Neonatal dacryocystitis treatment

  Neonatal lacrimal sacculitis is a congenital eye disease in children with a high prevalence of 5% to 6%. The disease is characterized by unexplained tearing soon after birth, i.e., “teary eyes” even when not crying, and frequent mucus or purulent discharge from the eyes, either in one or both eyes. The common cause is a membranous obstruction of the Hasner valve at the end of the nasolacrimal duct, leading to persistent tearing and infection; or the incomplete development of the lower end of the nasolacrimal duct, which does not complete the “ductalization”. If the disease is not actively treated, it can easily develop into acute and chronic dacryocystitis, as well as many other ophthalmic diseases, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal ulcers, lacrimal sac fistula, etc.  Treatment of neonatal dacryocystitis: Treatment methods include conservative treatment and lacrimal duct irrigation, lacrimal duct exploration and lacrimal duct cannulation. Conservative treatment mainly refers to tear sac massage, method: parents with fingers index finger or cotton swab in the inner corner of the slightly lower skin (tear sac area) moderate force massage squeeze, pressure after the corner of the eye may have mucus or thick secretions overflow (suggesting that the pressure force is more appropriate), and then wipe the cotton swab clean secretions, with antibacterial eye solution (such as Tobias eye solution) point eye, 3-4 times a day. The purpose of lacrimal sac massage is to induce the opening of the lower nasolacrimal duct.  Timing of lacrimal duct exploration: lacrimal duct irrigation and lacrimal duct exploration are better methods for the treatment of neonatal lacrimal sacculitis. Although the massage method can make some children cured, but some cases because of the lower segment of the nasolacrimal duct obstruction membrane is thick, massage mechanical force can not make the membrane rupture. If the above conservative treatment of lacrimal sac massage is not effective, early lacrimal duct exploration treatment is advocated. The lacrimal duct exploration is a mechanical solution to the congenital obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct, so that its drainage is smooth, and then with the treatment of local antibiotics, so that the inflammation is quickly controlled, and the corresponding symptoms also quickly disappear.  At present, the timing of lacrimal duct exploration tends to be younger, usually after conservative treatment has failed at 3-4 months of age, lacrimal duct irrigation and lacrimal duct exploration can be chosen, with a success rate of more than 90%, and most children can be cured. Of course, children with congenital lacrimal duct malformation or bony stenosis cannot be forced to undergo lacrimal duct exploration several times.  What happens when pediatric lacrimal ductal exploration does not work?  Tear duct probing is the treatment of choice for neonatal dacryocystitis, although the success rate is high and tear duct intubation is the treatment of choice for children with repeated unsuccessful tear duct probing. The general ineffectiveness of lacrimal duct probing 2-3 times indicates a high probability of incomplete development of the lower end of the nasolacrimal duct or bony stenosis, and repeated lacrimal duct probing may cause increased mucosal damage and adhesions in the lacrimal duct wall. Minimally invasive stent lacrimal intubation is suitable for younger children, generally for children with lacrimal duct obstruction over 2 years old.  Reminder: The common causes of pediatric lacrimation are the following: the most common are neonatal lacrimal sacculitis and congenital lacrimal duct obstruction, other causes: congenital inversion of the eyelid; allergic conjunctivitis; congenital glaucoma. If parents find that their baby is “silently weeping” without crying, they should promptly take their child to the hospital for an examination to determine the cause of the weeping and for timely treatment and therapy. In addition, because the initial treatment of neonatal dacryocystitis is conservative, the timing of the conservative period has a great impact on the effectiveness of non-conservative treatment. A long conservative period increases the tear duct fibrosis scarring and is not conducive to the next step of treatment.