Why does conjunctivitis recur?

Conjunctivitis is a very common disease in daily life. It causes great harm to the patient's eyes. Therefore, it is particularly important to find the cause of the disease and then prescribe the right medicine. The causes of conjunctivitis are mainly divided into exogenous and endogenous types. External stimulation and conjunctival infection by pathogenic bacteria through blood or lymph can cause recurrent attacks of conjunctivitis. Therefore, patients need to keep their eyes clean at all times.

1. Causes of recurrent conjunctivitis

1. Exogenous

Because the conjunctiva is exposed, it is easily stimulated by various external microorganisms, dust, physical and chemical poisons, etc., causing inflammation.

2. Endogenous

Pathogens infect the conjunctiva through the blood or lymph, or cause an allergic reaction to infections elsewhere in the body.

Inflammation can also spread directly from adjacent tissues. Conjunctivitis is divided into bacterial, viral, chlamydial, fungal, allergic, etc. according to its cause. Its common clinical manifestations are sudden conjunctival congestion, burning sensation, itching, and excessive secretions. Generally, vision is not affected. Examination reveals redness and swelling of the eyelids, conjunctival congestion, papillary follicle hyperplasia, peripheral congestion of the bulbar conjunctiva, and sometimes edema and subconjunctival hemorrhage. There is secretion in the conjunctival sac. To determine the source of the disease, a smear of the secretions is required for bacterial and cytological examination. Treatment should be directed at the cause with topical medications.

Bacterial infections can usually be treated with antibiotic ointment or eye drops, and symptoms usually disappear within 1 week of taking the medication. Severe bacterial infections require oral antibiotics or antibiotic injections and usually take six weeks to fully recover.

If conjunctivitis is not treated, viral conjunctivitis may resolve within 1 week. To reduce the discomfort of allergic conjunctivitis in children, doctors will have them use anti-inflammatory eye drops. Normally, if parents find sticky pus on their child's eyelashes, they should wipe it clean with cotton soaked in cold boiled water. To prevent the spread of infection, wash your hands immediately after contact with the affected area. Because viral conjunctivitis is particularly contagious, clothes and towels at home should not be washed together.

If conjunctivitis is treated right away, symptoms of infection that occur at birth should disappear quickly. Inflammatory or allergic conjunctivitis in older children rarely causes lifelong vision problems.

2. How to prevent and treat conjunctivitis?

Home treatment:

Application: For severe redness and swelling, use 1-2 flowers of fresh wild chrysanthemum, red licorice, plowhead grass, and dandelion, wash and mash them, apply externally with closed eyelids, 1-2 times a day, each time for 15 minutes.

Life Tips:

1. During epidemic seasons, use anti-inflammatory eye drops or wash eyes with 1-2% cold saline to maintain eye hygiene. You can also use chrysanthemum, selfheal, mulberry leaves, etc. to boil water and drink it instead of tea.

2. During the swimming season, patients are strictly prohibited from swimming in public swimming places.

3. The patient's handkerchiefs, face washing utensils, pillowcases, etc. must be isolated and disinfected.

4. During clinical diagnosis and treatment, the hands of medical staff and medical equipment and dirt that have come into contact with the secretions of the affected eye must be strictly disinfected to prevent infection to others through medical staff.

5. During the epidemic season or after becoming ill, be sure to give your eyes adequate rest and avoid staying up late or working with your eyes for long periods of time.

6. In terms of diet, do not eat spicy, fragrant or other foods that increase fire, and quit smoking and drinking.