160 w h y c h i l d r e n l o s e t h e i r v i s i o n a n d w h a t w e c a n d o
Infected eyes in newborn babies
(neonatal conjunctivitis)
All newborn babies should be protected from eye infections by
applying 1% tetracycline, erythromycin, or chloramphenicol eye
ointment as soon as possible after birth. If these medicines are not
available, you can also use a 2.5% solution of povidone-iodine.
Clean the baby’s eyes with a clean cloth
moistened with cool, boiled water. Pull
down the lower lid of each eye, and
put a little bit of ointment inside the
lower lid. Putting ointment outside
the eye does not do any good.
If a baby gets an eye infection soon after birth, he can go blind. Eye
infections can be caused by germs that get into the baby’s eyes during
birth, if the mother has an infection herself. The germs are from
gonorrhea or chlamydia, which are infections that spread from one
person to another during sex. Many people have these infections
without knowing it because they have no signs of sickness. Because it
is difficult to tell if a woman has an infection, it is important to treat
all babies with eye ointment within a few hours after birth (see box above).
If a baby who is a few days old gets red, swollen eyes or has pus coming
out of his eyes, he may have an eye infection and needs to be treated
right away, whether or not he was given eye ointment after birth. The
mother and her partner or partners should also be treated.
Signs of infection
in a baby:
• red, swollen eyes
• pus in eyes
• lids matted shut,
especially upon
waking
Signs of gonorrhea or chlamydia
in a woman:
• yellow or green discharge from
the vagina or anus
• pain or burning when passing
urine
• fever
• pain in the lower belly
• pain or bleeding during sex
• or no signs at all
Remember even if the mother has no signs of infection, if the baby has
signs of infection then the baby needs to be treated. The mother and
her partner will also need treatment.
helping children who are blind