What causes red eyes in children?

If a child's eyes are red, it may be because the child has not had a good rest for a long time. For example, if the child does not sleep well at night, the eyes will be red the next day. At this time, just get more rest. In addition, every family now has electronic products. Children may watch TV for a long time, use the computer for a long time, or use mobile phones to play games for a long time. These bad eye habits will cause red eyes, but they are easier to solve. In comparison, there may be diseases such as conjunctivitis in the eyes, which will be accompanied by symptoms such as itchy or dry eyes, and the condition will be much more serious. In short, there are many reasons for children's red eyes.

First, acute conjunctivitis

——The eye discharge is very large and purulent

The most common cause of red eyes in babies is acute conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye". If the baby has acute conjunctivitis, in addition to the symptoms of conjunctival congestion (i.e. red eyes), there will also be a lot of purulent secretions and yellow eye discharge. Especially when waking up in the morning, there is so much secretion that it is difficult to even open your eyes, and you need to use your hands to pry your eyes open. However, the baby's vision will not be affected.

If the baby shows the above symptoms, parents can recall whether the baby has had a cold, gone swimming, or engaged in unclean eye use such as rubbing the eyes with hands. If so, it is most likely acute conjunctivitis. It is best to take your baby to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

Response: If acute conjunctivitis is confirmed, the doctor will generally prescribe antiviral eye drops for the baby. After returning home, daily care of your baby is also very important. Since acute conjunctivitis is contagious, babies should use separate face towels and washbasins. After use, the face towels should be exposed to the sun or disinfected with ultraviolet light. Parents should remind their babies to wash their hands frequently and not go to kindergarten or school when they are sick.

Second, allergic conjunctivitis

——Eye mucus is elastic and can be pulled into threads, often accompanied by itchy eyes

The second most common cause of red eyes in babies is allergic conjunctivitis. In addition to causing conjunctival congestion, allergic conjunctivitis may also cause itching of the eyes. Some babies have secretions in their eyes. The secretions are elastic and can be drawn into threads, which are very different from the purulent secretions caused by conjunctivitis. If you look under a slit lamp, you can see follicles of varying sizes on the conjunctiva of many babies, sometimes so numerous that they are as densely packed as paving stones. In addition to eye discomfort, some babies may also experience symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as runny nose, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and sneezing. Therefore, some people also call it "allergic rhinoconjunctivitis".

Xia Zhaoxia explained that allergic conjunctivitis is an allergic reaction of the conjunctiva caused by contact with allergic antigens. In Guangzhou, most children suffer from allergies due to contact with allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, etc. Some foods (such as seafood) can also cause allergies.

Response: If your baby has allergic conjunctivitis, the doctor will generally prescribe anti-allergic eye drops. If the baby also has systemic symptoms, such as itchy and painful skin, the doctor will also prescribe oral anti-allergic drugs. In daily life, parents should pay attention to keeping their babies away from allergens. For example, if the baby is allergic to animal dander, then pets should be avoided at home. As the baby grows older, the body's immune system will develop more and more fully, and these discomforts will improve or even disappear.

Third, iridocyclitis

——Eye pain, decreased vision, tearing, photophobia

Iridocyclitis, also known as uveitis, is also one of the causes of red eyes in babies. Although it is not as common as the first two diseases, it indicates that the baby has low immunity or other diseases, and should be taken more seriously by parents. Iridocyclitis is an inflammation caused by bacterial infection. In addition to red eyes, babies often also experience eye pain, decreased vision, tearing, photophobia, and high intraocular pressure.

The eyes are not sterile, they have normal bacteria, but when the baby's immunity is low, these bacteria may become pathogenic bacteria and cause infection. Therefore, if a baby is diagnosed with iridocyclitis, it indicates that he (she) may have low immunity, and it is necessary to find out the cause of the decreased immunity and intervene fundamentally. In addition, some other systemic diseases may also cause iridocyclitis, such as acute lupus erythematosus, dermatitis, polychondrosis, ulcerative colitis, Behcet's disease, etc. The doctor may ask the parents in detail whether the baby has diarrhea or oral ulcers, and may even check the baby's skin all over the body or prescribe more examination items.

Response: If the baby's inflammatory reaction is more obvious, the doctor will generally prescribe eye drops containing hormones and anti-inflammatory and analgesic eye drops. The baby's pupils will also be dilated to prevent adhesion of the pupils and the formation of plum blossom-shaped pupils. If the intraocular pressure is high, it needs to be lowered. Severe symptoms may even require oral hormones.