What is it?
Dacryocystitis
It is the inflammation of the lacrimal sac, generally as a consequence of an acute or chronic infectious process, which causes the obstruction of the lacrimal-nasal duct. Other causes of this pathology are, although to a lesser extent, the existence of nasal trauma, nasal polyps or previous nasal surgery.
Dacryocystitis is when tears accumulate in the lacrimal sac because they do not drain properly, and end up spilling to the outside of the eye.
The most frequent symptoms include constant tearing (epiphora), redness due to inflammation, painful edema in the inner part of the lower eyelid, i.e. in the area of the lacrimal sac which is swollen with fluid accumulation, and conjunctivitis. Occasionally, secretions through the lacrimal punctum and fever may also occur.
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Dacryocystitis can affect newborn infants due to congenital obstruction of the tear duct, which hinders or prevents the drainage of tears.
When it manifests itself suddenly and acutely, the patient suffers a rather painful inflammation that should be treated urgently to avoid possible complications. On the other hand, when the infection is chronic, it presents milder but recurrent symptoms.
Treatment of dacryocystitis
Depending on the severity of the symptoms presented by the patient in the ophthalmologic examination, the specialist will determine different treatment options.
In the case of acute dacryocystitis, it is important that such treatment is started urgently by the use of antibiotics, depending on the culture and antibiogram performed, the frequent application of warm compresses on the inflammation, as well as anti-inflammatory and/or analgesics. If an abscess is formed, surgical drainage by means of a slight incision over the abscess is indicated.
In the case of chronic dacryocystitis, due to its recurrent nature, surgical treatment should be considered to definitively solve the obstruction of the lacrimal duct and prevent the recurrence of new infectious conditions.
Other pathologies
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