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Pink eye or conjunctivitis is very common among babies. Even the newborns are susceptible to pink eye as they have blocked tear ducts, low immunity and they can get exposed to bacteria which is normally present in the birth canal during vaginal birth. Let’s explore more about pinkeye in babies.
In both the babies and the adults, the inner side of the eyelids and the white of the eyes are lined with a transparent membrane called conjunctiva. The infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can be caused by microbes or mechanical irritation, is called conjunctivitis. The blood vessels in the eyes will become more visible when they get inflamed. This gives the characteristic red or pink color to the white part of the eyes. Hence the name pinkeye.
Pinkeye mostly affects babies above three-month as they have low immune system. Sometimes newborns can also get it during a vaginal birth. Babies are likely to touch their eyes every now and then and are therefore more susceptible to get pinkeye. The infection generally begins in one eye, and then eventually spreads to the next eye.
The pinkeye in babies is caused by:
Apart from the causes mentioned above, the bacterial and viral pinkeye are highly contagious. The baby will get bacterial and viral pinkeye:
The symptoms of pinkeye in babies varies:
Other symptoms include:
The treatment of the pink eyes in babies depends on the type of pink eye that has affected your baby:
Viral conjunctivitis usually disappears on its one. As the antibiotic drops has no effect on viral conjunctivitis, all the above-mentioned measures other than drops and ointment will help to alleviate the irritation and ensure fast relief.
As we already mentioned, twenty percent of the babies are born with blocked tear duct. Massaging gently the corner of the eye near the nose will help to unblock the tear duct.
Breast milk is excellent in treating all type of conjunctivitis. Putting a few drops of expressed breast milk on the affected eye several times a day will help clear any discharge and treat mild infection or prevent it from worsening.
A newborn has an increased chance of getting pinkeye, especially during a vaginal birth as they are exposed to the bacteria in the birth canal. Both the normal bacteria and the bacteria that is present in the birth canal if the mother suffers from any infection or sexually transmitted diseases can cause pink eye in newborn babies. To prevent this, immediately after the delivery, the doctor will apply antibiotic ointment or eye drops. However, this can give rise to chemical conjunctivitis as the chemicals in antibacterial eye drops or ointment irritates the conjunctiva. This is relatively harmless and will disappear within 36 hrs.
Hundred percent prevention is impossible. But there are some measures you can take to reduce the chances of your baby getting pinkeye.
If the condition persists long or worsens, it is advisable to see your baby’s doctor immediately. Pinkeye can be very uneasy and can make your little one uncomfortable. We hope this article will help you to deal well with this condition.
If you have any suggestions or home remedies to deal with pinkeye in babies, please feel free to share with us in the comments section below.
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