2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Optic atrophy in children
Immediately after the baby is born, he is examined by a specialist to identify various congenital diseases. The assessment is carried out according to the Apgar scale, the reaction to various external stimuli is assessed. The child is examined by an optometrist, especially if the parents have vision problems. What is it for? It is advisable to identify the disease as early as possible in order to take all measures to treat it.
One of these diseases is optic nerve atrophy. This is the name for the death of nerve fibers as a result of various reasons and its replacement with connective tissue. Often it does not develop on its own, but is a consequence of other diseases. And there can be quite a few of them.
Children often have a hereditary factor, when some pathologies are transmitted from parents to children. This also includes various intoxications, inflammatory processes in the brain, cerebral edema, diseases of the eyeball, pathology of pregnancy, diseases of the nervous system, hydrocephalus, tumors, skull deformities, trauma.
Content:
- How does the disease manifest in children
- Diagnosis of congenital optic nerve atrophy
- Treatment of the disease
- Prognosis for optic nerve atrophy in children
How does the disease manifest in children
In this disease, visual impairment is a characteristic feature. Initial symptoms can be noticed already in the first days of a baby's life during a medical examination. The pupils of the child are examined, the reaction to light is determined, it is studied how the child follows the movement of bright objects in the hand of a doctor or mother.
Indirect signs of optic nerve atrophy are considered to be the lack of response of the pupil to light, dilation of the pupil, lack of tracking of the child. This disease, with insufficient attention to it, can lead to a decrease in visual acuity, and even to blindness. The disease can manifest itself not only at birth, but also when the child gets older. The main symptoms will be:
- Decreased visual acuity, which is not corrected by glasses, lenses;
- Loss of certain areas of vision;
- Changes in color perception - affects color vision perception;
- Change in peripheral vision - the child sees only those objects that are directly in front of him and does not see those that are slightly to the side. The so-called tunnel syndrome develops.
With complete atrophy of the optic nerve, blindness occurs, with partial damage to the nerve, vision only decreases.
Congenital atrophy of visual vision
Atrophy of the optic nerve is hereditary and is often accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity almost to blindness from a very early age. When examined by an ophthalmologist, a thorough examination of the baby is carried out, which includes an examination of the fundus, visual acuity, and measurement of intraocular pressure. When signs of atrophy are found, the cause of the disease is determined, the level of damage to the nerve fiber is determined.
Diagnosis of congenital optic nerve atrophy
Diagnosis of the disease in children is not always easy. They do not always and not everyone can complain that they have poor eyesight. This shows how important it is for children to undergo preventive examinations. Pediatricians, and ophthalmologists, according to indications, constantly examine children, but the mother always remains an important observer of the child. She should be the first to notice that something is wrong with the baby and turn to a specialist. And the doctor will already prescribe an examination, and then treatment.
Research is being conducted:
- Examination of the fundus;
- Checking visual acuity, visual fields are determined;
- Intraocular pressure is measured;
- According to indications - radiography.
Treatment of the disease
The basic principle of therapy is that the earlier treatment is started, the more favorable the prognosis is. If left untreated, the prognosis is the same - blindness. Depending on the identified causes, the underlying disease is treated. If necessary, an operation is prescribed.
Medicines include:
- Drugs to improve the blood supply to the optic nerve;
- Vasodilators;
- Vitamins;
- Biostimulating drugs;
- Enzymes.
Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed: ultrasound, acupuncture, laser stimulation, electrical stimulation, oxygen therapy, electrophoresis. However, with the congenital nature of the disease, it is not always possible to correct the situation, especially in case of untimely seeking medical help. All drugs are prescribed only by the attending physician, you should not contact your neighbors for treatment. They were prescribed treatment by a doctor, so let you have only your drugs.
Prognosis for optic nerve atrophy in children
With timely treatment started, the prognosis will be favorable, given that in children, damaged tissues are better amenable to restoration than in adults. For the slightest vision problems in children, you should consult a specialist. Let it be a false alarm, because it is better to consult once again and ask the doctor what is not clear with the baby, than to be treated for a long time and fruitlessly. Children's health is in the hands of their parents.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
Recommended:
Treatment Of Optic Nerve Atrophy With Folk Remedies And Methods
Treatment of optic nerve atrophy with folk remediesThe death of optic nerve fibers is called atrophy. It leads to a drop in visual acuity and a narrowing of the visible field. When the fibers die off, black spots called blind spots may appear in front of the eyes
Partial Optic Nerve Atrophy
Partial optic nerve atrophyAtrophy of the optic nerve is understood as the gradual dying off of the optic nerve and its replacement by connective tissue. A whole group of different pathological conditions can lead to this disease. Partial or complete atrophy of the optic nerve is distinguished from the degree of damage to the optic nerve and how much reduced vision
Muscle Atrophy - Causes And Symptoms Of Muscle Atrophy, Diagnosis And Treatment
AmyotrophyCauses and symptoms of muscle atrophy, diagnosis and treatmentWhat is Muscle Atrophy?The process of muscle atrophy develops gradually and leads to an increasing decrease in their volume and the degeneration of muscle fibers, which become thinner, in especially severe cases their number can be reduced to complete disappearance
Vaginal Muscle Atrophy - Causes And Symptoms Of Vaginal Muscle Atrophy, Diagnosis And Treatment
Causes and symptoms of vaginal muscle atrophyDefinition of diseaseAtrophy of the vaginal muscles is characterized by slow thinning and, often, inflammation of the vaginal walls as a result of a decrease in the production of sex hormones in a woman's body - estrogens
Muscle Atrophy Of The Arm, Shoulder And Hand - Causes And Symptoms Of Muscle Atrophy, Diagnosis And Treatment
Causes and symptoms of muscle atrophy of the arm, shoulder and handAtrophy of the muscles of the hand, hand, forearm develops mainly as a secondary disease against the background of disturbed innervation (nutrition, blood circulation) in a certain area of muscle tissue and, less often, as primary (usually with myopathy), when the motor function is not impaired.C
