What is a stye

If we mention stye, most people probably don't know what it is. But if we mention sty, I believe everyone has heard of it. Stye is some inflammation near the eyelash follicles. There are internal and external types. External sty will have some obvious symptoms 2 to 3 days after the appearance of external sty, such as swelling, pain, nodules, and tenderness. The symptoms of internal sty are not as obvious as those of external sty. Let us learn about what stye is.

If you ask everyone what a stye is, I believe no one will be able to answer what it is. I have never heard anyone talk about it before. In fact, a stye is a needle prick. The cause of a stye is generally a bacterial infection. Redness, swelling and pain are obvious symptoms.

Stye, commonly known as sty, is an acute suppurative inflammation of the sebaceous glands or meibomian glands near the eyelash follicles. There are two types of styes: internal sty and external sty:

1. External stye

It is an acute suppurative inflammation of the Zeis gland. Initially, the eyelid margin shows localized congestion and swelling, and a nodule forms after 2 to 3 days. There is obvious swelling, pain and tenderness. Later, the nodule gradually softens and a yellow pustule forms at the root of the eyelashes, which breaks through and discharges pus quickly. Severe cases may have systemic symptoms such as chills and fever.

2. Internal stye

It is an acute purulent inflammation of the meibomian glands. Its clinical symptoms are not as severe as those of external hordeolum, because the inflamed meibomian glands are surrounded by firm tarsal plate tissue. Yellow pus masses are often faintly visible on the surface of the congested palpebral conjunctiva, which may rupture and discharge pus into the conjunctival sac on their own. The opening of the meibomian glands may be slightly raised and congested, and pus may also be discharged along the palpebral gland duct. A few cases may rupture and discharge pus from the skin. If the tarsal plate fails to rupture and the pathogen is highly toxic, the inflammation will expand, invade the entire tarsal plate tissue, and form an eyelid abscess.

Causes

There are two kinds of glands on the eyelids. The sebaceous glands at the root of the eyelashes open into the hair follicles. The meibomian glands are buried in the tarsal plates near the conjunctival surface and open into the eyelid margins. Stye is an acute suppurative inflammation of these two glands. The bacteria that cause styes are mostly Staphylococcus aureus.

Clinical manifestations

1. Localized redness, swelling, heat and pain on the eyelid skin, and edema of the adjacent conjunctiva.

2. When pus accumulates locally, yellow pus heads appear. External styes occur in the sebaceous glands at the root of the eyelashes and appear on the skin surface; internal styes occur in the meibomian glands and appear on the conjunctival surface. After rupture and drainage of pus, the pain is relieved and the redness and swelling subside.

3. Severe cases are accompanied by enlarged and tender preauricular and submandibular lymph nodes, general chills, fever, etc.

examine

1. Pay special attention to changes in the eyelids.

2. If there are systemic reactions, the peripheral blood leukocyte count and classification should be checked.

Now everyone should know what stye is and have a better understanding of this disease. The most obvious symptoms of stye are swelling, redness, heat and pain. If you have such symptoms in your eyes, you should seek timely examination and treatment. During the examination, you should pay special attention to some changes in the eyelids.