Allergic conjunctivitis, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, is a hypersensitivity reaction of the conjunctiva to food or environmental factors. Allergic conjunctivitis due to type I allergic reactions is most common in children. Type I allergic conjunctivitis is rapid, including seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, spring keratoconjunctivitis, ectopic keratoconjunctivitis, etc.; Type IV allergic conjunctivitis is delayed, mainly vesicular conjunctivitis.
Both seasonal and perennial allergens common in children can trigger allergic immune responses. Seasonal allergens include: tree pollen, grasses, weed pollen and outdoor fungi. Perennial allergens include dust mites, indoor fungi, and animal dander (mostly cats and dogs).
Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in children
1. The most common symptom of allergic conjunctivitis in children is eye itching, which can occur in almost all patients with allergic conjunctivitis, and is usually most pronounced in the spring and fall. Other symptoms include tearing, burning sensation, photophobia and increased secretions. The discharge is mostly white mucus. Most children will say that they can’t see their eyes when they get up in the morning, but they feel better after their mother cleans their eyes.
2. The most common sign of allergic conjunctivitis in children is lid conjunctival congestion. Conjunctival papillary hyperplasia is another common sign. In acute attacks of allergic conjunctivitis, the main sign is conjunctival edema, and in severe cases, parents may say that the whites of the child’s eyes bulge out and the eyeballs are invisible.
When a child is diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis, parents are generally more anxious because most allergic conjunctivitis cannot be completely cured. This is because most allergic conjunctivitis does not always identify exactly what is causing the allergy, or it is recurrent and complicated, so it is generally difficult to cure completely. However, parents should not be discouraged.
The following will tell you exactly how to prevent and treat it.
Detaching the allergen is the most ideal and effective treatment. The most effective way to clarify what is causing your child’s allergy is to avoid exposure. For example, some children are allergic to pollen and have a recurrence of allergic conjunctivitis after exposure to pollen. For such patients, try to go out as little as possible during pollen-rich seasons, or take protective measures such as wearing masks and gloves when going out.
If it is not clear what you are allergic to, the following methods will also help: such as removing rags and blankets from the room; paying attention to bed hygiene, using mite inhibitors to eliminate insect mites in bed sheets and room corners; cleaning air conditioning units regularly and blowing hot air conditioners as little as possible; avoiding contact with grass and tree flowers during the pollen spreading season; stop wearing or replacing quality contact lenses with nursing solutions; cold compresses on eyelids can ease allergic reactions and reduce symptoms.
There are five main categories of medication for allergic conjunctivitis in children.
(1) Antihistamines
The most widely used antihistamines are 0.05% Emedastine fumarate, 0.05% Levocabastine, 0.1% Olopatadine, and 0.5% Ketorolac, which can be taken orally if accompanied by skin allergy. Commonly used oral medications include Isoptin, Chlorpheniramine, etc.
(2) Mast cell stabilizers
Commonly used are disodium colored glycolate and nedolomide, etc. Mast cell stabilizers are less effective than antihistamines and are mainly used for prophylaxis, preferably before exposure to allergens or for a period of time before the annual onset of the season.
(3) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
They can be used in both the acute and intermittent phases of allergic disease attacks, and have shown certain therapeutic effects on relieving eye itching, conjunctival congestion, tearing and other ocular signs and symptoms, and it can also reduce the dose of hormones, such as the commonly used Pralofin eye solution.
(4) Glucocorticoids
Severe allergic conjunctivitis using other drugs when treatment is not effective, and the use of time should not be too long, children generally should not exceed a week. To avoid complications such as viral infection, fungal infection, hormonal glaucoma and delayed healing of corneal epithelium. Commonly used are dexamethasone, betamethasone and flumetron ophthalmic solution, etc.
(5) Artificial tears
Most allergic conjunctivitis in children is accompanied by dry eyes and corneal epithelial damage. The use of artificial tears can reduce the symptoms and repair the corneal epithelium.
The most effective anti-allergy eye drops for children are dual-action anti-allergy drugs, such as Patanol, which have both antihistamine effects and mast cell stabilizer effects. For severe allergies, basic treatment with Patanol plus hormonal treatment with tobramycin dexamethasone drops, followed by Patanol alone after the symptoms have subsided, can be very effective. If the onset is prolonged, there is dry eye or corneal epithelial damage, artificial tears such as sodium vitrate can be added on top of the above mentioned medications.
Anti-allergic treatment can only control the symptoms of allergy and is hardly a complete cure for allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic children should also pay attention to nutrition and exercise, live a regular life and rest, and enhance their physical fitness. This will increase the body’s potential to fight allergy attacks and also reduce or mitigate them. For some children with recurrent, severe symptoms of springtime keratoconjunctivitis, there may be certain psychological barriers, and parents should provide encouragement and comfort.