By ULY CLINIC

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Neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum)

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Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON) means inflammation of the conjunctiva of a newborn baby of less than 1 month of age.

 

This is a potentially sight threatening condition. If the baby is older, the cause is unlikely to be an STI. 

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• The most common sexually transmitted pathogens which cause ON are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. 

• Other non-STI causes of neonatal conjuctivitis include: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus and Pseudomonas spp, viral, chemical and physical iritation.

• Common symptoms and signs of neonatal conjunctivitis are reddish conjunctiva, oedema/swelling of the eyelids and purulent eye discharge 

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Prevention and control measures include screening of pregnant women, early treatment of VDS in pregnant women and routine eye chemoprophylaxis in the newborn by providing 1% tetracycline eye ointment to all newborns.

 

Always:Examine the neonate and exclude other congenital diseases.