Management Of Bacterial Conjunctivitis Research Articles

A Pilot Clinical Study on the Efficacy of Bilvamuladi Kwatha Aschyotana in the Management of Kaphaj Abhishyanda w.s.r. to Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is one of the most common ocular diseases that occurs worldwide and affects every age group and social strata. The disease Kaphaj Abhishyanda, which is due to vitiation of Kapha Pradhana Tridosha is comparable with this condition. In the management of bacterial conjunctivitis as per modern ophthalmology antibiotic and antihistaminic eye drops are prescribed. Because of recurrent use of antibiotics, chances of antibiotic resistance are increasing. The present study was planned to evaluate the management of same disease with Ayurvedic formulation. Ayurveda can provide better alternative treatment in such manifestation. Ayurvedic formulation mentioned in Ashtanga Sangraha on Kaphaj Abhishyanda was selected and the Bilwamuladi Kwatha was prepared for Aschyotana as mode of administration. 3 patients diagnosed with Kaphaj Abhishyanda were selected and given Bilwamuladi Kwatha Aschyotana 1 drop twice a day for 7 days. The assessment of symptoms was done before, during the treatment and after treatment. The Bilvamuladi Kwatha has Ushna Veerya and Kaphaghna properties, which helps in treating vitiated Kapha Dosha as well as Madhu and Shigru are known to be Chakshushya. Bilvamuladi Kwatha was found effective with significantly reducing symptoms of Kaphaj Abhishyanda and shows marked difference in bacterial culture and sensitivity testing of conjunctival smear, which is studied as objective parameter.

Patient demographic and microbiology trends in bacterial conjunctivitis in children

The management of bacterial conjunctivitis has a significant economic impact, despite the relatively benign nature of the disease. We reviewed the medical records for children diagnosed with conjunctivitis at inpatient and outpatient facilities of a tertiary university center over a 5-year period to examine the microbial trends and physician practice patterns and found that most cases of conjunctivitis were treated empirically. When cultures were performed and an organism was recovered, there were significant differences in the organism based on age. Although bacterial conjunctivitis accounted for only 10% of cases, antibiotics were dispensed in more than half of the cases. Pediatricians prescribed antibiotics for conjunctivitis more than twice as often as ophthalmologists. Less than 5% of patients who did not receive antibiotics returned to clinic within 1month for persistent symptoms.

Conjunctivitis as seen in Ile-Ife

Objective: To survey the clinical pattern of conjunctivitis with the aim of identifying the etiologic agents of bacterial conjunctivitis and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern.Method: Patients with clinical features of conjunctivitis form the cohort of this study. A retrospective study of 3,872 patients seen at the eye clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, between January 1997 and December 2000 was undertaken. Of these, 689 patients (17.8%) had conjunctivitis. Those diagnosed as having infective conjunctivitis had conjunctival swabs taken for microscopy, culture and sensitivity tests, and were investigated by standard microbiological methods.Results: Out of a total of 3,872 new patients seen over a 3-year period, 689 (17.8%) presented with conjunctivitis. Of these, allergic conjunctivitis was the most common type, seen in 580 patients (84.2%), followed by acute bacterial conjunctivitis in 98 patients (14.2%), while conjunctivitis secondary to physical trauma and toxic etiologies were seen in 8 (1.2%) and 3 (0.4%) patients respectively. Thirty-three patients (33.6%) with infective (acute bacterial) conjunctivitis had laboratory confirmed positive culture results. Thirteen patients (13.3%) developed complications such as corneal ulceration 9(9.2%) and perforation 4 (4.1%) before they presented at the hospital. Most of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to third generation cephalosporin, especially ciprofloxacin (89.8%-97.8% sensitivity).Conclusion: Conjunctivitis due to allergy and infective causes is a major cause of ocular morbidity. The high sensitivity of the isolates to ciprofloxacin (89.8-97.8%), chloramphenicol (68.9%), and gentamicin (84.9%), supports the appropriateness of using these drugs as first line drugs in the management of bacterial conjunctivitis. Corneal ulceration (9.2%) and perforation (4.1%) are major causes of ocular morbidity and blindness (6.1%), among patients with conjunctivitis as seen in Ile-Ife. There is a need for public eye health education and early referral of all cases of eye infections to an eye specialist to prevent blinding complications.Keywords: conjunctivitis, acute, aetiology and treatmentNigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 13 (1) 2005: 21-26