What to do if your baby has acute dacryocystitis

  In babies with congenital lacrimal duct obstruction, the lacrimal duct is blocked and the tears are trapped in the lacrimal sac, so that bacteria grow and cannot be removed through the lacrimal duct. Acute dacryocystitis can occur when some very strong pathogenic bacteria infect the baby, and the onset of acute dacryocystitis is very rapid and the symptoms are very severe. When acute dacryocystitis develops, the baby’s tear sac and surrounding skin can be red and swollen, and a cyst-like mass can be palpated in the tear sac area.  The baby can be accompanied by fever, poor spirit, annoyance, less milk and other discomforts. If acute dacryocystitis is not treated in time, the baby may have skin perforation in the lacrimal sac area, forming a serious lacrimal sac fistula, long-term pus flow without healing, and scarring of the face. Inflammation can also spread to the cheeks, nose and eyelids, and can also cause orbital cellulitis and, in severe cases, life-threatening meningitis. For acute dacryocystitis babies should be treated urgently with systemic sedative antibiotics in adequate doses, local antimicrobial dots for the eyes, daily local changes, laser, and lacrimal tract exploration. In cases of subcutaneous abscesses, incision and drainage of the pus is required.