The application of azithromycin solution in the treatment of inflammatory eye diseases in the practice of pediatricians and general practitioners of family medicine (literature review)

The presented review is devoted to modern views on the mechanisms of development, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of inflammatory eye diseases in children. The aim is the systematization of pediatric patients’ management data with inflammatory eye diseases at the outpatient stage of medical care by pediatricians and general practitioners/family medicine physicians. Most cases of inflammation of the eye surface in children are caused by bacterial conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis in newborns occupies a special place, that is caused by the specificity of pathogens in the postnatal period. The article highlights the dynamics and duration of neonatal conjunctivitis, clinical manifestations and consequences depending on the pathogen, global data on the spread of the disease, and a comparison of the effectiveness of different treatment approaches. The main symptoms of conjunctivitis in children are covered thoroughly, in particular, the duration of the disease, the involvement of one or both eyes, the nature of the discharge from the eye (eyes), and accompanying signs that may help in the determination of the etiology. The article discusses approaches to the differential diagnosis of conjunctivitis, as well as the causes of eye hyperemia as the main clinical symptom. To unify the management of pediatric patients with bacterial conjunctivitis at the outpatient stage of medical care and based on evidence-based recommendations, the authors proposed a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for a child presenting eye redness. The pharmacological aspects of the application of azithromycin are considered. Research data on the activity and effectiveness of 1.5% aqueous solution of azithromycin in the form of eye drops and an aqueous solution of tobramycin are presented. The authors made a conclusion that it is advisable to apply a 1.5% aqueous solution of azithromycin in the form of eye drops for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, dacryocystitis, and chalazion in children. The authors declare no conflict of interest.