How contagious is lachrymal duct inflammation?
Bacterial or viral eye infections are usually contagious. Therefore, you should touch the affected eyes as little as possible and wash your hands regularly. The same applies in principle to an inflammation of the tear duct.
Often only one eye is initially affected by the inflammation of the lacrimal duct. However, rubbing the eyes or using cosmetics can also infect the other side. Therefore, it is best to avoid make-up and the use of contact lenses if there is an inflammation of the eye or the lacrimal duct. In addition, eye drops should not be kept for further use once the inflammation has subsided, in order to avoid re-infection.
Complications of Lacrimal Canal Inflammation
An acute inflammation of the lacrimal duct can lead to encapsulation of the inflammation if left untreated. An abscess then forms, which is always accompanied by tissue melting and must be surgically opened to allow pus to drain away. It is characterized by severe swelling, redness, warming and fever.
Facial phlegmon is also a possible complication of lacrimal duct inflammation. In contrast to an abscess, the pus spreads without barriers in the soft tissue. The swelling appears less bulging.
However, extremely severe disease progressions can quickly occur. Therefore, it is advisable not to experiment too long with home remedies, but to seek medical advice in time and, in case of prescribed antibiotics, to take them until the end of the pack, even if the symptoms have already improved. In the case of regularly recurring lacrimal duct inflammation, tumours, cysts or scarring should be excluded. Therefore, it is advisable not to experiment too long with household remedies, but to seek medical advice in time and, in the case of prescribed antibiotics, to take this until the end of the pack, even if the symptoms have already improved. In the case of regularly recurring lacrimal duct inflammation, tumours, cysts or scarring should be excluded.
How is an inflamed tear duct diagnosed?
In order to diagnose an inflamed tear duct, a careful questioning of the patient about his or her symptoms (anamnesis), as well as an ophthalmologic examination, which includes a close examination of the eyelids, lacrimal points and conjunctiva of the affected eye, are essential. The diagnosis can usually be made on the basis of the classic symptoms such as redness, swelling, painfulness of the inner eyelid angle, as well as the secretion of purulent secretions. Once the inflammation of the lacrimal duct has subsided, it is recommended that the underlying cause, for example a disruption in the drainage system of the lacrimal fluid, be determined by means of various examination procedures. Some imaging methods such as ultrasound, x-rays, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to visualize the lacrimal duct. In some cases, an additional examination by an ENT physician is required, who can use endoscopy (mirroring) to visualize structures of the nose.
