Reddened eyes? Could it be viral conjunctivitis?

Viral conjunctivitis is one of the most common infectious diseases, as it is caused by several adenovirus serotypes that are easily transmitted by airborne droplets. The disease is not dangerous or causing severe complications, but the inflamed mucous membrane of the eye causes a lot of trouble to patients and worsens the quality of life. Visual acuity with viral conjunctivitis does not decrease, but a bacterial infection is likely, which causes a more severe course of the disease.

Viral conjunctivitis causes and symptoms

Viral conjunctivitis is most often caused by one of the adenovirus serotypes, and some of these serotypes   are especially active during epidemic outbreaks of viral infection in spring and autumn. As a rule, the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets and enters the mucous membrane of the eye due to the fact that nearby one of the sick people sneezed or coughed. Occasionally, adenovirus can enter the mucous membrane of the eye directly, through contact with household items, clothing, towels, handkerchiefs.

The disease begins with headache, runny nose, cough, chills and general weakness, abdominal pain, fever are possible. Some time later (usually on the second wave of temperature rise) & nbsp; there are signs of viral conjunctivitis – the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed. Initially, inflammation can be in one eye, after a couple of days the second eye becomes inflamed. Against the background of the reddened mucous membrane of the eye, the eyelids swell and slight transparent discharge from the eyes appears. Viral conjunctivitis usually has enlarged lymph nodes.

Forms that manifest viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis, which was caused by adenoviruses, can manifest itself in different forms:

• catarrhal – easily tolerated, there is slight redness of the mucous membrane of the eye, mild discharge from the eyes, inflammation disappears within a week;
• membrane – on the mucous membrane of the eye, thin grayish films may appear, as well as seals and petechial hemorrhages; sometimes the films are removed with a cotton swab, but they can fit snugly against the mucous membrane and, when removed, leave bleeding areas that heal with non-rough scars;
• follicular – small vesicles appear on the mucous membrane of the eye, tend to merge, leaving bleeding.

Despite the seals, scars and vesicles on the mucous membrane of the eye, all forms of viral conjunctivitis end in recovery, and the mucosal lesions completely resolve.

Possibilities for the treatment of viral conjunctivitis and its complications

Therapy of viral conjunctivitis is not very simple, since there are no drugs that could selectively act on adenoviruses. In addition, mixed forms of different adenoviral serotypes are often found that affect the mucous membrane of the eye.

Viral conjunctivitis is treated by instillation of interferons, in parallel it is recommended to take antihistamines and antibacterial drops – to prevent secondary infection.

A complication of viral conjunctivitis can be dry eye syndrome, which develops due to a violation of the production of tear fluid during inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye.  To prevent this complication will help the appointment of drugs – artificial tear substitutes.