Neonatal conjunctivitis
Alternative Names
Newborn conjunctivitis; Conjunctivitis of the newborn; Ophthalmia neonatorumPrevention
Treatment of a pregnant woman for sexually-transmitted diseases will prevent conjunctivitis in the neonate. Even if the mother's infection has not been recognized, prophylactic eye drops put into the infant's eyes immediately after birth help prevent many infections, and these drops are used routinely for all births.
A cesarean section is recommended when the mother has active herpes lesions at the time of delivery. Antibiotics, given intravenously, may be given to infants of mothers with untreated gonorrhea. However, antibiotic eye drops may not prevent chlamydial conjunctivitis.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.