Most common problem in infants in the first 6 to 10 months after birth
is watering or pus discharge from one or both the eyes.
Major
cause for this is blockage of the nasolacrimal duct. Lacrimal
duct connects the eyes to the nose. Tears from the eyes pass through
this duct into the nose. Usually the duct gets connected to the
nose before the baby is born. Occasionally this is delayed. In
that case, the tears cannot pass from the eyes into the nose.
Frequently it gets infected and there is watering of the eyes
and / or pus discharge. On close observation one may find slight
swelling between the nose and the eye. It occurs because of collection
of water, mucus and at times pus in the lacrimal sac. When one
presses on the swelling, mucus discharge comes out of the eye.
Treatment
is to press on the sac area, remove the discharge and then clean
the eyes with boiled water (cooled) and cotton, after which the
secondary infection should be treated with instillation of antibiotic
drops as advised by the ophthalmologist.
Normally
the connection of nasolacrimal duct into the nose may take place
in few months of time. Very rarely syringing of lacrimal sac with
antibiotic is done and in extreme rare cases surgery is advised.
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Last updated on 08-08-2001
