COMMON EYE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN

Most penetrating or lacerating injuries of the eye in children justify examination under anesthesia to avoid further harm to an uncooperative patient. The pediatrician in doubt should merely apply a sterile dressing and have an ophthalmologist examine the injury in hospital. Nonperforating injuries may result in severe bleeding 48 to 72 hours later; this may be averted by bandaging the eyes and maintaining rest for four or five days. Removal of foreign bodies should be followed by application of antibiotic ointment and patching to prevent contamination.Congenital stenosis of the lacrimal duct may clear spontaneously or through application of decongestants and sympathomimetic drops. More severe effects, especially infection, justify probing at six months or earlier. The operation should be done under general anesthesia, preferably in hospital.Acute conjunctivitis is best treated by local application of antibiotics or sulfonamides only. Chronic infections may be better managed with the addition of corticosteroids, which reduce local inflammation and control bacterial reaction. Bacterial study should be done only if empirical antibiotic therapy fails. Bacterial desensitization may be helpful. The same methods are effective in blepharitis, aided by hygienic measures. Corticosteroids are most useful in allergic inflammations.Refractive difference is difficult to test before a child can read, and apparent defects may be due to lack of cooperation. Marked inequality of the eyes may signify organic disorder. Strabismus, on the other hand, can be detected as early as 12 or 15 months and should be treated as early as possible by proper lenses, surgery, or both. Pediatricians and parents should be aware that many children appear to have strabismus because of wide epicanthi and deep-set eyes.     

CROOK ROOT OF WATERCRESS

The discovery, occurrence and symptoms of crook-root disease ( Spongospora subterranea (Wallr.) Lagerh. f.sp. nasturtii Tomlinson) are described.
Assessment of crook root in commercial watercress beds indicated that the disease increased with increasing distance from the water source, was more severe from October to April than from May to September, and affected brown more than green watercress.
The healthier condition of plants near the fresh-water inlets, compared with those growing further down the bed, was associated with the low concentration of zoospores.
Water from the river Dene, Wellesbourne, contained a factor inhibiting crook root, which was shown to be calcium bicarbonate. In laboratory tests, increasing concentrations of calcium bicarbonate from 62 to 540 p.p.m. gave an increasing degree of control of the disease. The same effect was shown in a small field test.
The combined (Ca + Mg) bicarbonate content in eighty-seven spring and artesian waters supplying diseased watercress beds in various counties varied, with one exception, from 282 to 401 p.p.m. The only bed fed by water with a higher total bicarbonate content (525 p.p.m.) was free from crook root.
It was shown that solutions containing 350–750 p.p.m. calcium bicarbonate had no effect on the germination of zoosporangia or the activity of zoospores.
Certain resemblances are noted between the control of crook root by calcium bicarbonate and the control of club root of brassicas by lime.