A congestive papule is edema in the eye that can have a variety of possible underlying causes and, if left untreated, can lead to severe vision loss and even death.
What is a congestive papule?
A congestive papilla is a buildup of water, called papilledema, in the eye, more specifically at the point where the optic nerve meets the retina. Due to the water retention, a swelling of the optic nerve head becomes visible, which is noticeable by a bulge – usually in both eyes, since the congestion papilla is usually not present on one side. Causes of a congestion papule can be many different conditions, each requiring a different type of treatment. While a congestion papilla does not develop frequently, it can occur in patients from any gender or age group. If a congestive papilla and its causes are not treated or are not treated adequately, it can possibly lead to serious complications with irreparable damage to the optic nerve and even death. Therefore, if signs of a congestive papilla are present, a visit to the doctor is essential.
Causes
Several conditions may be the cause of a congestive papule. The most common cause of a congestive papilla is increased intracranial pressure, which in turn is caused by several possibilities. Reasons for increased intracranial pressure can include conditions such as brain tumors or inflammation of the brain, such as meningitis or an abscess. Injuries that cause bleeding in the brain or in the meninges can also result in increased intracranial pressure. Likewise, deformities of the skull can lead to higher intracranial pressure and be causative for a congestive papule. In rare cases, increased intracranial pressure can also be caused by a disturbance of the cerebrospinal fluid outflow, which can be caused, for example, by a so-called pseudotumor cerebri.
Typical symptoms and signs
- Visual disturbances
- Headache
Diagnosis and course
Symptoms of congestive papilla include headache followed by visual disturbances. Since these symptoms also occur in combination in a number of other diseases, the diagnosis of a congestive papilla must necessarily be confirmed by a medical specialist. In order to be able to rule out other diseases with certainty when a congestion papilla is suspected, the physician can perform various examinations, such as an ophthalmoscopy or a sonography of the eyeball, but also a computer tomography or an MRI. If a pseudotumor cerebri is suspected, a lumbar puncture is usually also performed, during which a sample of the accumulated cerebrospinal fluid is taken. However, this is only done if all other causes have been ruled out. If a congestive papule persists undetected and is not treated, it can lead to damage of the optic nerve fibers after some time and thus to blindness. Increased intracranial pressure, brain tumor, and meningitis can also easily lead to the patient’s death.
Complications
Congestive papilloma is a very serious disease and for this reason must be treated at all costs. If left untreated, the condition can lead to complete vision loss or death of the affected person. The visual disturbances themselves can occur without any particular reason. Furthermore, most of those affected suffer from very severe headaches. The headaches also occur at night, which can lead to sleep disturbances and thus to depression or irritability. If the congestive papilla is not treated, complete blindness will result. The further course of the disease depends strongly on its cause. In the case of a tumor, unfortunately, a positive prognosis cannot always be given. In many cases, the patient’s life expectancy is significantly limited and reduced by this disease. No particular complications occur during the treatment itself. In many cases, however, patients are dependent on chemotherapy. This can also lead to various side effects.
When should you see a doctor?
Since congestive papilloma is a serious condition, it is also essential to be examined and treated by a doctor. In the worst case, this can lead to complete blindness or even death of the affected person if left untreated.Therefore, an ophthalmologist should be consulted already at the first signs of the congestion papilla. The earlier the disease is detected, the better is usually the further course. A doctor should be consulted if the affected person suddenly suffers from severe visual complaints. These occur without any particular reason and do not disappear on their own. Blurred vision or double vision and veil vision may occur. Severe headaches associated with these visual disturbances may also be indicative of the congestion papilla and must be examined and treated by a physician. As a rule, the congestion papilla can be detected by an ophthalmologist and can also be treated. However, no general prediction can be made about the further course or life expectancy of the affected person.
Treatment and therapy
To treat a congestive papule efficiently, the cause of the congestive papule must be secured. Depending on the cause, treatment of a congestive papule can vary widely. If there is increased intracranial pressure due to meningitis or other inflammation, the intracranial pressure is usually treated with medication. A brain tumor may need to be surgically removed and treated with chemotherapy. If the causes of increased intracranial pressure and a resulting congestive papule are not due to one of the usual, visible possibilities, therapy is first carried out with so-called glucocorticoids. These are steroid hormones. The increased pressure emanating from the cerebrospinal fluid can also be relieved with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Carboanhydrase inhibitors are a drug made of acetazolamide, which decreases reabsorption of water. If intracranial pressure cannot be reduced with medication, surgery by a neurosurgeon is needed to drain accumulated cerebrospinal fluid.
Prevention
To prevent a congestive papilla, a doctor should be consulted if headaches and vision changes persist, so that the causes that may lead to a congestive papilla can be treated early to counteract a congestive papilla. If a congestion papilla is already present, but only on one side, the healthy eye is treated along with the diseased eye as a preventive measure.
Aftercare
A congestive papilla is not a disease in its own right. Other causes underlie the visual disturbances. Brain tumors, inadequately cured infections, hematomas, or hypertension can cause congestive papules. The aftercare depends on the trigger. The goal is to correct the causative disease and restore vision. In addition, irreversible damage to the optic nerve must be prevented. After the therapy has been completed, the patient should be able to lead a symptom-free life again without any restrictions. The congestion papilla is not manifested by headaches or blurred vision in all patients. Despite the absence of symptoms, the diagnosis must be taken seriously and the cause determined. Brain diseases in particular can take on life-threatening courses. A brain tumor requires surgery in almost all cases. Removing it reduces the pressure on the optic nerve and the symptoms subside. Follow-up care continues until this point. A neurological follow-up examination and / or control appointments with the ophthalmologist provide information on the postoperative condition. Inflammatory processes as triggers are treated with appropriate medication. During the follow-up, the general practitioner checks the healing progress at regular intervals. After the inflammation has healed and the patient’s vision has been restored, there is no need for follow-up care.
What you can do yourself
To reduce discomfort, the affected person should not subject himself to unnecessary stress. The conditions of vision should be adapted to natural needs. Light sources should therefore be optimized when reading, writing or other activities in which the optic nerve is used intensively. If squinting of the eyes or straining of vision occurs, changes are necessary. The light should be set brighter to support the functional activity of the eye. The causes for the development of headaches should also be minimized in everyday life. Sufficient night sleep helps the organism to regenerate and reduces sources of promoting discomfort. Physical and psychological stressors are to be reduced.Conflict situations should be resolved as soon as possible so that the reasons for processes of circling thoughts or an insomnia are alleviated. General well-being should be promoted through the selection of leisure activities. A basic optimistic attitude is also helpful in coping with everyday challenges. In situations where help is needed, people in the immediate environment should be asked for support to prevent accidents. The affected person should not expose himself to overexertion, as his physical capacity has changed due to the disease. Exchanges with other sufferers can bring important hints and tips that are felt to be pertinent.