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.
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