Baby Eye Infection

Babies do not have a strong immune system like adults and so, they easily catch infections. Bacterial infection is more serious than viral infection. Catching cold makes your baby more prone to catch an eye infection. Eye infection caused by a virus is called viral conjunctivitis or pink eye. Viral eye infections are more common in babies. Exposure to allergens like household chemicals, dust, smoke and pollen, eye injuries and blocked tear ducts can also cause pink eye in babies.

Sometimes, a reaction to medicinal eye drops causes swelling or reddening of the eyes. If the mother is diagnosed with STDs such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, the disease can be transmitted to the baby by the mother and though rare, it can also be one of the causes for the appearance of baby pink eye symptoms. Baby eye infection is a common problem. Proper and prompt medication and utmost care helps avoid further complications. Here is a list of pink eye symptoms.

Symptoms of Viral Eye Infection

• Redness of the inside of the eyelids
• Redness of the white part of the eye
• Puffy eyelids
• Watery eyes
• Swollen eyelids

Symptoms of Bacterial Eye Infection

Bacterial eye infection symptoms include the above symptoms, plus the following:

• Eyelids matted or stuck together
• Yellow discharge from the eye

Parents should carefully check for the baby pink eye symptoms; as bacterial/viral pink eye in babies is contagious. The following table will make the eye problems and the baby eye infection symptoms more clear. It should be noted down that the table is meant to serve as a guide and not to replace the advice of your doctor.

Symptoms of Eye Infection in Babies

Symptoms	What It Could Be
Watery eyes, reddened skin due to rubbing, white or yellow discharge that may crust over at night, a protrusion under eyelid near the nose. Common in newborns.	Blocked Tear Duct in Infants
Tender, red, pus-filled bump on edge or inside of eyelid, tearing.	Eye Stye
Small, firm and slightly painful bump on the eyelid , bump develops like a sty but can be larger than a sty and farther from edge of the eyelid than a sty.	Chalazion
Pink or red eyes, red and swollen eyelids, watery discharge, yellow discharge crusts over at night and may seal eyes shut.	Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Common cold or other respiratory virus, reddened, irritated and swollen eyes, tearing, watery discharge, crusty eyes	Viral Conjunctivitis
Stringy discharge with red, teary, swollen, itchy eyes or bloodshot eyes, symptoms of cold like runny nose and sneezing, allergies are common in the family.	Allergic Conjunctivitis
Reddened, tender and swollen upper and lower eyelids, difficulty in opening eye, tearing, fever.	Periorbital Cellulitis
Reddened, swollen, itchy and scaly eyelids, may appear flaky or crusty in the morning, tearing or dry eye, loss of eyelashes, growth of eyelashes in wrong direction.	Blepharitis

How to Treat Eye Infection in Babies

Eye infection in babies can lead to throbbing pain which they are not able to explain. It may leave the babies crying day and night. It can affect their food intake too. So, as soon as you notice an eye infection in baby, you should consult the doctor. He will find out the exact cause of the pink eye and may recommend appropriate treatment for the redness and swelling. If it is a viral infection, symptoms will subside on their own in a week or two. The baby will not require eye drops. Instead, you can use breast milk. Squirting some breast milk into the corner of the eye can help cure the baby eye infection. Viral eye infections usually last about four to seven days. They are mildly contagious and generally harmless. You should wash the eyes of the baby with warm water and wipe them with fresh cotton balls every time. This can help reduce the discomfort. You may gently soak away the dried discharge. Bacterial infection needs to be treated with antibiotic eye drops. Warm compresses work great for viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. As pink eye is contagious, wash your hands before and after applying the anti biotic ointment. You should wash baby's towels, clothing and bedding separately. Proper hygiene should be maintained. Removal of allergens from the environment helps reduce and clear up the effect of allergic conjunctivitis.

Proper eye care helps maintain the health of the eyes. The infection, if not treated promptly, may cause serious damage to baby's vision. It is the duty of the parents to watch for pink eye symptoms in babies. I hope you found the above information helpful.