Types and symptoms
The conjunctiva is a protective barrier for the organs of vision. It is the first to come into contact with external irritants, so the conjunctiva is equipped with local immunity that fights pathogenic microflora, preventing microorganisms from penetrating into the ocular structures. When the immune system is weakened or a large number of microbes attack the mucous membrane, an inflammatory process develops.
The disease mainly develops in adults who come into contact with a large number of people every day. People who use contact lenses face the problem of conjunctivitis. In this case, pathogenic microflora can penetrate the mucous membrane due to injury to the nails or fingers that occurs when the lenses are put on carelessly. Children who often rub their eyes with their hands are also susceptible to it.
The disease, both in adults and in children, has clearly defined symptoms that are so clearly manifested that it is simply impossible not to notice them.
- The conjunctiva turns red and fills with blood.
- The eyelids become swollen.
- The eyes hurt when a person looks at the light; there is a burning sensation, a stinging sensation, or the presence of a foreign object.
This symptomatology is typical for all types of conjunctivitis. But there are also distinctive features.
- Bacterial. Caused by pathogenic microorganisms. The disease is characterized by purulent discharge of a yellowish or grayish color.
- Viral. In addition to “eye” symptoms, it is supplemented by cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge.
- Fungal. It is characterized by the presence of purulent discharge, the appearance of nodules on the conjunctiva, which, after opening, turn into difficult-to-heal fistulas.
- Allergic. A distinctive feature is unbearable itching and lacrimation. Symptoms may be supplemented by a skin rash and nasal congestion.
- Contact. It develops due to prolonged rubbing of the eyes with hands, or contact with a foreign object on the conjunctiva. Characterized by severe itching and pain.
Symptoms
Before the stye itself appears, the lower and upper eyelids may become slightly swollen, as well as itch and itch. Redness appears at the edge of the eyelid, and in this case the symptom can be confused with an allergy or attributed to eye fatigue, but within a day a clear thickening (infiltrate) will appear at the site of the swelling, which cannot be confused with any other pathology.
The main symptoms of barley:
- Redness or swelling of the eyelid;
- Redness of the conjunctiva;
- Feeling of tightness;
- The appearance of swelling;
- Itching on the edge of the lower or upper eyelid;
- The eye begins to water involuntarily;
- Formation of a small yellow pustule;
- Fever and headache (in rare cases);
- Sensation of the presence of a foreign body on the membrane of the eye.
It happens that, apart from redness, which is difficult to notice, barley does not show any other signs of ripening, that is, it does not cause pain or discomfort until pus begins to secrete. But this phenomenon happens in 1 case out of 10.
When is sick leave given and how to get it
Some types of conjunctivitis are quickly transmitted through airborne droplets. The sick person becomes a source of danger for people around him, especially those with weakened immune systems (children, the elderly, the sick). Therefore, when you detect the first signs, you need to contact an ophthalmologist. It will not be difficult for a doctor to diagnose the disease immediately after examination. But to prescribe treatment, it is necessary to determine the type of conjunctivitis , which the ophthalmologist does with the help of diagnostics. After this, the issue of providing a certificate of temporary incapacity for work is decided.
Not in all cases the doctor can issue a sick leave. Whether they give it depends on:
- Forms of the disease. A certificate of temporary incapacity for work for any type of conjunctivitis is issued if the disease is in an acute form and manifests itself with pronounced symptoms. In subacute and chronic forms, the symptoms of the disease are not very pronounced. In this case, the question of whether sick leave will be given will depend on the attending physician.
- Types of inflammation. For contagious types of the disease in adults, a certificate of incapacity for work will be issued. And with allergic and contact conjunctivitis, the doctor may refuse if there are no pronounced signs.
Allergic conjunctivitis in children - how many days should it be treated?
Allergies are one of the diseases whose duration is difficult to predict. It occurs due to a malfunction of the immune system. Much will depend on which particular substance is perceived by the body as an allergen. Often they come from plant pollen. It is also quite common to experience an allergic reaction to wool, certain foods and medications. For some allergy sufferers, the symptoms of the disease do not go away for years. The patient simply gets used to the chronic runny nose and other symptoms. During treatment, it is important to avoid contact with the allergen.
Allergic conjunctivitis always develops quickly, in an acute form. The patient's eyes begin to itch very much. In addition, the eyelids turn red and watery eyes occur. Damage also occurs to the nasal mucosa and upper respiratory tract. A runny nose almost always appears with such inflammation. Sometimes there is a cough.
If the allergen is identified immediately, the symptoms can be eliminated within a few days. Drops with a moisturizing effect - “Artificial tear”, “Systane”, etc. - help to cope with itching and lacrimation.
They do not contain preservatives and if a child has conjunctivitis, they can take them without fear of side effects. Such drugs are prescribed for almost all types of inflammation. Antihistamines can also be used for treatment. Corticosteroids are used extremely rarely, only for very severe allergies.
How long does it take to treat conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common ophthalmological diseases, which both adults and children have probably encountered at least once in their lives. The disease itself is not severe and does not pose a direct threat to human health. However, it is extremely unpleasant and can greatly ruin plans, which is always upsetting. Therefore, if such a diagnosis is made, one of the most common questions among adults is: how long does conjunctivitis last and whether sick leave is given for this period. Mothers are especially interested in this question if conjunctivitis is found in children, because it is very difficult to look at a suffering baby. The duration of the disease is determined, first of all, by its form and the timeliness of seeking medical attention. But there are several more important nuances that determine how many days it takes for conjunctivitis to go away. What is conjunctivitis, what forms it comes in, what are the features of treatment - below.
Factors and causes of the disease
Barley does not appear “out of the blue”; its development is facilitated by external and internal causes. Both can be avoided if you carefully monitor your health.
If a healthy person needs to wash the patient’s eye, remove any remaining pus, or cauterize the stye, then he puts on gloves and washes his hands after all the manipulations. This is enough to avoid getting infected.
Statistics show that only 5% of cases of this disease end with surgery.
If this is barley at the initial stage, accompanied by redness of the eyelids, itching, swelling at the edge of the eye, then doctors recommend cauterization with an alcohol solution, brilliant green or iodine to prevent its maturation.
Leave for 20 minutes, pass through cheesecloth. Moisten a sterile cotton pad in the resulting infusion of herbs and apply to the inflamed area. What is strictly forbidden to do at this stage of the ripening of the abscess is to squeeze it out.
Duration of sick leave
The minimum period for which a person with conjunctivitis is released from work, and children from attending educational institutions, is 3 days, the maximum is 21 days (in difficult cases). The ophthalmologist decides for how many days of sick leave. Everything will depend on the form of conjunctivitis and on the characteristics of a particular person’s body (his immunity, speed of response to treatment).
Whether sick leave is granted for a longer period depends on the patient’s place of work. If adults with conjunctivitis work in catering, or work in educational, medical institutions, or other areas that involve contact with a large number of people, then the sick leave period can be extended. During treatment, you should minimize communication with your household, especially if among them there are children, teenagers, and the elderly, as they are especially susceptible to germs. It is imperative to follow the doctor’s recommendations, take medications on time, and use separate household items.
Conjunctivitis is a very unpleasant inflammatory disease. In addition, some of its varieties are contagious and dangerous to others.
Author of the article: Bakhareva Elena Sergeevna, specialist for the website glazalik.ru Share your experience and opinion in the comments.
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Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the surface structures of the eyes, which comes in various forms.
Depending on the type of cause that caused the disease, a person may or may not be contagious.
To identify the form of the disease, laboratory tests are prescribed. If conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial, it is one of the most contagious forms that spreads quickly among people. In this case, the doctor will advise you to take a sick leave.
How not to get infected
Infectious (bacterial and viral) conjunctivitis is easily transmitted. You can become infected through household items or simply by being in the same room with a sick person.
Try to avoid contact with the sick person as much as possible. Maintain hygiene: do not use only a towel, wash your hands often with soap, do not touch the patient’s eye drops - they should be thrown away immediately after use. Store the patient's personal utensils and hygiene items separately. A face towel for a person with conjunctivitis must be changed daily, after ironing it. The same should be done with the pillowcase. Do wet cleaning of the room regularly.
When is sick leave given for conjunctivitis?
There are the following types of conjunctivitis, depending on the cause that caused it:
The first two types of disease (bacterial, viral) are among the most contagious. The pathogen can spread through the following entry routes:
- airborne (sneezing, coughing, talking);
- tactile (handshake);
- household (through personal hygiene items, dishes).
If a sick person works with a large number of people, in public catering, the doctor will advise you to take sick leave.
Non-surgical eye treatment in 1 month.
Viral and bacterial forms of conjunctivitis are especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and sick patients. Their immune system does not function sufficiently, so the risk of infection increases.
If the disease appears in a child, a sick leave certificate is issued for one of the parents. But at the same time, the form of the disease is determined, and the child periodically visits the doctor. When the risk to his health has passed, he is not contagious, the sick leave ends.
The time required for sick leave depends on several factors:
- The disease must be acute, with pronounced symptoms. The patient's condition worsens.
- Form of the disease. For viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, sick leave is always given. If the patient has an allergic, fungal, mechanical type, a certificate of temporary incapacity for work is issued only if the patient’s well-being sharply deteriorates, which does not allow him to work normally.
Do they give sick leave?
For viral and bacterial types of conjunctivitis, sick leave is mandatory . This is due to the fact that the person is contagious. Bacteria and viruses can be easily transmitted by airborne droplets, household or tactile contact.
According to the law, in the presence of a viral or bacterial type of pathology, specialists from medical, children's educational institutions, service and food services are not allowed to work. It is important to temporarily isolate an infectious person from the workforce in order to prevent the spread of infection or virus.
With allergic and mechanical types of conjunctivitis, sick leave can also be obtained, but provided that the pathology is acute, with severe symptoms, and negatively affects the ability to work. A similar document is issued if a person’s working conditions negatively affect the course of eye pathology.
There are cases when, after examining the patient, the doctor refuses to issue a certificate of incapacity for work. Then the person can take laboratory tests on his own. If the results confirm the presence of viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, then the patient has the right to again contact the doctor with a request to prescribe him a release from work.
If a child is sick
This is due to the fact that the child cannot attend kindergarten or school due to poor health. When issuing a certificate of incapacity for care, the doctor takes into account the severity and type of pathology. The child must periodically visit the doctor to assess the condition of the conjunctiva and the effectiveness of treatment.
When the health risk becomes minimal, the patient ceases to be contagious, then the certificate of incapacity for work is closed. Thus, a certificate of temporary disability for conjunctivitis is issued if a person has a viral or bacterial type of pathology, the disease is acute, and is accompanied by pronounced unpleasant symptoms.
To obtain a release from work, you must undergo an examination and make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. If conjunctivitis develops in a child, then the pediatrician gives one of the parents sick leave for care. The duration of release from work is determined by the form of the pathology and the severity of its course.
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Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory disease of the outer mucous membrane of the eye (conjunctiva). It is caused by pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. The disease develops as a result of a decrease in the body's defenses, genetic pathologies, and malignant neoplasms.
Types of barley
Taking into account the location of localization, 2 types of eye stye are distinguished:
- Outer. The infection affects the hair follicle of the ciliary margin or the nearby sebaceous gland of Celsus. The pus looks like an abscess ripening on the outside of the eyelid.
- Interior. The infection affects the meibomian glands, and an abscess forms on the inner surface of the eyelid. A purulent abscess is noticeable if you pull the lower eyelid down.
The inflammatory process can be localized on the upper and lower eyelids, affecting both one or both organs of vision.
The disease can develop at any age, but is most often diagnosed after 30 years.
How to get sick leave
If a person experiences symptoms of conjunctivitis, they should consult a doctor. After a complete examination of the patient, the doctor will suspect the disease, but its form can only be diagnosed using laboratory tests:
- Bacteriological culture. To do this, a smear from the patient's eye is inoculated on a nutrient medium. The growth of pathogenic microflora is detected within 5-7 days. Having identified the pathogen, the doctor determines the antibiotic to which it is sensitive. The study takes a long time, so the doctor most often determines the form of the disease based on clinical symptoms. The diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis is made if the patient has abundant discharge of pus from the eyes, the conjunctiva turns red, inflammation and swelling develop.
- PCR research. The technique is carried out quickly, within 1 day. To do this, a smear is taken from the patient's eyes, which is examined using a semi-automatic analyzer. It identifies the type of virus that caused the disease.
- Microscopy. The patient's smear is examined in several fields of view of the microscope. Detects bacteria, fungi and their spores.
Treatment of barley with folk remedies
At the initial stage of development of stye on the eye, the following folk remedies will help to cope with the problem:
- Squeeze a tablespoon of juice from an aloe leaf, dilute it with 10 tablespoons of water and make a lotion from the resulting product for a sore eye.
- Apply a cotton pad soaked in black tea or a soaked tea bag to your eye 3-4 times a day.
- Pour 250 ml of boiling water over a tablespoon of dry calendula inflorescences, let it brew for half an hour, then soak cotton wool in the resulting infusion and apply it to the inflamed eyelid.
- Pour crushed dried plantain (3 tablespoons) into a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 1 hour, strain and make eye lotions.
Dry heat helps well with barley in the infiltrative stage. Most often, a boiled egg or jacket potato is applied to the sore eye.
Before using any folk remedies, you should definitely consult your doctor.
Can you get bacterial conjunctivitis?
The bacterial form of the disease is transmitted through household contacts, for example, by shaking hands or using other people's personal hygiene items: towels, handkerchiefs, decorative cosmetics. This type of conjunctivitis has another mode of transmission. The disease is also transmitted through blood, but such cases are very rare.
Getting bacterial conjunctivitis is especially dangerous for pregnant women. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in the expectant mother's body often causes the birth of an infected child. The incubation period of the disease is quite short. The first symptoms usually appear a couple of days after pathogenic bacteria enter the body.
Is conjunctivitis contagious?
Conjunctivitis is a very common eye disease. This is due to the fact that the disease is easily and quickly transmitted to others from an infected person. The only form of the disease that is not considered contagious is allergic. It represents the body's response to antigens - irritants of the immune system. They can be household dust, animal hair, plant pollen, etc. Other forms of conjunctivitis are contagious, and the disease itself is highly contagious.
In kindergartens and schools, this disease often becomes the reason for quarantine. Conjunctivitis is also quickly transmitted in adult groups. When you notice the first symptoms of the disease, you should protect yourself from others until complete recovery. The faster you isolate a sick person from healthy people, the greater the chance that the disease will be transmitted to the fewest number of people. Even if the infected person went on sick leave in a timely manner, the team must follow preventive measures: maintain cleanliness and take vitamins to boost immunity.
Duration of sick leave
The length of sick leave depends on the form of conjunctivitis. If it is bacterial, the doctor will advise you to take a temporary disability certificate for 10-14 days. With the viral form, the disease lasts longer. For example, for adenovirus, the minimum period of sick leave is two weeks, and for severe influenza conjunctivitis - 1 month.
Some sick people do not want to take sick leave when they get sick, as this will cause them to lose part of their salary. In this case, it is recommended to take a minimum period of rest during treatment in order to regain your strength and not spread the disease among people.
Why doesn't stye break out on my eye?
Content
If stye appears on the eye, you can try traditional medicine. Our grandmothers tried to treat barley using traditional methods. The simplest, yet most effective remedy is a warm compress of chamomile infusion. Desiccation of barley is necessary so that the barley passes faster without suppuration or after it is opened.
Barley is an inflammatory process on the eyelid. If you feel pain near your eyelashes, your eye is swollen and red, your temperature may even rise - these are the first signs.
If you start treatment in time, you can quickly get rid of this scourge or even prevent it.
People often think that stye is just a sore that has arisen due to a minor cold. In fact, this is a very dangerous acute infection, which is usually caused by the microorganism Staphylococcus aureus.
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A sick leave certificate is a document confirming temporary incapacity for work and explaining the reason for absence from work .
On its basis, the officially registered employee is accrued benefits.
The document is opened as prescribed by a doctor , after a diagnosis has been made and a decision has been made that the patient is temporarily unable to perform his or her official duties.
The influence of various factors on the duration of home treatment
Home isolation of the patient with inflammation of the conjunctiva lasts from 3 to 7 days . In the future, it can be extended to three or more weeks .
Type of disease
The type of conjunctivitis affects the duration of disability. The initial period of sick leave is determined by the doctor based on assumptions about the patient’s recovery rate.
- For bacterial conjunctivitis, sick leave is issued for 5-15 days , depending on the pathogen. Staphylococcal infection is cured in 5-6 days , chlamydia - in 15 days. The validity of the document is extended if the patient has not recovered.
- If the disease is viral, sick leave can last up to two months .
- With other types of mucopurulent conjunctivitis, disability will last 1-2 weeks.
Form
The issuance of sick leave for adults depends on the form of the disease. The acute form has pronounced clinical signs, so home therapy is mandatory.
Its duration is initially seven days . Further, an extension is usually required until complete recovery (on average up to 3 weeks ).
Inflammation of the eyes can occur in a subacute form, when all signs are mild. In this case, the doctor may not prescribe home isolation of the patient, diagnosing an allergic nature. If a viral or bacterial infection of a subacute or chronic course is determined, a certificate of incapacity for work will be issued for 7-14 days.
Profession
In addition to the type and form of the disease, the duration of home treatment is influenced by the patient's field of activity . Sick leave for the maximum period is given to citizens who are surrounded by people all day long . These are employees of medical organizations, teachers, kindergarten teachers. The timing is due to the high contagiousness of conjunctivitis.
How to treat conjunctivitis to recover faster?
How long does it usually take to treat inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes? A quick recovery from acute conjunctivitis is possible if you consult a specialist in a timely manner. Since conjunctivitis develops rapidly and occurs with exacerbations, at the first signs: excessive lacrimation, itching, swelling of the mucous membrane, etc., treatment must be started urgently. How is conjunctivitis treated? What needs to be done to make the disease go away quickly and without complications?
- Maintain hand hygiene before treating the surface of the eyelids - a warm solution of furatsilin can be used to wash the eyes and remove purulent discharge.
- Drops prescribed by an ophthalmologist for the treatment of conjunctivitis must be used according to the scheme - in the first days of the disease, the intervals between instillation of antimicrobial drugs in the eyes can be small (once every hour or two), when the condition improves, the intervals reach 4-6 hours.
- You should not use only ointment or only drops to treat the disease if a specialist has prescribed both, because bactericidal and antiviral ointments not only fight harmful flora, but also have an anti-edematous, softening effect.
- The ointment should not be cold; it should be placed behind the lower eyelid in a thin strip of 1 cm, carefully spreading over the entire surface of the eyelid, with light stroking.
- Covering your eyes with a bandage for a long time is not recommended, even if you are intolerant of bright lighting, because favorable conditions for the life of bacteria will be created under the fabric; you can only periodically cover the eye with a handkerchief or soft cloth during the action of the ointment for no more than 15-20 minutes.
Bacterial infections are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Such drugs as Ciprofloxacin, Tobrex, and Floxal ointment show good effectiveness. In this case, antibiotic drops are prescribed to everyone, even newborns, since the action of bacteria can cause serious complications. For the treatment of viral conjunctivitis, therapy includes antiviral eye drops and ointments: Ophthalmoferon, Florental, Acyclovir, Zovirax.
How many days is sick leave issued for?
The issuance of a certificate of incapacity for work is regulated by order of the Ministry of Education.
It talks about mandatory home treatment of contagious conjunctivitis for workers in the food service, medicine and education .
The order specifies average terms, which vary from several days to three weeks . On average, treatment lasts two weeks until complete recovery.
Is it possible to get conjunctivitis again?
If, a week or a month after complete recovery, a person again has signs of inflammation of the conjunctiva, this means that he is faced with a chronic recurrent form of the disease. There can be many reasons for this. Repeated conjunctivitis in adults usually occurs due to viruses or bacteria entering the body, which “restart” the inflammatory process.
You can get conjunctivitis again due to a lack of vitamins - hypovitaminosis. Some chronic diseases also increase the risk of infection, for example, diabetes mellitus, as well as pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis. Taking corticosteroid medications also increases the risk of reinfection in adults.
Causes
Where does eye stye come from? The main cause of stye on the eye is bacterial infection of the organs of vision. The most common causative agent of the disease is Staphylococcus aureus. Sometimes the inflammation is caused by the demodex mite, which lives on the skin and in the nostrils of humans and is harmless. However, if there are favorable conditions for the activation of pathogenic microorganisms, the bacterium is able to penetrate the body, provoking the development of an infectious process.
The reasons for the appearance of hordeolum may be the following:
- reduced immunity;
- vitamin deficiency;
- inflammatory processes;
- cold;
- thyroid dysfunction;
- disruption of the digestive tract;
- helminthic infestations;
- applying makeup with low-quality cosmetics;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules.
The following pathological conditions can also provoke the development of the disease:
- hyperglycemia;
- blepharitis;
- hypercholesterolemia;
- seborrhea;
- Rosacea.
Most often, inflammation of the hair follicle of the eyelash occurs due to contamination of the organs of vision as a result of lack of personal hygiene or work in hazardous industries where there is a lot of dust and smoke.