Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Although it may be alarming, we can say in general terms that it is a relatively simple eye problem to treat.
Its most common symptoms are redness of the eye, itching or stinging, gritty sensation in the eye, discharge, swelling of the eyelids, tearing and blurred vision due to interference of the discharge and tears.
Conjunctivitis in children can be of several types:
- Bacterial conjunctivitis: usually due to streptococcal, staphylococcal, etc. infection.
- Viral conjunctivitis: it is usually caused by an adenovirus and is the most common in children because it is highly contagious.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: it is caused by the appearance of an aeroallergenic agent such as pollen, dust mites, or animal hair, among others.
- Irritative conjunctivitis: as its name indicates, it is caused by any element that may irritate the eye, such as a foreign body, chlorine from swimming pools and even atmospheric pollution.
Depending on the type of conjunctivitis, one treatment or another will be indicated. It should be noted that conjunctivitis is very common in children, as it is easily spread and contagious, for example in nurseries and kindergartens.
This is due to the fact that children share toys and materials previously infected and, by the mere fact of touching each other, there is a risk of infection and spread of the same.
Coughing and sneezing are also other routes of easy transmission. One of the problems we encounter when trying to prevent it is that it is usually contagious before the symptoms appear. Even so, we can give these guidelines to avoid its appearance and contagion:
- Avoid children rubbing their eyes, and if it is difficult, wash their hands regularly.
- Avoid sharing towels or other items susceptible to contagion.
- In the case of having to clean the child’s eyes, always do it from the inside out, always in the same direction and with a clean, single-use tissue. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after cleaning.
Keep these recommendations in mind and we always advise you to see your ophthalmologist if you suspect that your child may be developing conjunctivitis.