Currently, infectious pathologies are quite widespread. They can be accompanied by various symptoms, but the reason for their occurrence is often the non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. If the child's eye is red and festering, parents should respond to the symptom as soon as possible, as sometimes it can be a sign of a dangerous disease.
Symptom definition
If a child has redness of the eyes, the discharge of pus from them, then these symptoms can be supplemented by severe tearing, sticking together of the eyelids with yellow crusts. In addition, the general well-being of the child may be disturbed: he develops lethargy, anxiety, and constant tearfulness. Older children may complain of blurred vision, a feeling of the presence of a foreign object in the eye, discomfort, burning.
Causes of occurrence
If a child's eyes turn red andfester, the reasons may be different. The most common are:
- Clogged tear ducts.
- Glaucoma.
- Blepharitis.
- Inflammatory process in the choroid of the eyes.
- Allergy.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Traumatic damage to the mucous membranes of the visual organs.
- Penetration of a foreign object into the eye.
- Fatigue, eye strain.
Let's take a closer look at why the eye turned red, watery and festering. In a child, such symptoms may indicate a certain pathology, which should be treated as soon as possible.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is the most common eye disease in babies. They are classified according to the type of pathogen.
Is the child's eye reddened and festering? What else could be the cause?
Adenoviral conjunctivitis
This pathology is one of the most common and contagious. The child first loses his appetite, his temperature begins to rise, headaches occur. Then the temperature decreases, the general state normalizes. After such an improvement, a repeated increase in temperature follows, and redness of the eyes occurs. Allocations from them are present, but in small quantities. Often there is an increase in lymph nodes, sore throat, runny nose. If a viral infection is present, then a small patient has a decrease in the sensitivity of the eyes, while burning and other unpleasant symptomsmissing.
Herpetic conjunctivitis
This pathological process is easily recognized by the bubbles present near the eye and on the eyelids. In addition, the child has photophobia, profuse lacrimation.
Staphylococcal, pneumococcal conjunctivitis
If the eye is reddened and festering, this may indicate infection with staphylococci and pneumococci. The peculiarity of these pathologies is that they always begin acutely. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, you can notice that the child's eyes are very festering and reddened. After that, the inflammation passes to the other eye. Moreover, the visual organ blushes very much, and pus is released in very large quantities.
If the eyes are inflamed, reddened and festering, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Gonococcal conjunctivitis
This ailment often manifests itself a couple of days after the birth of the baby. It develops under the influence of an infection that can enter the child's body through care items or the mother's birth canal. The main distinguishing feature of gonococcal conjunctivitis is that the eyelid swells very strongly in a child. Because of this, the baby's eyes practically do not open. In addition, there is a strong secretion of mucous discharge. Pathology is quite dangerous if therapy is not started in a timely manner. It can lead to inflammation that affects the entire organ of vision.
Diphtheria conjunctivitis
This type of disease is characterized by the appearance of severe swelling, the appearance of films in the region of the edge of the eyelids. Attemptsremoval of such films leads to the release of blood and the subsequent formation of scars. Films disappear on their own on the 7-10th day of treatment.
When an eye is inflamed, swollen, reddened and festering, this should not go unnoticed.
Allergic conjunctivitis
This form of the disease develops in babies mainly in the early spring. The infectious process in this case affects both visual organs. The main symptom of the disease is unbearable itching. There may also be increased photosensitivity, inflammation of the eyelids, runny nose, nasal congestion. The disease is not contagious.
Trachoma
This disease is a chronic form of an infectious process that affects the eyes. It develops as a result of the vital activity of chlamydia. The main danger of pathology is that in the absence of adequate therapy, the child may develop blindness. Currently, this pathology is diagnosed extremely rarely. Infection occurs through the hands, clothing, hygiene items of a person who is already infected. In rare cases, flies can be vectors.
The incubation period is 8-16 days, the lesion affects both eyes at the same time. In the early stages of the development of pathology, the conjunctiva begins to turn red. Advanced forms of trachoma are characterized by inversion of the eyelids and clouding of the cornea.
The pathological process has four stages of development:
- The first stage is characterized by inflammation and the formation of large follicles.size.
- At the second stage, the follicles begin to disintegrate, merge with subsequent scar formation.
- In the third stage, there is a progressive formation of scar tissue in the conjunctiva.
- At the fourth stage, the scarring process is completed.
When the eyes fester and the eyelids are reddened, it can be dacryocystitis.
Dacryocystitis
This is a pathology characterized by the development of an inflammatory process occurring in the lacrimal sac. The disease is formed because the tear fluid can stagnate in the lacrimal sac as a result of an infectious process. Also, the fluid can stagnate due to violations of the patency of the lacrimal duct - the connecting element between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity.
Inflammatory reaction in the lacrimal apparatus in a baby is congenital. In adult patients, this pathology develops due to swelling of the tissues adjacent to the lacrimal canal.
Such symptoms can develop under the influence of respiratory infections, chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Dacryocystitis can be of several varieties: parasitic, microbial, viral. An eye disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Severe tearing.
- Swelling in the area of the lacrimal sac.
- Discharge of mucopurulent nature from the lacrimal duct.
- Redness of the lunate fold, eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal caruncle.
- In chronic forms of dacryocystitis, purulent corneal ulcers, keratitis, conjunctivitis,blepharitis.
- In acute forms, there may be narrowing of the palpebral fissures, headache, fever, chills.
In the absence of timely therapy, dacryocystitis can lead to the subsequent occurrence of internal and external fistula, from which purulent mucus is regularly released. In addition, the lack of therapy can lead to the development of phlegmon of the orbit, a rather serious complication.
Barley
This eye disease is characterized by swelling of the eyelid. A pathological process occurs as a result of infection on the ciliary follicles. The medical name for barley is hordeolum.
There are several varieties of barley:
- Internal. Its formation occurs on the inner surfaces of the century. The main reason for the development is infection in the Meibomian glands.
- External. Is the most common. Focuses on the outer parts of the eyelid. Looks like an abscess.
You can recognize barley by its characteristic symptoms:
- Sensation of a foreign body in the eye.
- Increased tear production.
- Puffiness, redness of the eyelid.
- Soreness.
Style can develop under the influence of blepharitis or staphylococcal infection.
Diagnostic Methods
If the eye is red and festering, what should I do? To make an accurate diagnosis, you should show the baby to an ophthalmologist. The specialist will ask parents about the symptoms that have arisen and factors that couldprovoke the development of pathology. In addition, it is important to characterize the clinical picture - the presence of additional pathologies, the severity of symptoms, their duration. In addition, the ophthalmologist will conduct a differential diagnosis. To do this, you will need to take a smear or scraping from the eye conjunctiva in order to determine the infectious agent. After the doctor has collected all the necessary information, he will examine the child and make a diagnosis if the eye is red, swollen and festering.
Therapy
Redness and suppuration of the eyes can occur in a child on the background of various pathologies, so the treatment is individual. Therapy should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Ignoring medical recommendations can lead to the development of severe complications and consequences.
Conjunctivitis therapy
If the eye turns red, festering, how to treat, it is interesting to many. During treatment aimed at eliminating conjunctivitis, the patient and all people around him should wash their hands and observe the rules of individual hygiene. Therapeutic measures are assigned based on the type of pathological process.
The doctor must include the use of local medicines in the therapy regimen. These can be interferons, antiviral ointments, drops. If a child is diagnosed with conjunctivitis of viral origin, the use of "Ophthalmoferon" will be effective. To stop the unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to use the means,mimic a tear, and apply warm compresses.
During the treatment of a child, it is important to restore his immunity, since viral conjunctivitis occurs mainly when the body's defenses are weakened. To increase immunity, microelements, multivitamin complexes, herbal preparations that increase immunity should be given to the child.
When the eye is reddened and festering, what to treat, it is important to find out in advance.
Viral conjunctivitis should never be ignored, therapy should be carried out immediately, since the inflammatory process from the mucous visual organs can pass to other eye tissues and the cornea. This is fraught with the development of white spots on the cornea, further leading to blindness. Subsequent treatment is quite complex and lengthy.
If conjunctivitis is of a bacterial nature, then the doctor must include ointments and drops with an antibacterial effect in the treatment regimen. During the day, drops should be used, as ointments can reduce visual acuity. They are recommended to use before bedtime.
For the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, fluoroquinolone antibiotics should be used. These medicines are effective if the disease is provoked by gonococcal or chlamydial infection. There are situations where some organisms show resistance to antibiotic agents. In these cases, the ophthalmologist prescribes bakposev to determine sensitivity to antibiotic drugs and prescribe anotherdrug.
For the treatment of gonorrhea, local and general antibiotics are used. Often prescribed "Bacitracin", "Ciprofloxacin", "Ceftriaxone".
The most effective eye drops are: "Penicillin", "Floxal", "Okatsil".
Additionally, the child is given an eye wash using a solution of boric acid. You can eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of the disease with a cold compress and drops of artificial tears.
Therapy of allergic conjunctivitis involves, first of all, the exclusion of contact with the allergen. To do this, it is necessary to identify which substance provoked an allergic response. In cases where it is impossible to exclude contact with the allergen, the specialist prescribes the use of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs.
Trachoma therapy
If the eye is reddened, it hurts and fester, then the sooner trachoma therapy begins, the less harm will be done to the conjunctiva and cornea.
As a rule, in children after long-term therapy, a lot of scars remain on the mucous membranes of the eyes. They provoke curvature of the cartilage, inversion of the eyelids, violation of the position of the eyelashes.
For the purpose of therapy, the doctor may recommend antibacterial solutions and ointments. The most effective in this case are: Oletetrin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin. The following antibiotic agents can also be used: "Etazol", "Sulfapyridazine sodium".
In severe forms of the disease, accompanied by deformation of the eyelids, clouding of the cornea, an operativeintervention. If the disease does not respond to therapy, the patient begins to develop dry eye syndrome and purulent ulcerative lesions of the cornea.
Dacryocystitis therapy
Before starting therapy, if the child has a reddened eye and fester, the dried infiltrate should be eliminated. The child is undergoing UHF treatment and systemic vitamin therapy. In addition, an abscess may need to be opened. The wound formed as a result of the manipulation is treated with antiseptic agents: hydrogen peroxide, "Dioxidin", "Furacilin".
Along with this, the use of the following ointments and drops is recommended: "Floxal", "Tetracycline ointment", "Erythromycin ointment", "Miramistin", "Sulfacyl-sodium", "Gentamicin", "Levomycetin".
Also, therapy requires systemic exposure to antibiotic drugs. It is supposed to use medicines with a wide range of effects: penicillins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, when the eye is inflamed, swollen, reddened and festering.
Barley Therapy
To treat barley, warm compresses should be applied to the affected eye. Such actions must be repeated three or four times a day until the child feels relief.
When the eye itches, reddened and fester, drug therapy involves the use of drops and ointments, which are based on sulfonamides. In order to eliminate severe forms of the pathological process, surgical treatment is often recommended. It is carried out in cases wherethe stye grows to a considerable size and drug therapy is ineffective.
Preventive advice from experts
To prevent the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the visual organ, doctors advise, first of all, to carefully follow the recommendations for personal hygiene. It is strictly forbidden to touch the eyes with dirty hands.
Children using contact vision correction should be especially careful to follow sanitary and hygienic standards.
In order to prevent gonoblenorrhea in newborns, pregnant women should be carefully examined for gonococcal infection and, if detected, begin urgent therapy. After the birth of a child, for prophylactic purposes, they begin to instill a solution of sodium sulfacyl into the eyes. This tool effectively prevents the development of pathology.
Thus, if a child's eyes turn red and fester, then this is an alarming symptom. Parents should not put off seeing an ophthalmologist and receiving treatment.
