Clinical features: A discharging sticky eye with red swollen conjunctiva and swollen eyelids in any baby during the first 28 days of life.
Treatment Guidelines
Tetracycline 1 % eye ointment every hour for 4 days then continue every 6 hours for 10 days
Initiate systemic antibiotics (baby) and REFER infant and PARENTS to hospital Procaine Penicillin (IM) 60,000 IU
NOTE See also 7.0 sexually Transmitted Disease “Ophthalmia neonatorum” |
Table: Conjunctivitis
Signs and symptoms |
Acute bacterial |
Viral |
Allergic |
Chronic, endemic Trachoma |
1. Discharge |
Purulent |
Watery or none |
Mucoid |
None or purulent |
2. Itching |
None |
None |
Marked |
None |
3. One or both eyes ? |
One or both |
One or both |
Both |
Both |
4. Recurrences |
Unusual |
Unusual |
Usually |
Chronic |
5. Treatment |
Frequent antibiotic eye ointment or drops for 5 days |
None-self-resolving. If in doubt treat as bacterial OR REFER |
Educate/ reassure. Cold compresses, zinc sulphate drops or antihistamine drops or sodium cromoglycate drops. If no relief of symptoms, REFER. |
Tetracycline eye ointment three times a day for 6 weeks. Advise on hygiene. If interned eyelashes, REFER. |