NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

 

ANEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

What is the Neonatal conjunctivitis..?

Neonatal conjunctivitis, also known as ophthalmia neonatorum

Is a inflammation of eye particularly conjunctiva that occurs in newborn babies within the first month of life.

CAUSE OF NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS 

0. Days 

Chemical 

• Chemical irritation TTC ointment 

2. days

Bacteria 

Chlamydia trachomitis :- transmitted from the mother during birth

7.Days

• Neisseria gonorrhea :- transmitted from the mother during birth

21. Days 

Viral

• Herpes simplex virus 

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS 

• Stickiness of eyelids
• Swelling
• Redness 
• Pus discharge, 

LAPROTRY  FINDING 

Laboratory findings for neonatal conjunctivitis may include:

- Gram stain and culture of conjunctival discharge to identify bacterial pathogens

- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for viral pathogens

- Allergy testing if allergic conjunctivitis is suspected

- Evaluation of maternal history and risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in cases of suspected chlamydial or gonococcal conjunctivitis.

TREATMENTS 

A. If there is stickiness of eyelids, swelling and/or redness but no pus 

discharge, 

• Clean the eyelids using sterile normal saline or clean (boiled and cooled) water and a clean swab, cleaning from the inside edge of the Eye to the outside edge;
• Have the mother do this whenever possible; repeat four times daily until the eye problems have cleared.
• If the problem persists after 4 days of the above measures treat for Chlamydia:
• Give erythromycin by mouth for 14 days;
• Apply 1% tetracycline ointment to the affected eye(s) four times 
• daily until the eye(s) is no longer red, swollen, or sticky.

B. If eyes are draining pus (Opthalmia Neonatorum) 

• If the Baby is less than 7 days, treat for gonococcal infection. 
• If possible take a specimen of pus using a sterile cotton swab, and send it to the laboratory for gram stain and/or culture and sensitivity, so that treatment will be modified accordingly. 
• Give Ceftriaxone 50mg/kg IM stat.
• Clean the eyelids using sterile normal saline or clean (boiled and cooled) water and a clean swab, cleaning from the inside edge of the Eye to the outside edge
• Have the mother do this whenever possible and repeat four times daily until the eye problems have cleared.
• Treat the mother and her partner for gonorrhoea if not already treated give ceftriaxone 250 mg IM as a single dose to the mother
• Ciprofloxacin 500 mg by mouth as a single dose to her partner