How is congenital dacryocystitis treated?

  The lacrimal system is gradually formed during the embryonic period until the lacrimal ducts are completely open at birth. If the nasolacrimal ducts are not fully developed, if they are not “lacrimalized” or if they are obstructed by membranous material, this can cause lacrimation in newborns. If infection occurs in utero or after birth, it can lead to lacrimal dystrophy. This is manifested by repeated tearing or purulent discharge, squeezing the lacrimal sac with mucus or mucopurulent discharge from the lacrimal punctum, some squeezing and no pus flushing before finding pus.  Some scholars believe that children within 1 year of age have a tendency to heal themselves as they grow older, and take methods such as massage and medicine drops in the lacrimal sac area in the hope that they can obtain patency through conservative treatment, but often conservative treatment has poor results. A small percentage of neonatal dacryocystitis will be successful with early anti-inflammatory plus local massage; however, if massage does not work, more aggressive infections are possible and systemic antibiotics must be applied to prevent orbital cellulitis leading to severe sepsis, most requiring lacrimal tract exploration. The younger the patient, the easier the treatment will be by reducing the number of lacrimal tract explorations.  Tear duct irrigation with local massage is recommended if the lacrimal duct is older than 1 month; lacrimal drainage can be performed at 2 months of age. Precautions for lacrimal duct exploration: Some children have a small amount of bleeding in the lacrimal duct after surgery, which can be left untreated. In a few cases, 2-3 times of lacrimal tract exploration is needed. After the operation, “tobramycin eye drops” and “erythromycin eye ointment” are used to spot the eyes, and oral antibiotics are taken to prevent infection for 3-5 days and 7 days, followed by outpatient review.