dr. Shirley L A,Sp.

A

Conjunctivitis is common in childhood and may be
infectious or noninfectious
A form of conjunctivitis occuring in infants younger
than 4 wk of age
Most common eye disease of newborns
Its many different etiologic agents vary greatly in their
virulence and outcome
Conjungtivitis during the neonatal period is usually
acquired during vaginal delivery and reflect the
sexually transmitted diseases prevalent in the
community
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Pseudomonas are capable
of causing corneal perforation, blindness and death

Risk depends on :
- frequencies of maternal infections
- prophylactic measures
- circumstances during labor and delivery
- postdelivery exposures to microorganisms

Clinical manifestations :
not specific enough to
allow an accurate
diagnosis
redness & chemosis
(swelling) of the
conjunctiva, edema of
the eyelids &
discharge, may be
purulent
Diagnosis :
Conjungtivitis appearing after 48 hr should be evaluated
for a possibly infectious cause gram stain of purulent
discharge and material culture

Treatment :
Gonococcal ophthalmia :
- Ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg/24 hr for 1 dose not to exceed
125 mg
- Irrigated with saline every 10-30 min, gradually increasing
to 2 hr intervals until purulent discharge has cleared

Prognosis and prevention :
- 0.5% of erythromycin drops into the open eyes at
birth
- An infant born to a woman who has untreated
gonococcal infection single dose of ceftriaxone
50 mg/kg (max 125 mg) IV or IM, in addition to
topical prophylaxis
- Penicillin (50,000 units) should be used if the mothers
gonococcal isolate is known to be penicillin sensitive

Characterized by more or less generalized conjunctival
hyperemia, edema, mucopurulent exudate and various
degree of ocular dicomfort
Most frequent causes : Haemophilus influenzae
(associated with ipsilateral otitis media),
pneumococci, staphylococci, and streptococci
Conjunctival smear and culture
Usually respond well to warm compresses and
frequent topical instillation of antibiotic drops
Generally characterized
by a watery discharge
Follicular changes (small
aggregates of
lymphocytes) in
palpebral conjungtiva
Common : adenovirus
Commonly associated
with such systemic viral
infections
Self-limited