What is Conjunctivitis?
Inflammation of the Conjunctiva. It can occur at
any age & equally affects
both sexes.
Is Conjunctivitis contagious?
Yes. Highly contiguous transmitted directly by
discharge. It is advice hot to use towels, utensils, soap etc. of person
having conjunctivitis.
What are the symptoms?
·
Discomfort
·
Foreign
body sensation
·
Red
eye
·
Discharge
·
Blurring
of vision
·
Colored
halo.
What are the signs?
Lid edema, chemosis,
matting of the eyelashes, conjunctival congestion mucopurelent discharge.
How long does it persists?
Usually conjunctivitis is self limiting condition
duration of less than 1-4 weeks.
Who all are more prone to this
condition?
·
Newborn
–1st 4 weeks of
life ( ophthalmia neonatorum)
·
In
children (2-8 years): who have not been immunized, malnourished, weak&
living in unhygienic condition.
·
In
adults: living in unhygienic conditions, poor immune defence mechanism.
What are the complication?
·
Blepharitis-
chronic inflammation of lid
margins.
·
Cornea
involvement.
·
Chronic
dacryocystitis.
What prevention measures one should
take?
·
Do
not use
towels ,utensil, soap etc. of infected person.
·
Use
of sunglasses as it prevents auto
infection
in the other eye if one is already infected.
·
Wash
your hands after handshaking with infected person.
·
Personal
hygiene.
·
Hygienic
environment.
Consult ophthalmologist
for the treatment as early as possible to prevent complication.
What is
OPHTHALMIC NEONATORUM?
Acute
bilateral purulent conjunctivitis in the newborn occurring within 1st
four weeks of life.
What are the causes?
Organisms which cause ophthalmic neonatorum:
(1)
Gonococcus
(2)
Chlamydia oculogenitalis
How these organism causes disease
in the newborn eye?
Source
from the BIRTH PASSAGES If mother was infected. These organisms are located
in the birth passages during
delivery newborn comes in contact.
What are clinical features?
·
Both
eyes are affected.
·
Eye
lids are swollen and tense
·
Marked
chemosis (conjunctival oedema)
·
Cornea
seen buried in the chemo tic conjunctiva which favour collection of purulent
discharge on the cornea and leads to peripheral corneal ulceration and
central corneal ulcers.
·
These
yellow pus seen matting the lashes (eyelashes).
Why infant eye is vulnerable to
such severe inflammation?
Because of
Absence of 3 protections: -
·
Absence
of tears
·
Absence
of lymphocytes in adenoid layer
·
Corneal
epithelium is very thin in newborns and organism gonococcus easily
penetrates intact corneal epithelium.
What are the complications?
·
Corneal
ulcers
·
Corneal
perforation
·
Corneal
opacity
·
Nystagmus
What is the TREATMENT?
Never try medication of your own
Consult your doctor before try any drugs.
1.
Antenatal examination of vaginal discharge if infection is evident it
should be treated.
2.
Meticulous obstetric aspepsis to be observed at labour ward.
3. Crede’s prophylaxis soon after birth eyelids are cleaned with separate sterile swabs then penicillin eye drops instilled into both the eyes.
4.
Asepsis should be observed while handling the new
born baby especially in the 1st four weeks of life.