This infectious inflammation commonly occurs when newborns are just a few days old, with a relatively high incidence rate. It is a serious condition that can lead to blindness, making early detection crucial for aggressive treatment with antibiotics.
Causes of the condition
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Conjunctivitis in newborns (Image: Ykhoanet) |
is often caused by bacterial infections acquired from the mother’s birth canal (most commonly by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia); or infections from within the uterus (often in cases of premature rupture of membranes). The disease can also be transmitted through medical equipment (this cause is rare) or due to unclean conditions from parents or caregivers during hygiene care for the infant.
Symptoms of neonatal conjunctivitis include swollen and red eyelids, with some cases having such significant swelling that the infant may have difficulty opening their eyes, or may not be able to open them at all.
The eyes appear red, with excessive tearing accompanied by discharge, with some severe cases exhibiting a large amount of pus. The condition usually affects both eyes; it is rare for one eye to be affected before the other. Since the disease occurs within the first 2-3 days after birth and is acute in nature, it typically has little impact on the infant’s vision; however, if not treated promptly and aggressively, it can affect vision and even lead to blindness.
Therefore, neonatal conjunctivitis must be treated immediately with antibiotic solutions and ointments such as Tobrex, Loxone, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, etc., applied 4-6 times a day. In cases of gonococcal conjunctivitis, a penicillin solution should be used twice a day. For severe cases, the frequency of medication application can be up to 10 times a day, and the eyes should be frequently cleaned with 0.9% saline solution to remove discharge, 4-6 times a day. If there is no improvement, referral to a higher-level specialist is necessary to identify and treat the underlying cause (it is best to use medications as directed by an ophthalmology specialist).
Due to the thin and sensitive skin and conjunctiva of newborns, care must be taken to clean the eyes gently to avoid causing trauma.
To prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, infants should receive a single application of 1% Tetracycline ointment or 1% silver nitrate in both eyes immediately after birth. Alternatively, they can be treated with one of the following solutions: 0.4% Chloramphenicol, 1% Argyrol, or 3% solution applied in both eyes twice a day for the first three days after birth (Credé’s prophylactic method).
Women with dermatological conditions should not become pregnant until their illness is fully treated.
