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Keep an Eye on the Eyes
Common Eye Problems in Babies and Toddlers
By Katherine Bontrager
"Newborn conjunctivitis can be a very serious condition because these infants are at risk for systemic illness related to the conjunctivitis," says Dr. Mary Lou Collins, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. "The medicine put in all babies' eyes at the time of delivery is done to prevent this neonatal conjunctivitis, but if a baby should have redness of the conjunctiva with discharge and tearing in the first week or two of life, they should certainly be evaluated by their pediatrician or primary care physician."
But after the newborn period, conjunctivitis is quite common and usually self-limited. Pink eye can be caused by viruses, similar to the common cold, Dr. Collins says. "The symptoms are red eyes, tearing, itching and mild discharge," she says. "Treatment is related to symptom relief, namely cool compresses and artificial tears. Because a virus causes the infection, most don't require treatment with drops or ointment and will resolve within five to seven days."
Still, some cases of conjunctivitis are bacterial in nature, which typically require a quick trip to the doctor. "The signs of bacterial infections include pink conjunctiva and tearing, but there is less itching and the discharge is usually substantial, with a green/yellow color," Dr. Collins says. "These infections respond well to topical treatment with antibiotic drops or ointment."
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