Allergic conjunctivitis
The content of the article:
- Causes and risk factors
- Forms of the disease
- Symptoms
- Diagnostics
- Treatment
- Possible complications and consequences
- Forecast
- Prevention
Allergic conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctival membrane of the eye (which lines the front surface of the eyeball and the inner surface of the eyelids) caused by the body's response to an allergen.
Currently, the frequency of allergic diseases is increasing, and allergic conjunctivitis is in the first place among them. More often it is exposed to young people, men and women equally. According to epidemiological data, about 15-20% of the population of developed countries suffers from allergic eye diseases. A recent US-based NHANES III (Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) study found that symptoms such as watery eyes and itchy eyes in the past 12 months are a concern for 40% of the adult population.
Eye redness and itching are the main signs of allergic conjunctivitis
Causes and risk factors
The immediate cause of the disease is exposure to an allergen that is individual for each patient. In this case, an immediate hypersensitivity reaction develops, that is, the first symptoms appear almost immediately after contact with the allergen.
There are several groups of infectious and non-infectious substances that can cause allergic conjunctivitis:
- pollen (pollen of wind-pollinated plants during the flowering period);
- household (dust particles from clothes and interior items, pillows, bedding, mold spores, house mites, animal saliva, cosmetics and perfumes, household chemicals);
- epidermal (microparticles of wool and peeled skin of animals, feathers of poultry, fish food).
Plant pollen during the flowering period is a provoking factor in allergic conjunctivitis
Food, drug, insect, helminth allergies as provocateurs of conjunctivitis are extremely rare.
Risk factors are:
- unfavorable ecological situation;
- neuropsychic stress;
- acclimatization with a sharp change in climate;
- drug overdose;
- past illnesses.
Forms of the disease
There are 5 main forms of allergic inflammation of the conjunctiva:
- seasonal allergic conjunctivitis;
- perennial allergic conjunctivitis;
- vernal keratoconjunctivitis;
- conjunctivitis with papillary hyperplasia;
- atopic keratoconjunctivitis.
The course of allergic conjunctivitis can be acute (starts suddenly and quickly passes) and chronic (sluggish).
The main symptoms are common to all forms of the disease. Distinctive features are the nature of the allergic reaction and differences in the pathophysiological mechanisms of the inflammatory process.
Spring and atopic keratoconjunctivitis are chronic, seasonal allergic and year-round allergic conjunctivitis are acute allergic inflammation of the conjunctiva.
Conjunctivitis with papillary hyperplasia is not a true allergic reaction and is provoked by repeated mechanical irritation of the conjunctiva in combination with exposure to polymer materials of contact lenses, traces of antiseptics for their treatment and protein deposits on the lens surface.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the disease develop in the period from several minutes to 12 (less often - 24) hours after exposure to the allergen, including:
- intense itching;
- lacrimation;
- hyperemia of the conjunctiva;
- feeling of sand, foreign body in the eyes;
- photophobia, blurred vision (in severe cases);
- swelling of the eyelids.
When a secondary bacterial infection is attached, purulent discharge may appear in the corners of the eyes; Allergic conjunctivitis is often accompanied by rhinitis (itching in the nasal cavity, sneezing from the nose) and allergic dermatitis (skin rashes).
The clinical picture of conjunctivitis
The inflammation is symmetrical, except in cases where the allergen is artificially introduced onto the conjunctiva of one eye (by hands or objects).
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the disease is often difficult, since its symptoms are masked by other manifestations of allergies.
Basic diagnostic methods:
- consultation of specialists (allergist, ophthalmologist);
- study of the lacrimal fluid (to increase the number of eosinophils);
- a blood test for eosinophilia, immunoglobulin E (the content becomes higher than normal);
- scraping from the eyelids, microscopy of eyelashes (differential diagnosis with demodicosis);
- sowing the discharge from the eye on a nutrient medium (differential diagnosis with an infectious lesion);
- skin tests (identification of an allergen);
- provocative tests (identification of allergens).
Treatment
Complex therapy:
- complete elimination of the allergen that caused the disease;
- antihistamines of the second and third generation (by mouth);
- drops with antihistamines (topically);
- vasoconstrictor drugs in drops;
- stabilizers of mast cell membranes (long-term);
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in drops;
- corticosteroid hormonal drugs;
- specific immunotherapy.
With allergic conjunctivitis, vasoconstrictor drops are shown
Possible complications and consequences
A complication of allergic conjunctivitis can be the addition of a secondary bacterial infection or exacerbation of existing chronic eye diseases (glaucoma, blepharitis, keratitis, etc.).
Forecast
With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable.
Prevention
The main preventive measure is, if possible, complete elimination of allergens from the patient's immediate environment:
- frequent wet cleaning of home premises, regular ventilation;
- periodic washing of blankets, bed linen, soft toys at a temperature of at least 60 ºС;
- replacement of down pillows and woolen blankets with pillows and blankets with synthetic hypoallergenic filler;
- exclusion of contact with animals;
- removal of carpets, books, paintings, curtains made of heavy, dense materials and other decorative objects from the bedroom as places of increased dust accumulation;
- treatment with acaricidal sprays of furniture and carpets 4-5 times a year;
- exclusion of contact with powdered cleaning and detergents;
- the use of hypoallergenic cosmetics.
YouTube video related to the article:
Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author
Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
