NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Course overview

NEONATAL EYE DISCHARGE IS USUALLY DUE TO CONGENITAL NASOLACRIMAL DUCT OBSTRUCTION OR EITHER CHEMICAL OR INFECTIOUS CONJUNCTIVITIS. NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS, ALSO CALLED OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM, TYPICALLY PRESENTS DURING THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS OF LIFE. THE INFECTION IS USUALLY ACQUIRED DURING DELIVERY AND IS THE MOST COMMON OCULAR DISEASE IN NEONATES. TYPICAL SYMPTOMS ARE PERSISTENT TEARING AND A MUCOID DISCHARGE IN THE INNER CORNER OF THE EYE. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES THE PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS AND STRESSES THE ROLE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM APPROACH TO THE CARE OF AFFECTED NEONATES.