunctivitis in newborns depends on the type of disease.

First of all, the eyes need to be washed out of pus. To wash a newborn, you need to use a sterile cotton swab and a mild agent: this can be chamomile or calendula decoctions, a furatsilin solution, or just boiled water.

For the bacterial form of the disease, therapy is carried out using medications containing an antibiotic. These could be:

• antibiotic drops: “Floxal”, “Tobrex” are approved for use in children from birth;
• ointment for conjunctivitis for newborns (it is most effective when used at night): “Floxal”, tetracycline 1%.

Massage of the nasolacrimal duct is also effective for better drainage of inflammatory discharge, but it should be carried out by medical personnel or parents after training.

Sodium sulfacyl solution (albucid) can only be used at a concentration of 10% (for a newborn) and 20% (after 1 year). This is an effective remedy, but these drops cause severe burning in the inflamed eyes.

Bacterial conjunctivitis looks scary due to the discharge of pus, but with proper and timely treatment it can be cured in just a couple of days.

How long the disease lasts depends on the cause and form. Viral conjunctivitis in a newborn may last longer than bacterial conjunctivitis until the baby’s body copes with the virus. You can help him by washing his eyes and instilling drops with interferon or its inducers: Ophthalmoferon, Actipol. Such drops also have anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties, helping the conjunctiva recover from inflammation.

Eye drops containing interferon must be stored in the refrigerator, so before putting them in the baby's eyes, the bottle must be warmed to room temperature by hand.

Allergic conjunctivitis

If the inflammation does not go away, and its symptoms are similar to allergic ones, you should immediately show your newborn baby to a specialist. All remedies used for the allergic form of the disease only relieve the symptoms of the disease and alleviate the condition, but do not fight the cause.

You can get rid of allergies only by removing the allergen and preventing it from coming into contact with the newborn. In addition, eye drops for allergies are limited by the age of the child (he must be at least one year older). Therefore, the most important thing is to determine what exactly caused the reaction: tree blossoms, pets, household or book dust, or other possible sources of allergens.

Additionally, we invite you to watch a video in which an ophthalmologist talks about the forms of childhood conjunctivitis and methods of treatment, and also dispels popular myths:

How to apply eye drops to a baby?

It is not easy to administer eye drops to a newborn. For effective treatment, follow simple rules:

1. If the drops are stored in the refrigerator, warm the bottle in your hand before instilling.
2. Do not try to put more than 1 drop in each eye - the conjunctival sac of a newborn simply cannot accommodate more.
3. If the baby closes his eyes, drop a drop on the junction of the eyelids - when the eyes open, the medicine will fall on the conjunctiva.
4. If a pipette is used, its end must be rounded.

Prevention and prognosis

The prognosis of the disease with proper treatment is favorable: treatment takes on average several days and passes without consequences.

In no case should inflammation be left unattended in the hope that it will go away on its own: the newborn’s body is still too weak, and the infection can lead to complications and irreversible changes in the cornea, which will lead to decreased vision.

To avoid the development of pathology, you need to follow a number of simple rules. Prevention of eye inflammation in a newborn should be comprehensive, and it should begin even before pregnancy, and always continue:

1. Before starting to try to get pregnant, the expectant mother needs to be examined for hidden sexually transmitted infections, which may be asymptomatic.
2. The newborn should have a separate face towel.
3. Regularly wash your baby's and yourself's hands thoroughly before handling them.
4. and wash your baby regularly.
5. Keep the nursery clean.
6. Regularly ventilate the room and maintain air humidity.
7. Avoid contact with sick people.

From the video below you will learn how to care for the eyes of a newborn baby and get answers to frequently asked questions from parents. Enjoy watching:

Conjunctivitis is a rather unpleasant, but easily curable disease for a newborn baby, and if the recommendations are followed, it goes away quickly and without consequences.

Many young mothers and fathers, if there is any redness in the eyes of a newly born baby, diagnose him with conjunctivitis and immediately begin self-medication. What is conjunctivitis? Is a red eye in a baby always a manifestation of it? Are all conjunctivitis the same? Let's talk exactly about this.

Table of contents:

CONCEPT AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF CONJUNCTIVITIS

The medical term “conjunctivitis” is the general name for forms of the same disease that are different in etiology, but similar in clinical manifestations. All of them are characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, covering the eyelids on the inside and the eyeball in front. This mucous membrane is called conjunctiva, and its inflammation is called conjunctivitis.

The conjunctiva is very sensitive, so it instantly reacts to contact with allergens or microbes, to exposure to irritating substances. The mucous membrane of the eye suffers in many systemic diseases. Non-compliance with personal hygiene rules, exposure to dry and polluted air, bright light, and chemical agents have a detrimental effect on her condition.

In the first month after birth, it sometimes happens that a baby’s eyes become sour: the eyelids stick together after sleep, dry whitish crusts form on them, but there is no swelling of the eyelids or redness of the conjunctiva. This is not conjunctivitis. It is enough to rinse the baby’s eyes with boiled, or maybe slightly salted, water, and everything returns to normal. In a newborn, the lacrimal glands do not function, and the ducts connecting the lacrimal sacs with the nasal cavity are not always well-passed. Therefore, a baby’s eyes will stop souring by 1.5–2 months, when the lacrimal glands and nasolacrimal ducts begin to work at full capacity.

Another reason why a baby’s eyes become red and watery is the instillation of silver nitrate solution into the baby’s eyes in the delivery room to prevent conjunctivitis. Inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by instillation of the drug goes away without treatment within the first two days.

Clinical signs of conjunctivitis in infants:

The incidence of conjunctivitis in children and adults is approximately the same. But babies under the age of one year (due to the immaturity of the immune and other systems) are more susceptible to various diseases than older children, including conjunctivitis.

Please note: If your baby's eye is watering, the conjunctiva is red, or you notice pus in the baby's eyes, do not panic, but go to the children's clinic. If it is not possible to immediately show your baby to an ophthalmologist, call a pediatrician at home. Don’t try to reassure yourself that this is a banal conjunctivitis that you can easily cope with on your own.

Congenital glaucoma, dacryocystitis (inflammation of the lacrimal sac due to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct), uveitis (inflammation of the uvea), keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and many other eye diseases can be hidden under the guise of conjunctivitis. All of them, including conjunctivitis in newborns, require qualified medical care.

CLASSIFICATION OF CONJUNCTIVITIS IN NEWBORNS

All conjunctivitis in children, according to the mechanism of occurrence, is divided into allergic And non-allergic. According to the prevalence of the inflammatory process, they are bilateral And one-sided, according to the nature of the flow - sharp And chronic.

According to the etiology, namely the type of pathogen that caused inflammation of the eye mucosa, all non-allergic conjunctivitis in infants is divided into three groups:

• viral;
• bacterial;
• chlamydial

VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Of all non-allergic conjunctivitis, it is much more common than others. It usually develops against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection and is characterized by copious watery discharge from the eyes (lacrimation), so pus rarely accumulates in the eyes of an infant. The infection first affects one eye, and then the other.

Some serotypes cause epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, which affects not only the conjunctiva, but also the cornea, and corneal complications develop in children much more often than in adults. Due to swelling of the eyelids, itching in the eyes, and rapidly developing photophobia, the baby is capricious, screams, and refuses to eat and sleep. Often adenoviral conjunctivitis in infants is combined with catarrhal symptoms in the upper respiratory tract. If treatment is inadequate, the disease can be complicated by clouding of the cornea and decreased visual acuity.

Conjunctivitis is often accompanied by hemorrhages in the mucous membrane of the eye. Simplex and shingles viruses rarely cause conjunctivitis in children under one year of age. But if this happens, then there are other signs of herpetic infection (blistering rashes on the skin, etc.). Possible complications of the disease are herpetic keratitis, damage to the oculomotor and optic nerves, the choroid of the eyeball, and even loss of vision.

Newborns rarely get measles, infectious mononucleosis and mumps, but we must not forget that conjunctivitis can be one of the symptoms of these diseases.

Viral conjunctivitis in newborns, as a rule, does not require specific treatment with antiviral drugs. Measures aimed at preventing the spread of infection, treating the eyes with antiseptic agents and, if necessary, maintaining the child’s immunity are indicated.

BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Bacteria usually affect both eyes at once. The main symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis:

• bright redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes;
• copious purulent, sometimes mucopurulent discharge from both eyes;
• pronounced swelling of the eyelids.

The causative agents of this type of disease are staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae, and gonococci.

Staphylococcal conjunctivitis- a classic example of an acute purulent process. The child's eyelids become inflamed and swollen, his eyes water, and pus constantly accumulates in them. During sleep, purulent crusts form, sticking together the eyelids and eyelashes. The baby, suffering from pain and pain in the eyes, constantly screams, refuses to eat, and sleeps restlessly.

Conjunctivitis caused by pneumococcus- This is an acute process that lasts no more than two weeks. A pinpoint rash appears on the eyelids, they swell greatly, and a whitish film of pus forms in the eyes. All these symptoms develop against the background of high body temperature and deterioration in the baby’s well-being.

Poses a serious danger to the newborn gonococcal conjunctivitis, which he can catch from his mother if she is sick with gonorrhea. It manifests itself in the first 1–2 days (sometimes up to 5 days) after birth with swelling of the eyelids and serous-bloody discharge from the eyes, which thickens and becomes purulent within 24 hours. There is pronounced redness of the conjunctiva, the eyelids are dense when palpated.

In this situation, emergency diagnosis of the disease (detection of gonococcus in eye discharge) and timely treatment are of great importance. Otherwise, the infection penetrates deep into the conjunctiva, affects the cornea, leading to the development of serious complications, such as ulcers and perforation of the cornea, iridocyclitis, total inflammation of all structures of the eye (panophthalmitis). The most serious consequence is blindness.

It is extremely rare for newborns to be diagnosed with diphtheria conjunctivitis, developing against the background of an infectious disease of the same name. It is distinguished from other eye lesions by the formation of gray-white fibrin films on the surface of the mucous membrane, after removal of which the conjunctiva bleeds. Similar films can form with chlamydial, viral and other bacterial conjunctivitis, which is therefore called pseudodiphtheria. Their main difference from diphtheria is that after removing the films, the mucous membrane remains smooth and does not bleed.

Important: Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are acute infectious diseases! Therefore, if your baby is sick, provide him with individual items and eye treatment products to protect the rest of the family from infection.

CHLAMYDIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Infection of the baby occurs during or after childbirth from a sick mother. The time of onset of clinical symptoms depends on this: in the first days after birth or later. The incubation period can last up to 1–2 weeks. The first sign of chlamydial eye damage is often causeless anxiety in the child caused by pain in the eyes. And only then the eyelids swell and purulent discharge from the eyes appears. They are so abundant that even repeated washings do not always help. The cornea is rarely affected by chlamydial inflammation.

The pathogen can be identified using immunofluorescence analysis. Treatment involves the prescription of antimicrobial agents. The mother of a sick child and her sexual partner should also be examined and treated.

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An allergic reaction from the conjunctiva in newborns can be caused by dust, animal hair, bedding fluff, detergents, etc. Inflammation of the eye mucosa can be isolated or combined with allergic rhinitis.

The main manifestations of the disease are redness of the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation, and severe itching. When a bacterial infection occurs, the discharge from the eyes becomes purulent. How does the baby react to all this? He is capricious, screams loudly, sucks poorly, wakes up and cries in his sleep.

Important:The prognosis for conjunctivitis largely depends on how quickly the cause of the disease is identified and truly effective treatment is prescribed. Only a specialist can do this. Therefore, do not experiment with your baby’s health, do not self-medicate. Do not forget that any conjunctivitis is always a potential risk of developing blindness. At the first signs of trouble, seek help from a pediatrician or ophthalmologist.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT

The basis for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis is the prescription of antibacterial agents in the form of ointments, solutions for instillation, and, if necessary, suspensions for oral administration. It is very good if it is possible to conduct a bacteriological study of purulent discharge from the eyes and establish which drugs the infectious agent is sensitive to.

Do not be afraid to use drops and ointments containing antibiotics. Only they, and not herbal decoctions or tea lotions, can cope with a purulent infection and prevent the development of complications of bacterial conjunctivitis. Folk remedies are just a good addition to drug therapy.

In the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, the main thing is to identify the allergen and stop the child’s contact with it. Cool compresses on the eyes ease the course of the disease. Decongestants, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs are used locally. If indicated, the doctor prescribes dosage forms for oral administration.

It is not always possible to cure viral conjunctivitis with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents. In some cases, it is still necessary to use ointments and drops with antiviral activity.

• While waiting for a sick child to be examined by a doctor, wash the baby’s eyes with a warm decoction of chamomile or calendula, weakly brewed tea or a solution of furatsilin. Use sterile cotton wool for this;
• for each procedure, pour a small amount of rinsing liquid into a separate container;
• rinse each eye with a separate swab from the outer corner of the eye to the inner one;

• never re-immerse a used tampon into the rinsing liquid;
• for unilateral conjunctivitis, treat both eyes: first the healthy one and then the sick one;
• After examining your baby by a pediatrician or ophthalmologist, strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations: dose the medications correctly and follow the prescribed frequency of use;
• If the baby’s well-being improves, you can reduce the number of washes. Do not stop taking medications until your doctor stops them;
• Before each treatment of your child’s eyes, do not forget to wash your hands with soap.

In the maternity hospital, doctors take care of the prevention of conjunctivitis in newborns.

And after discharge home, all responsibility falls on the baby’s parents.

Tips for parents:

• do not forget to wash your hands with soap before each interaction with your baby;
• use only individual products and hygiene items to care for your child;
• wash it only with boiled water;
• exclude the baby from contact with sick family members, and use a protective medical mask yourself;