Dorothy FarrarDacryoadenitis
Dacryoadenitis (inflammation of the tear ducts) is an infection of the tear ducts. The condition causes swelling of the upper eyelid and is often associated with pain. In most cases, the inflammation occurs on one side and sometimes leads to the formation of an abscess. This abscess is called a tear fistula.
What is dacryoadenitis?
Like other inflammatory processes that can occur on the face and especially in the nose and eye area , dacryoadenitis is a risky and painful disease. The focus of inflammation is in the lacrimal gland and in many cases affects the tear duct. Inflammation of the lacrimal glands usually occurs as an acute illness. However, it also exists in a chronic form.
causes
Causes for the inflammation of the lacrimal gland can lie in various pre-existing conditions. At the same time, external factors play a role in the development of dacryoadenitis. Special bacteria or dirt particles can cause the painful inflammation . In the acute form of lacrimal gland inflammation, infectious diseases are often involved. For example, inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by bacteria or viruses can promote lacrimal gland inflammation.Injuries to the lacrimal gland can also cause inflammation. Chronic inflammation of the lacrimal glands often occurs as a result of tuberculosis and Hodgkin’s disease. Other blood diseases such as leukemia or sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis can play a role, as can individual tumor diseases.
When to the doctor?
Since there are serious complications with dacryoadenitis and, as a rule, also very unpleasant feelings and discomfort in the eyes, a doctor should always be consulted with this disease. Spontaneous healing does not occur unless direct treatment is initiated. The doctor should be consulted if swollen and reddened eyes occur and these symptoms persist over a longer period of time due to dacryoadenitis.
The eyes themselves can also hurt and the eyelashes can be stuck together. Furthermore, yellow discharge from the eye also indicates dacryoadenitis and the patient should consult a doctor. Not infrequently, fever and headaches are other symptoms of dacryoadenitis and must also be examined. In the case of acute and severe pain or reduced vision, the hospital can also be visited to treat the dacryoadenitis and thus relieve the symptoms. In most cases, the disease can be limited relatively well, so that there are no special consequential damages or complications.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of dacryoadenitis:
- Glued eyelashes
Dacryoadenitis is almost always a one-sided disease. This means that only one eye is affected by the inflammation. The respective eye is swollen, crimson and reacts painfully to pressure. At the same time, conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis) can occur. It is typical that the upper eyelid appears in the so-called paragraph form. Due to the pain and swelling that occurs, the eyelid cannot be opened or can no longer be opened completely.
Other symptoms are adhesions of the eyelashes and discharge from the eyes with a yellowish colour. In particularly severe cases, side effects in the form of fever, headache and vomiting can occur. The acute inflammation of the lacrimal gland can heal after some time or take a chronic, recurring course. With acute inflammation of the lacrimal gland, the course of the disease is about 7-11 days. Healing often occurs spontaneously.
Diagnose
Dacryoadenitis must be clearly diagnosed by a medical examination and differentiated from other possible diseases of the eye area. The classic symptoms, such as redness and swelling of the affected eye and the surrounding tissue, as well as pain, indicate inflammation of the lacrimal gland. However, lacrimal gland inflammation does not necessarily have to be associated with pain.
If the disease progresses severely, it is possible for pus to leak from the tear duct, mainly as a result of pressure. In order to precisely diagnose the inflammation of the lacrimal glands, in addition to the typical symptoms, swabs must also be taken from the eye and examined for differential diagnostics.
treatment and therapy
Antibiotics are used in most cases to treat acute dacryoadenitis . The drug can be applied locally in milder forms. Oral application should be used for severe, more pronounced forms. To alleviate the symptoms and support the healing process, the patient can use disinfecting and cooling compresses on the affected eye.
Depending on the patient’s feelings, warm, at best sterile, compresses can also be used as pads. In addition to the proper and regular use of the medication, top priority is a close check by the doctor. This has the particular aim of detecting the development of orbital cellulitis (severe disease of the eye socket) at an early stage.
If there is a suspicion that certain previous or concomitant diseases could be responsible as the causal trigger for lacrimal gland inflammation, then these must also be treated. Viruses can also be diagnosed as triggers for the inflammation of the lacrimal glands, which are associated with the development of herpes . In this case, the therapy should be coordinated with the triggering virus.
It is also possible that lacrimal gland inflammation occurs without an infectious agent. In such cases, treatment with prednisone is usually sufficient. The remedy reduces the swelling and the symptoms can subside. The administration of corticosteroid -containing agents is the main focus in the treatment of lacrimal gland inflammation. In addition, meticulous hygiene in the treatment of dacryoadenitis, as in diseases of the eye in general, has top priority. This is to prevent infectious germs from spreading to the other eye or other areas of the face.
prevention
To prevent dacryoadenitis, one should pay attention to thorough eye and facial hygiene. There are risks, particularly for users of contact lenses, from the multiple use of contact lenses and the associated cleaning solutions. There is an increased risk of infecting the eye with pathogens that can cause inflammation of the lacrimal gland. Conjunctivitis should be examined and treated by a doctor immediately in order to prevent the development of lacrimal gland inflammation at an early stage.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.