Allergic conjunctivitis in children
Allergic conjunctivitis in children is a condition that occurs when the conjunctiva of the eye becomes inflamed as a result of an excessive reaction of the immune system to an allergenic factor. It is the allergic disease that most affects children and adolescents and can be caused by pollen, dust mites, bushes and, in some cases, by medicines and food.
When the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, the capillaries dilate and become more visible, causing one of the most characteristic symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in children: eye redness. It is important to immediately treat the allergic reaction that has caused the conjunctivitis to combat discomfort and improve the child's vision.
Allergic conjunctivitis in children
Allergic conjunctivitis in children is a condition that occurs when the conjunctiva of the eye becomes inflamed as a result of an excessive reaction of the immune system to an allergenic factor. It is the allergic disease that most affects children and adolescents and can be caused by pollen, dust mites, bushes and, in some cases, by medicines and food.
When the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, the capillaries dilate and become more visible, causing one of the most characteristic symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in children: eye redness. It is important to immediately treat the allergic reaction that has caused the conjunctivitis to combat discomfort and improve the child's vision.
How does allergic conjunctivitis affect children?
The conjunctiva of the eye is a transparent tissue that lines the inner part of the eyelids and the entire sclera, the white part of the eyes. allergic conjunctivitis in children causes inflammation of the conjunctiva due to an excessive response of the immune system to an allergen, such as pollen.
When the eyes come into contact with the allergenic factor, the immune system responds in an uncontrolled way accelerating the production of histamine and other substances in the body. Histamine release is what produces the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in children.
Allergic conjunctivitis in children is a very annoying disease, especially in young children who perhaps find it more difficult to understand the importance of do not rub or touch your eyes to avoid worsening the discomfort. Unlike other types of conjunctivitis, such as viral and bacterial, allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
Causes of allergic conjunctivitis in children
La conjunctivitis in children It can be caused by a bacterial infection, by a viral process or by eye contact with an allergenic factor. Allergic conjunctivitis is the most common type of conjunctivitis in children and adolescents and can be caused by different allergens, such as:
- The Mites pollen or dust.
- El pollen from the flowers.
- Shrubbery.
- Hairs and dandruff of domestic animals.
- Spores mushroom.
- Bite insects such as wasps or bees.
- Some foods and medications.
May manifest in conjunction with other common allergic reactions such as asthma, rhinitis or hives. Allergic conjunctivitis with rhinitis in children is known as rhinoconjunctivitis.
Allergic conjunctivitis is more frequent in the spring and summer months due to the increase in pollen in the environment. This type of allergic conjunctivitis is known as spring, vernal, or seasonal conjunctivitis. There is also chronic allergic conjunctivitis, which can happen at any time of the year and is usually caused by house dust mites.
Symptom
The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in children are very annoying and significantly affect the well-being of the little ones, even can interfere with your vision.
The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis are:
- Excessive tearing.
- Red eyes.
- Secretion that can be in the form of mucous and yellowish in color.
- Accumulation of rheum in the eye.
- Excessive itching in the eye.
- Inflammation of the eyelid due to fluid retention.
- Sensation of having a foreign body inside the eye.
- Light sensitivity or photophobia.
If allergic conjunctivitis is accompanied by rhinitis, the child may have symptoms such as itchy nose, sneezing, and a constant runny nose. If the allergy has been caused by a food, a bite or a medicine, the symptoms may be accompanied by hives and difficulty breathing.
The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in children can start out very mild. One of the symptoms to detect if our son or daughter has allergic conjunctivitis is that we will notice that the child is rubbing his eyes more than normal, winks or blinks excessively. Recognizing that these symptoms may be a consequence of an allergy is important to detect the allergenic factor and prevent conjunctivitis from being a recurring condition.
Transmission
In the presence of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, the ideal is go to pediatric ophthalmologist to examine the ocular structure of the little one and offer a diagnosis.
If the allergenic factor that has caused the disease is not known, it will be important to complement the diagnosis with a pediatric allergist to perform allergy tests and determine what the child is allergic to.
Almost all cases of allergic conjunctivitis are treated with the following medications:
- Anti-inflammatory drops to combat inflammation of the conjunctiva.
- Antihistamines in drops to stop the excessive reaction of the immune system.
- Artificial tears.
- Sometimes it may be necessary to prescribe oral antihistamines.
- Preventive treatment in case of allergy to pollen and mites.
Eye cleaning is essential during the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. It is important to wash the child's eyes with physiological serum at least 5 times a day. It is also recommended to place cold compresses to soothe symptoms and avoid, as far as possible, the child rubbing or touching his eyes.
The best treatment for allergic conjunctivitis is prevention. Know the allergenic factor that can trigger conjunctivitis and avoid all contact with it is essential to avoid this disease. Some recommendations to prevent allergic conjunctivitis in children are:
- Reduce the presence of allergens at home keeping it clean, avoiding the use of rugs and curtains, keeping windows closed and avoiding humidity.
- Avoid going outside on days with the highest amount of pollen in the environment. Avoid places with high pollination rate.
- wear sunglasses and driving with the car windows up.
- Change the bedding every two days.
- Use the vacuum cleaner to clean the dust from home instead of doing it with the broom.
