Neonatal Ophthalmitis
Definition:

Neonatal ophthalmitis pertains to a discharge of pus from the eye of a newborn infant. It is also alternatively known as opthalmia neonatorum.


Diagnosis:

The sight of an eye discharge in a newborn is usually sufficient to diagnose neonatal ophthalmitis. Laboratory testing of maternal serum may be done to determine the specific cause of the condition.


Treatment:

Neonatal ophthalmitis is treated with appropriate antibiotics. They are fairly treatable and resolve within several days from birth.


Symptoms and Signs:

The primary symptom of neonatal ophthalmitis is pus coming out of a newborn’s eye. These eye discharges usually last until the 21st day of birth, and then resolve either simultaneously or with proper treatment.


Causes:

Neonatal ophthalmitis is caused by an inflammation in the affected infant’s eye. This inflammation may be due to a number of factors, including: chlamydial infection in a majority of known cases; chemical injury such as exposure to toxic antiseptics during delivery; and other forms of bacterial infections. In rare cases, gonorrhea infection may also be the causative factor.