Temporary Blindness in Children
By: Mark MonteiroTotal Views: 533, Word Count: 520,
Temporary blindness in children can be a symptom of numerous serious medical conditions. Temporary blindness can last for hours or even several weeks. Despite of its length and cause, all cases of temporary blindness need to be immediately evaluated by a physician.
Vision plays a huge role in a child’s insight of the world. While eye diseases are comparatively rare in infants, they do exist, and if left untreated can lead to permanent eye damage or even blindness. Eye exams are a significant part of well-baby care, and can guarantee that eye disease diagnosis occurs at the initial possible stage.
Causes of Temporary Blindness in Children
Retinal Migraine
A retinal migraine is a type of migraine in which children experience vision problems, such as temporary blindness, preceding a migraine headache, etc. Other symptoms frequently include nausea and other visual disturbances. For patients who experience rare retinal migraines, medications can often be used to ease most of their symptoms. Such medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, trip tans and anti nausea medications.
Basilar Artery Migraine
Basilar artery migraine is a kind of migraine headache accompanied by ringing in the ears, dizziness, nausea, balance problems and vomiting and distorted awareness. This migraine is also at times referred to as Bickerstaff syndrome and it can cause several other symptoms as well. Majority of children are able to be treated with over-the-counter migraine medications such as Advil Migraine and Motrin Migraine. Those who do not experience relief with over-the-counter medications might be prescribed a prescription trip tan medication.
Conversion Disorder
Conversion disorder in children is a psychiatric disorder. This unusual disorder causes the child to experience physical symptoms when engaging in clash or when under emotional pain. In addition to temporary blindness, the child might experience pain, paralysis, seizures and sexual dysfunction. Treating this disorder often involves a blend of stress management, behavioral therapy and depression and anxiety medications.
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is an unusual form of eye cancer that is, however, the most common childhood cancer, according to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Early signs could include white spots in the center of a child's eyes in a photograph. Treatment options differ depending on the tumor's size and location. The cancer can spread along the optic nerve to the brain and be fatal if left untreated.
Daphne Poisoning
A Daphne is a type of shrub and contains mezerein, a toxic skin irritant and another toxin called dauphin. Besides temporary blindness, Daphne poisoning might also cause diarrhea, eye annoyance, inflammation and itchy skin. It can also cause complications that include death, convulsions and coma. The most general treatment method involves thoroughly washing the area that came into contact with the Daphne shrub. Children need to seek immediate medical attention.
Temporary blindness in children is a possible symptom of ophthalmic migraines. In this case, you must seek the advice of an ophthalmologist or neurologist to ensure that blindness is only due to vascular spasms and not a more severe condition such as retinal migraines. The Mayo Clinic indicates that if loss of sight occurs in only one eye, this may be a sign that children are experiencing retinal migraines that require medical treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Mark Monteiro is graduated from the Hazard University and done his MBA from the he University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Currently he is working as general physician at Elmhurst Loyola Center for Health. For over 15 years he has been a pioneer in the field of physician health. He has contributed to the treatment of many diseases like- ASTHMA, TUBERCULOSIS, HIV, HEPATITIS AND ITS TREATMENT.
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