How To Cure Conjunctivitis In Children
Conjunctivitis is a very common eye condition in infants and children of different ages. It happens more frequently to babies because their tear ducts are narrower than those of adults and this favors the onset of infections. In this article we explain how to cure conjunctivitis in children.
Inflammation of the conjunctiva can be very annoying, cause tearing and sometimes discharge. Most of the symptoms can be treated at home, for example by cleaning the eyes and putting on drops. However, when no improvement is noticed within two days, the pediatrician should be referred to treat conjunctivitis in children .
This disease is so common that we don’t usually seek medical advice. In fact, several natural alternatives are known to treat it at home. It all boils down to keeping the area clean. Sometimes, however, the pediatrician indicates antibiotics in drops or ointments.
Why does conjunctivitis occur?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane that surrounds the eye and protects it. Sometimes this area can become inflamed or irritated by viruses and bacteria. This inflammation can also be caused by other factors such as pollution, smoke, dust, allergies and contact with harmful substances.
We call conjunctivitis inflammation of the conjunctiva regardless of the cause. However, when it is produced by a virus, it can last longer and be more complicated to treat. In children, the tear ducts are very narrow, which is why they are more likely to suffer from this problem.
Due to the inflammation, the eyes turn red and you may notice small red veins in the sclera, the white part of the eye. The eyelids also become red, which is aggravated when we touch or rub them in excess. This condition can cause itching and pain, which is why children rub their eyes a lot. Light bothers and exacerbates irritation.
Among the symptoms, we also remember abundant tearing and discharge, so the eyes may appear shiny. When it comes to a bacterial infection, secretions of different colors and the formation of cisps are common.
How to cure conjunctivitis in children?
Provided that it has not been long since the onset of the disease, it is possible to cure conjunctivitis in children in the home. The main recommendation is to clean the eyes. It is recommended to use a physiological serum or warm water, but further recommendations can be used.
To treat simple cases of conjunctivitis, the following guidelines are recommended:
- The eyes should be cleaned with a gauze impregnated with a saline serum or warm water.
- Clean eyes with sterile gauze. It is recommended to clean each eye with a different gauze to avoid contagion. We could use two different colored gauze so as not to get confused.
- You have to clean your eyes from the inside out, that is, from the center of the face to the temple.
- Gentle massages in the area near the nose help extract secretions, which contributes to faster healing.
- After cleaning the eyes, it is recommended to apply drops of eye drops, as long as indicated by the doctor; he may also recommend antibiotic ointments.
- The tools for cleaning and caring for the eyes must be sterilized. In case of eye drops, the tip of the bottle should not touch the eye.
- You may need help cleaning and applying the drops without making the baby move. It is likely to blink and resist, so make sure you finish the cleansing and grooming process. If you doubt, you could get the doses wrong and cause unnecessary discomfort to the baby.
- It is very important to wash your hands before and after cleaning the baby’s eyes. Keeping our hands clean prevents greater irritation or possible contagion to our eyes.
- Chamomile infusions are not recommended to treat conjunctivitis in children, as they may be allergic to pollen.
