Eye care for newborn babies

Newborns often have watery eyes and discharge in the first few days after birth. Conjunctivitis can occur within the first week if daily eye care is not provided.

Some common eye infections

In some cases, newborns can develop serious eye infections that can lead to blindness within the first month after birth. The three most common causes of eye infections are Neisseria gonorrhoea (the bacteria that causes gonorrhea), Chlamydia trachomatis (a flagellate, which can be acquired during birth from the mother's genital tract), and Staphylococcus aureus (acquired either from the mother's genital tract or after birth, from caregivers).



Of the three, the most dangerous is Neisseria gonorrhoea, which can cause blindness if left untreated. Chlamydia is the most common cause of neonatal ophthalmia neonatorum, which can lead to vision loss but rarely blindness.

The typical symptoms of all three conditions are redness and swelling of both eyelids with discharge, usually starting between the second and fifth days after birth. However, symptoms may begin earlier or later. It is difficult to say which agent is causing the infection based on clinical presentation alone. In areas with a high prevalence of gonococcal infection, health care workers should treat any eye infection that may be caused by gonococcus without waiting for definitive testing or diagnosis. Health care workers should consider screening and treating pregnant women who may have sexually transmitted diseases during pregnancy.

An estimated 3% of babies with untreated gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum will go blind.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the most common sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women.

Staphylococcus aureus infection occurs in 10 to 20 percent of newborns and can spread rapidly from baby to baby, especially in health care settings.

Staphylococcus is also a common cause of umbilical cord infections, and the umbilical cord can harbor these germs.

Prophylactic treatment of eye infections due to gonococci and chlamydia

Because gonococcal eye infections are so serious, all cases of neonatal conjunctivitis should be treated with antibiotics as if they were gonococcal conjunctivitis.

Most chlamydia infections can be prevented by disinfecting the eye immediately after birth, even if the mother was not treated before birth.

Preventing eye infections in newborns

Regular hand washing, use of clean tools and equipment, and keeping the environment clean are fundamental measures to prevent eye infections and other infections in newborns.

Therefore, if the mother has a genital infection that has not been treated (or the treatment is not stable), the baby is at risk of conjunctivitis. When you see your baby's eyes are swollen (or have discharge), you must immediately notify the doctor (or take the baby to the doctor immediately) so that the baby can be diagnosed and treated promptly.

The use of antibiotic eye drops must be prescribed by a doctor.

Note: Immediately after birth, clean your baby's eyes with sterile gauze or a separate towel. This towel must be dipped in cooled boiled water.

- The midwife usually gives the baby eye drops (or eye ointment) after wiping the eyes within an hour after birth. Be careful not to let the tip of the medicine bottle (or tube) touch the baby's eye.

- Anyone who touches the baby must wash their hands before and after caring for the baby.

WHO recommends that all newborns' eyes should be cleaned immediately after birth and should be given 1% silver nitrate drops (or 1% tetracycline eye ointment) within 1 hour of birth.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 32 million new cases of gonococcal conjunctivitis and 46 million new cases of chlamydial conjunctivitis in women worldwide each year. One-third to one-half of babies born to women with these STIs will develop eye infections.

According to SK&DS-MD