Synonyms in a broader sense
Conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis English: conjunctivitis, pinkeye
Definition
(conjunctiva = conjunctiva of the eye; -itis = inflammation) Inflammation of the conjunctiva is one of the most common diseases of the eye. The eye itches, is red and releases secretions. It can be triggered by bacteria, viruses, an allergy or external stimuli such as dry air. Depending on the cause, it may or may not be contagious.
What forms of conjunctivitis are there?
Basically, conjunctivitis can be divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory conjunctivitis depending on the cause. These are subdivided again in each case. Non-inflammatory conjunctivitis: inflammatory conjunctivitis: The doctor can tell which type of conjunctivitis is present by looking at the symptoms: Infectious conjunctivitis is particularly often responsible for the secretion of secretions or the development of bulges in the conjunctiva.
The infection usually goes unnoticed when those affected rub their itchy eyes and then transmit the pathogens via their hands. This can happen via door handles or other objects that many people touch with their hands. Bacteria or viruses can also be transmitted via direct hand contact.
Shaking hands should therefore be avoided if conjunctivitis is present. Rubbing the eyes should also be avoided because there is a very high risk that the pathogens are transmitted from one eye not only to other people but also to the other eye. Regular hand disinfection is therefore also very important.
Within a family, care should be taken to use your own towels, washcloths, etc., as there is also a high risk of the pathogens spreading. – unspecific
- Allergic
- Neonatal conjunctivitis
- Bacterial
- Viral
In conjunctivitis, the following so-called leading symptoms come to the fore: Different symptoms can be observed in conjunctivitis of different genesis. Therefore, specific symptoms have to be considered for the different forms of conjunctivitis.
An inflammation of the conjunctiva can also be accompanied by pain in the corners of the eye. – the “red eye” or red eyelid It is caused by an increased filling of the conjunctival vessels. – Secretion Especially with bacterial causes, there is watery, mucous or purulent secretion.
- Swelling The conjunctiva can be so swollen that it swells out of the eyelid crevice. – “Paving stones” Especially under the eyelid flat bulges of the conjunctiva appear which remind of paving stones. These so-called papillae are typical for conjunctivitis in the case of an allergy.
- Follicle Follicles are accumulations of inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva. The diagnosis of conjunctivitis is made on the basis of the leading symptoms “reddened eye”, increased secretion of fluid and swelling of the conjunctiva. Usually itching is added to this.
Conjunctivitis is often diagnosed by the ophthalmologist. Gaze diagnosis means that the doctor can make the diagnosis at first sight or express a concrete suspicion. The differentiation into the different forms of conjunctivitis, however, is more difficult.
In order to assess the different manifestations of the partially nodular changes of the conjunctiva also under the eyelids, the physician must turn the eyelid outwards (ectropion). Since conjunctivitis can be triggered by several causes, there are also different treatment approaches. One should be very careful with a self-treatment, because one cannot find the exact trigger oneself and thus cannot treat accordingly.
Usually conjunctivitis is treated locally, i.e. only eye ointments or drops are applied to the affected eye. The drug Vividrin® eye drops are used to treat symptoms of conjunctivitis in the eye. Similarly, Dexa-Gentamicin Eye Drops are used to treat the symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Floxal In the same way, Dexa-Gentamicin eye drops are used to treat symptoms of conjunctivitis. Floxal FloxalIrritant conjunctivitis can be caused by external stimuli such as dust, smoke or drafts, but also by a change in the composition of the tear fluid. A possible cause for this is the use of eye drops that have not been recommended by the ophthalmologist.
Here the external irritations should be avoided as quickly as possible, then the complaints usually subside after a few days. If dry eyes have led to conjunctivitis, tear substitutes can help to keep the eye moist and reduce the complaints. Eye drops with hyaluronic acid are used here for therapy.
Allergic conjunctivitis often occurs in connection with hay fever. In this case, it is advisable to consult an allergologist, who may carry out a desensitization. However, conjunctivitis due to a skin rash or the so-called spring conjunctivitis cannot be alleviated by this.
Here the patient must accept the symptoms and find a therapy in cooperation with an ophthalmologist that is as effective as possible and has as few side effects as possible. Often cortisone-containing preparations help here to alleviate the symptoms at least temporarily. There are different types of allergic conjunctivitis: and eye ointment with cortisone
- Hay fever conjunctivitis is based on an allergy to pollen.
It is typically associated with allergic rhinitis. Patients are severely affected by tears, sneezing, swelling of the conjunctiva and foreign body sensation. and eye ointment with cortisone
Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria or fungi is relatively rare.
In these cases, an antibiotic is used for bacteria or an antifungal for fungi. In the case of bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic-containing eye drops and ointments can be given, with eye drops being the most common method. These are instilled directly into the affected eye and are used for about 3 to 5 days in most cases.
If, however, special bacteria, chlamydia, are responsible for conjunctivitis, the duration of treatment is about 3 weeks. Chlamydia are the pathogens of venereal diseases and are transmitted via body fluids. Therefore, when chlamydia is detected, the partner must always be treated as well.
Here it is particularly important to adhere to the prescribed duration of treatment, since if the disease does not heal completely, a chronic clouding of the cornea can occur. Viruses can also cause conjunctivitis. These often heal on their own and occur in conjunction with other symptoms of disease caused by viruses, i.e. a flu-like infection.
Particularly contagious are the so-called adenoviruses, against which there is no specific therapy. After waiting for about 2 weeks, the symptoms should go away on their own. During this time, eye drops containing cortisone can be used temporarily to relieve the itching and inflammation.
In addition, the herpes simplex viruses can cause conjunctivitis. In these cases, aiclovir as an eye ointment or tablets can often be used to treat these conditions effectively. A large number of household remedies are known to treat conjunctivitis.
They all have in common in their application that they should only be used within a limited range. If the conjunctivitis has not subsided after 3 days of treatment with household remedies, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Furthermore, it is essential that hygiene measures are observed.
From the turmeric bulb or finished powder of the root, a symptom-relieving solution can be prepared with boiling water after 10-15 minutes of infusion. The eyebright also helps with conjunctivitis. This is also boiled up with water, which is then used to soak a compress.
After storage in the refrigerator, brewed black tea bags help as cooling compresses on the eye against symptoms such as burning of the eye. Oak bark and fennel can also be used. The oak bark is used to soak compresses after boiling with water.
The same applies to fennel. While the oak bark has a disinfectant effect, fennel helps especially against swelling of the eyelids. Sage, chamomile and marigold are also known as household remedies.
Quark compresses and washing the eye with onion milk are also said to have positive effects. All these methods should be used with caution and only according to instructions to prevent additional irritation or even damage to the eye. In case of uncertainty about treatment or worsening of symptoms, a doctor must be consulted.
Especially conjunctivitis caused by adenoviruses spreads very quickly and often causes an epidemic in kindergartens and schools. Therefore it is very important to treat conjunctivitis caused by pathogens sufficiently before the child is allowed to have contact with other children again. The respective causes of conjunctivitis must be clarified by a pediatrician.
Only when the cause has been clarified can appropriate therapy be initiated. In the case of inflammation caused by bacteria, an application period of 2 to 3 days is usually sufficient before the child is allowed to attend kindergarten or school again. However, if the eyes are still clogged and severely reddened, the child should see the paediatrician again.
Babies can already catch bacteria in the birth canal, which can lead to conjunctivitis. These include above all the gonococci, which cause gonorrhea. If the mother is ill, the bacteria can be transmitted to the baby during birth and the conjunctivitis must be treated quickly to prevent additional corneal involvement.
As a precaution, the baby can also be given eye drops after birth to prevent the onset of conjunctivitis. Even if the mother carries chlamydia, it can be transmitted to the baby and lead to conjunctivitis. Often women do not know about their disease, as in many cases it is asymptomatic.
In addition, conjunctivitis of the newborn can be caused by herpes viruses, which are also transmitted in the birth canal. If conjunctivitis caused by bacteria is present, several pathogens are possible. A viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious.
It is usually caused by so-called adenoviruses. This form of highly infectious conjunctivitis almost always starts in only one eye. In rare cases, conjunctivitis can also be caused by fungi or parasites.
In neonatal conjunctivitis, the cause is usually bacteria (gonococcal gonorrhea; chlamydia or pseudomonas). Viruses, such as herpes viruses, are also possible triggers. All these pathogens are transmitted to the infant at birth and are therefore contagious.
If gonococci are the cause of conjunctivitis, a particularly strong accumulation of pus occurs in the severely swollen eyelids. In conjunctivitis caused by chlamydia, the main symptoms are the leading symptoms. The pathogens can only be detected by a smear.
All these pathogens can of course also lead to this disease in adults. andUnspecific conjunctivitis is often caused by dry eyes, for example, due to insufficient tear fluid, overexertion or external stimuli (e.g. smoke). Contact lenses worn or soiled for a long time can also be a possible trigger.
The main symptoms are foreign body sensation and sudden tears. Conjunctivitis can be prevented by avoiding rubbing your eyes with dirty fingers. There are pathogens on our skin that belong to the normal skin flora, but which have disease value in the eye.
Even if you have had contact with infectious patients, you should wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. If an allergy is present, the allergen should be avoided in order to avoid the conjunctivitis associated with it. The duration of the conjunctivitis depends very much on the cause.
If it is a simple irritation caused by dust, wind or smoke, it usually heals within a few days. It is important to avoid the irritation and to maintain good eye hygiene (washing hands, not rubbing). If the problem is still present after several days, a doctor must be consulted.
In this case there is a possibility that other causes are present. If the cause is bacteria or fungi, healing usually takes only about 4-5 days with adequate medication. If viruses are the cause, conjunctivitis can last up to two weeks.
If herpes viruses are suspected to be the cause, medication must be used, otherwise there is a risk of chronicity and long-term damage to the conjunctiva and the rest of the eye. Small children often bring home conjunctivitis from kindergarten. If treated with antibiotic-containing eye drops, these usually heal without consequences in 2-3 days.
It is important at all times to contact a doctor if the non-medicinal therapy fails. The pathogens can also attack other parts of the eye besides the conjunctiva and lead to critical inflammation of the entire eye. The bacterial conjunctivitis heals under therapy after about two to three days of treatment.
If a viral conjunctivitis is present, it may take a little longer before all symptoms disappear under therapy. If the disease was caused by herpes viruses, the inflammation can occur again and again despite therapy. A complication of conjunctivitis is superinfection.
Superinfection means that in addition to the triggering pathogens, others are added, which clearly makes treatment more difficult. In addition, the cornea can also be involved. This is dangerous in that there is the possibility of corneal clouding.
In the case of protracted conjunctivitis, tissue proliferation triggered by the inflammation can also occur. This excess tissue formation can grow over the cornea and is called pannus on the eye. The pannus can then also lead to a clouding of the cornea, which weakens vision.
Conjunctivitis can also occur during pregnancy for various reasons. These are usually not harmful to the unborn child and cannot be transmitted. Gonococcal and Chlamydia infections that occur during the last week of pregnancy are an exception.
These two types of bacteria can be transmitted to the baby in the birth canal. In the case of conjunctivitis during pregnancy, which is caused by external stimuli such as dust or smoke, the expectant mother should wait and spare the eye, as the inflammation usually subsides by itself after a few days. In the case of conjunctivitis caused by allergies, an anti-allergic medication should possibly be taken in consultation with the doctor.
Even conjunctivitis, which is the result of a viral disease, heals by itself in most cases and does not require any additional treatment. However, bacterially caused inflammations should be treated with an antibiotic. If this is applied locally to the eye, it does not pose any danger to the child.
Infants and babies suffer more often from conjunctivitis than adults. This is partly because their eyes are much more sensitive to environmental stimuli and partly because they often unconsciously rub dirt into their eyes with their hands. Since they have a lot of contact with family members and other children through playing, the risk of contracting and then transmitting an infectious conjunctivitis is quite high.
If the tear ducts of babies or toddlers are not yet properly developed, this also leads to a recurring conjunctivitis. As the tears cannot drain off properly, they collect and thus promote the colonisation of bacteria. Whether conjunctivitis is contagious depends on the cause of the disease.
Conjunctivitis caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria is always contagious. Conjunctivitis that is transmitted via adenoviruses is particularly contagious. One speaks of an infectious conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis that has allergic causes or is caused by external influences (e.g. irritant conjunctivitis) is not contagious.
