| pinkeye in a baby |
Before you can treat
conjunctivitis in infant, fast you need the know what cause the infection,
there are three different type of conjunctivitis , the bacterial, viral and the
allergic type, knowing what type of conjunctivitis you r baby is a having is
very important because this will let you use the correct medication.
To know what type of
conjunctivitis, below are some of the symptoms of the different type of the
conjunctivitis,
·
If the conjunctivitis
in your baby is followed by cold symptoms the infection mostly likely viral, therefore
in this case you only use medication for viral.
·
For bacterial conjunctivitis: if you see a thick yellow discharge coming
out from the eye of your baby, and the eye lids swells or stick together, know
that this is bacterial conjunctivitis, tis bacterium causing this could be streptococcus,
staphylococcus, or hemophilus bacteria,
Infants exposed
to gonorrhea or chlamydia during birth can also have bacterial pink eye.
·
Allergic conjunctivitis:
if your baby is having a watery , itchy or swollen eye, it could be due to
irritations from dust, pollen grains etc
·
Infant eye drops
: eye drops giving to babies at birth could cause irritation, this cause irritant
conjunctivitis.
·
Blocked tear
duct: if your baby has a blocked tear duct this could lead to conjunctivitis-like
symptoms.
Therefore if you
notice any of the above symptoms in your baby you should rush to hospital, your
doctor should be able to given a prescription, if it a viral conjunctivitis, it
will go after one or two weeks you should also try and keep the eye area clean.
If it a bacterial you will be given antibiotics, if it allergic keep you baby
away from the dusk , pollen or dirty and wind environment. If it is a chemical
conjunctivitis it will go after 24 to 36 our after te administration of the “newborn
eye drop” if longer report to your doctor. And as a home remedy you can put
some breast milk on the baby’s eye as a to clear discharge, treat or prevent
infection.
