Conjunctivitis
Chloramphenicol
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the eyeballs and the inside of the eyelids. The most common causes are bacterial or viral infections. Infective conjunctivitis can occur at any age, however infants are more susceptible.
How will I know if my child has infective conjunctivitis?
- usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other
- causes sore red eyes and a discharge
- may cause inflammation of the eyelids with redness, irritation, drying and flaking of the skin around the eyes.
A thick yellow or white discharge is usually due to bacterial conjunctivitis. The eyelashes may stick together, making it difficult for your child to open their eyes. A watery discharge is common with viral conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis may also be associated with swollen glands and cold symptoms (see Colds).
What else might it be?
Sometimes newborn babies develop conjunctivitis due to an infection (gonorrhoea or chlamydia) obtained from the mother during birth (neonatal conjunctivitis). You should notice this as a discharge of pus from the eye about one week after birth. If your baby is under 2 months old and you suspect they have conjunctivitis, you should contact your doctor.
Allergic conjunctivitis or irritation of the eye can have different causes, including pollen (hay fever), animal hair, dust, preservatives used in eye drops, and chemicals such as paint and solvents. These usually affect both eyes at the same time, causing red runny eyes, itching of the eyes and nose, a nasal discharge and sneezing.
An object stuck in the eye may produce similar symptoms to conjunctivitis. If you suspect there may be something stuck in your child's eye, a doctor will need to stain the eye with fluorescein dye so that they can see the object and carefully remove it.
One type of conjunctivitis (infectious keratitis) can cause a sensation of having something in the eye that is so severe and painful it is difficult to open the eyes. If left untreated, permanent damage to the vision may occur. If your baby is in pain then you need to seek medical help.
What to expect:
Infectious conjunctivitis usually resolves itself and does not cause any serious harm. Symptoms should generally improve within 2 to 3 days; however, viral conjunctivitis may last for 2 to 3 weeks.
Prevention:
- wash hands before and after touching your child's eyes
- use separate face cloths and towels until the infection has cleared
How to treat:
Often conjunctivitis will resolve spontaneously within 2 to 3 days. However, carefully cleansing the eyes may be soothing and will remove any sticky discharge. If the conjunctivitis is severe, persists for more than 3 days, or your child is very young you should consult a doctor. If the doctor suspects the conjunctivitis is due to a viral infection, treatment may not be necessary. If a bacterial infection is suspected your GP or pharmacist may recommend antibacterial eye drops or ointment, such as Optrex Infected Eyes Eye Drops. These are eye drops which contain an antibiotic called chloramphenicol, and are suitable for children over 2 years.
Click here for more information on Optrex
