Bacterial conjunctivitis in children

Children frequently get bacterial conjunctivitis, which can irritate and cause discomfort in the eyes. Early detection of the symptoms is crucial for parents because timely treatment can stop the infection from spreading.

Redness, swelling, and discharge from the eyes are common symptoms. Despite its frightening appearance, bacterial conjunctivitis is typically manageable with the correct attention and care.

Knowing how to control the infection and how it spreads can have a significant impact on how quickly your child recovers. You can alleviate their discomfort and keep it from spreading to other family members by taking the appropriate action.

Topic Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Children
Common Symptoms Redness, itching, discharge, swollen eyelids
How It"s Spread Contact with infected hands, surfaces, or items
Treatment Antibiotic eye drops or ointments
Prevention Tips Wash hands, avoid touching eyes, don"t share towels

The most common causes

The most common cause of acute inflammatory ocular diseases in infants is bacterial infections. There are currently more than 500,000 different types of harmful bacteria known to science. Once inside a child’s body, they proliferate fast and can induce severe inflammation rather quickly.

Staphylococci and streptococci are frequently identified as the causative agents of bacterial conjunctivitis in pediatric ophthalmology. They are in the outside world, perfectly preserved. Bacteria can persist for a considerable amount of time in various rooms if specific disinfectants are not used.

These microorganisms are found in particularly high concentrations in crowded groups. The air in children’s educational facilities is heavily contaminated with bacteria.

Additionally, staphylococci are highly resilient to adverse environmental conditions. They can survive for quite some time in rooms that are cold and have poor heating. Microorganisms actively multiply when they find favorable conditions and have the potential to spread infectious diseases.

The conjunctiva, the mucous membrane of the eye, has an excellent blood supply. When microorganisms get into the bloodstream, they swiftly spread throughout the body and harm other organs.

Because it can lead to a number of unfavorable complications, bacterial conjunctivitis is a rather dangerous condition.

Incubation period

It takes a considerable amount of time before the disease’s initial, recognizable symptoms manifest. We refer to this time frame as the incubation period. The typical duration of bacterial conjunctivitis is 7–10 days.

Dr. Komarovsky offers guidance on how to differentiate bacterial from viral conjunctivitis. The length of the incubation period will be shorter if a virus caused the illness. It usually takes three to five days.

The child’s body contains a notably higher quantity of bacteria prior to the onset of the disease’s initial symptoms. Once they’re in an environment where they can thrive, they proliferate quickly. Inflammatory disease manifests vividly when pathogenic microorganisms travel throughout the body via the bloodstream.

What are the main symptoms?

There are numerous possible clinical manifestations for bacterial conjunctivitis. Because microorganisms cause damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes, the most common indication of inflammation is vision impairment.

Bacterial conjunctivitis typically manifests as one of the following symptoms:

  • Severe lacrimation. Fluid flow from the baby"s eyes during the acute period of the disease is observed almost constantly. In some children, lacrimation may begin with only one eye. After a few hours, the inflammation spreads to the second.
  • Purulent discharge. If the disease is caused by bacterial flora, then the discharge from the eyes becomes purulent. In some cases, when infected with staphylococcus, green discharge may be observed in babies. Some bacteria give a more crimson hue. Pus from the eyes is quite sticky, difficult to remove during hygiene procedures.
  • Redness of the eyes. With bacterial conjunctivitis, redness is moderate. Severe redness occurs only in severe forms of the disease and is more typical for viral variants of the course of the disease. In babies with bacterial conjunctivitis, redness of both eyes is observed. This symptom may persist for another week after recovery.
  • Feeling of a foreign object or "sand" in the eyes. Often is the very first sensation in the early stages of the disease. When this symptom appears, one can already suspect the rapid development of other signs of conjunctivitis.
  • Pain in bright light. Sun rays, falling on the inflamed mucous membrane of the eye, cause increased pain and lacrimation. During the acute period of the disease, the baby feels better in a darker room. So that the mucous membrane of the eye heals quickly and is not additionally injured, it is better to curtain the children"s room well.
  • Deterioration of the general condition of the child. Babies become more capricious during the period of illness, their appetite decreases. Severe pain syndrome does not allow the child to open his eyes often. He begins to blink more often. With a more pronounced pain syndrome, children cry and refuse to eat, try to spend more time in bed or sleep.
  • The appearance of intoxication. Any bacterial process causes an increase in temperature, headache and increases general weakness. This phenomenon is associated with the abundance of bacterial toxins secreted by microorganisms. The body temperature of babies usually rises to 38-39 degrees. With such an increase, fever and chills may occur.

Conjunctivitis causes a wide range of symptoms to appear very quickly. Babies experience multiple increases in lacrimation and pain syndrome during the first two days of life. Parents should take their infant to an ophthalmologist right away to avoid the development of potentially dangerous complications that could result in a child’s permanent visual impairment. In this instance, the physician will provide a precise diagnosis and prescribe all relevant medication therapy.

Treatment

Numerous negative consequences can result from any bacterial illness. Mandatory prescriptions for medications are needed to stop this.

Doctors typically prescribe different eye drops that have a bactericidal effect. Nevertheless, these medications may not always be enough to eradicate bacteria entirely from the body. Antibiotic tablets are needed in many cases.

The only necessary course of action for treating bacterial conjunctivitis is to take the following medications:

  • Use of antibacterial drugs as prescribed by a doctor. They can be in the form of drops, tablets or injections. Most often, albucid, tetracycline and chloramphenicol ointments are used to treat bacterial eye infections. These drugs have proven themselves well in pediatric practice and practically do not cause adverse side effects in children. Ointments are placed with a sterile glass stick behind the damaged eyelid 3-4 times a day. Usually, the duration of such treatment is no more than 10 days. Only a doctor can prescribe antibiotic tablets and injections. In his recommendations, it indicates the frequency, dose and duration of such an antibacterial course.
  • Eye washing. For this purpose, it is better to use ordinary boiled water with the addition of antiseptic agents. For kids from the very first months of life, decoctions of chamomile are perfect. The moistened cotton pad needs to wipe the baby"s eyes from the outer edge of the eye towards the nose. Cotton discs must be changed for each side. Washing eyes in the acute stage of the disease can be every hour.
  • Ensuring a good rest. During sleep, the children"s body is restored and gained strength to combat the disease. Each child up to five years old must sleep during the day. Kids who are sick with an infectious eye disease should definitely rest in the daytime with closed eyes. At this time, the mucous membrane is restored and heals.
  • Therapeutic nutrition. During the acute period of the disease, babies must be sure to receive food with a sufficient amount of protein. Such products will help strengthen the immune system and speed up recovery. For children of any age, poultry and veal are excellent as protein, as well as white fish. You can supplement the diet with porridge, as well as vegetable and fruit purees.
  • Optimal water regime. To eliminate all bacterial toxins from the body, the child should drink a lot. It is better for the baby to drink at least 1.5 liters per day during illness. You can drink ordinary boiled warm water. During the acute period of illness, fruit and berry compotes or fruit drinks are prepared for babies. You can cook a rosehip decoction. Such drinks are rich in vitamin C and useful microelements.
  • Compliance with the daily routine. During the acute period of illness, you should not walk with the baby outside. It is better to postpone such walks until recovery. This can be especially dangerous in the summer. Bright sun rays, falling on the irritated mucous membrane, cause additional damage and significantly increase inflammation.
  • It is also better to postpone bathing in the first days of the disease. Especially if the child has a high body temperature or fever. After bathing, the baby can easily get hypothermia. When hypothermia weakens the immune system, which significantly reduces the baby"s strength in fighting infection.

In the following video, you can witness the procedure of applying drops to the child’s eyes.

Children’s bacterial conjunctivitis is a common but treatable condition. Parents can aid in preventing complications and accelerating recovery by identifying the symptoms early and seeking treatment right away.

The risk of infection can be significantly decreased by following basic hygiene precautions, such as frequently washing your hands and not touching your eyes. During outbreaks, it’s also critical to maintain shared items clean and segregated, such as towels.

Following a doctor’s advice and finishing the recommended treatment will help to ensure that your child’s conjunctivitis clears up quickly and completely. Maintaining awareness and being proactive can have a significant impact on safeguarding your child’s eye health.

Children frequently get bacterial conjunctivitis, which is an eye infection that results in redness, irritation, and discharge. It spreads quickly, particularly in settings like daycare centers or schools, and needs to be treated right away to avoid complications. Antibiotics can rapidly eradicate the infection and stop it from spreading to others, so parents should be aware of the symptoms as soon as possible and see a doctor for appropriate care. Hand washing frequently and avoiding contact with the eyes are two basic hygiene measures that can help lower the risk of transmission.

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Svetlana Kozlova

Family consultant and family relationship specialist. I help parents build trusting relationships with their children and each other. I believe that a healthy atmosphere in the home is the key to happiness and harmony, which I share in articles and recommendations.

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