Conjunctivitis during pregnancy: how to treat?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

A woman's immune system during pregnancy is severely tested, working with a double load. Unfortunately, it does not always cope with such a responsible task as maintaining he alth and protecting the body from pathogenic microorganisms. During the period of bearing a baby, a woman is extremely susceptible to various kinds of viruses and bacteria. It is not uncommon to contract an infectious disease such as conjunctivitis during pregnancy. What is the danger of this condition and how to treat it? We will answer these questions in our article.

Causes of conjunctivitis in pregnant women

Conjunctivitis is a group of diseases associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye. The reasons for the occurrence of such a state may be different, namely:

• virus infection;
• bacteriological infection;
• allergen irritation.

Thus, conjunctivitis during pregnancy occurs as a result of infection with a virus, bacterium, or due tooccurrence of an allergic reaction. The body of the expectant mother is highly sensitive to various kinds of infections and allergens. Therefore, in women in the position of conjunctivitis is more common and often occurs with complications. The healing process is also slowed down by the fact that standard drugs for the treatment of this disease are contraindicated for pregnant women.

Factors contributing to the development of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye are as follows:

• colds of viral origin;
• avitaminosis;
• diseases of ENT organs;
• hypothermia;
• Wrong selection of contact lenses;
• non-compliance with hygiene rules (for example, using other people's glasses);
• external stimuli: dust, strong wind, smoke, etc.

Symptoms of disease

Expectant mothers are concerned about the question of whether conjunctivitis is dangerous during pregnancy? Despite the fact that in general this disease does not harm the fetus, the drugs used by the woman are absorbed into the bloodstream and enter the baby, thus having a negative effect on the intrauterine development of the crumbs. In addition, infection of the child during delivery is possible, and infectious diseases of the eyes of newborns are extremely dangerous and difficult to treat conditions. The most dangerous conjunctivitis during pregnancy is chlamydial. It is important to identify the disease in a timely manner and begin treatment.

Symptoms are as follows:

• teary;
• painin the eyeball, aggravated by blinking;
• presence of purulent discharge;
• red eye;
• puffiness;
• feeling of sand, dryness in the eye.

At the first symptoms, you should consult a doctor, self-administration of drugs is contraindicated.

Types of conjunctivitis

Worried about conjunctivitis during pregnancy? How to treat such a disease? The complex of medical measures aimed at fighting the infection is compiled exclusively by an ophthalmologist. Only a specialist can reliably determine the type of conjunctivitis. Namely, the treatment regimen depends on this factor.

The following types are distinguished:

• viral;
• bacterial;
• allergic;
• autoimmune.

Also, depending on the course of the condition, there are chronic conjunctivitis, acute and purulent.

Drugs

The doctor diagnosed conjunctivitis. During pregnancy, how to treat such a disease? Depending on the type, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

• antihistamines: Azelastine, Allergodil, Ketotifen, Levocabastin;
• corticosteroids: Maxidex, Prenacid;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Diclofenac;
• artificial tear;
• local antibacterial drugs for conjunctivitis of bacterial origin: Tobrex, Floxal.

Oral medicines are prescribed only when there is nopositive dynamics of therapy with local drugs during the week or in some difficult cases.

The standard treatment regimen for conjunctivitis in pregnant women is as follows:

1. In case of a viral disease, local preparations containing oxolin, tebrofen are prescribed; immunostimulants, such as "Interferon". If the causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus, then Acyclovir (eye ointment) is additionally prescribed.
2. In allergic conjunctivitis, the first thing to do is identify and eliminate the irritant. Drugs such as Suprastin, Zirtek, Hydrocortisone (eye ointment) are prescribed.
3. The bacterial form of the disease is treated with topical antibiotics, such as Tobrex drops. Be sure to rinse your eyes with a solution of furacilin or boric acid (2% m).

Folk remedies

Conjunctivitis during pregnancy is not recommended to be treated independently with folk remedies. Even herbal remedies can adversely affect the development of the fetus or the condition of the expectant mother. Therefore, if symptoms of the disease are detected, you should immediately seek help from an ophthalmologist.

Under the supervision of a doctor, you can apply herbal compresses, for example, from infusion of sage, rosehip, chamomile, calendula. In addition, experts recommend expectant mothers to review their diet and increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

Prevention measures

Conjunctivitis causes extremely unpleasant pain, the symptoms of the disease cause inconvenience and reduce the quality of life. Therefore, preventive measures should be taken to reduce the likelihood of eye infection:

• keep personal hygiene;
• keep proper care and use of contact lenses;
• timely treat infectious diseases, as well as inflammatory processes in the ENT organs;
• take your multivitamin as directed by your doctor.

Thus, it has painful symptoms and is often a dangerous condition of conjunctivitis during pregnancy. Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the type of infection and the general he alth of the patient.