Ophthalmia neonatorum present as the inflammation
of the conjunctiva of the neonate. It has been defined as “conjunctivitis” that
occurs within the first four weeks of life. Most babies that suffer from
ophthalmia neonatorum acquire the condition during vaginal delivery and this
reflects the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. In 1881, Crede
recommended eye prophylasis with topical application of 1% silver nitrate to
prevent genococcal opthalmia. Today, different strategies for prevention are
available.
of the conjunctiva of the neonate. It has been defined as “conjunctivitis” that
occurs within the first four weeks of life. Most babies that suffer from
ophthalmia neonatorum acquire the condition during vaginal delivery and this
reflects the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. In 1881, Crede
recommended eye prophylasis with topical application of 1% silver nitrate to
prevent genococcal opthalmia. Today, different strategies for prevention are
available.
Ophthalmia neonatorum
is a common disease affecting neonates worldwide. The global incidence of
between 1 to 24 per live births has been reported in different areas. In
Northern Norway, Dannevig reported the incidence of Chlamydia ophthalmia
neonatorum to be 8 per 1000 neonate. In many industrialized countries,
ophthalmia neonatorum is no longer a public health problem and so, some
countries have chosen to stop prophylaxis at birth and to and decide to use
early treatment as another option. Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom
discontinued general prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum, altogether, arguing
that no substance is 100% safe for the purpose. In these countries the risk of
contracting or sight-threatening infection with Neisseria gonorrhoea is extremely
low. However, in Florida, there was an increased incidence of gonococcal
ophthalmia neonatorum within 5 years of discontinuing Ceredes’s prophylaxis
(155 cases between 1984 – 1989). There was a similar rise in Sweden and
Denmark. Growing populations, urbanization and increasing promiscuity are
likely to cause a rise in the incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum in developing
countries. Maurin and Cornand found ophthalmia neonatorum to be one of the main
causes of corneal blindness in developing countries. Mugulike and Ezepue found
corneal disease to be responsible for 21.74% of childhood blindness and
ophthalmia neonatorum was responsible for 6.67% of these. Abiose, in a study of
paediatric ophthalmic problems in Nigeria, reported that 137 out the 500 children
studied had bacterial conjunctivitis. Ophthalmia neonatorum was responsible for
nine of these cases. The burden of visual loss from ophthalmia neonatorum is
better appreciated when the age of the individual concerned is considered; the
blind years span the whole lifetime of the patient. The risk of gonococcal and
Chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum in the absence of prophylaxis can be estimated
from the prevalence of genital infections in pregnant women. The transmission
rate to the newborn infants is about 30 – 50% for Neisseria gonorrhoea and 36%
for Chlamedia truchomatis. Apart from the organism harboured by the mother in
the birth canal, other factors that may influence the development of ophthalmia
neonatorum include treatment of the mother during pregnancy, duration and site
of exposure of the infant to the infections agent, type and adequacy of
prophylaxis susceptibility of the infants’ ocular tissues to the infectious
agent and trauma.
is a common disease affecting neonates worldwide. The global incidence of
between 1 to 24 per live births has been reported in different areas. In
Northern Norway, Dannevig reported the incidence of Chlamydia ophthalmia
neonatorum to be 8 per 1000 neonate. In many industrialized countries,
ophthalmia neonatorum is no longer a public health problem and so, some
countries have chosen to stop prophylaxis at birth and to and decide to use
early treatment as another option. Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom
discontinued general prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum, altogether, arguing
that no substance is 100% safe for the purpose. In these countries the risk of
contracting or sight-threatening infection with Neisseria gonorrhoea is extremely
low. However, in Florida, there was an increased incidence of gonococcal
ophthalmia neonatorum within 5 years of discontinuing Ceredes’s prophylaxis
(155 cases between 1984 – 1989). There was a similar rise in Sweden and
Denmark. Growing populations, urbanization and increasing promiscuity are
likely to cause a rise in the incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum in developing
countries. Maurin and Cornand found ophthalmia neonatorum to be one of the main
causes of corneal blindness in developing countries. Mugulike and Ezepue found
corneal disease to be responsible for 21.74% of childhood blindness and
ophthalmia neonatorum was responsible for 6.67% of these. Abiose, in a study of
paediatric ophthalmic problems in Nigeria, reported that 137 out the 500 children
studied had bacterial conjunctivitis. Ophthalmia neonatorum was responsible for
nine of these cases. The burden of visual loss from ophthalmia neonatorum is
better appreciated when the age of the individual concerned is considered; the
blind years span the whole lifetime of the patient. The risk of gonococcal and
Chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum in the absence of prophylaxis can be estimated
from the prevalence of genital infections in pregnant women. The transmission
rate to the newborn infants is about 30 – 50% for Neisseria gonorrhoea and 36%
for Chlamedia truchomatis. Apart from the organism harboured by the mother in
the birth canal, other factors that may influence the development of ophthalmia
neonatorum include treatment of the mother during pregnancy, duration and site
of exposure of the infant to the infections agent, type and adequacy of
prophylaxis susceptibility of the infants’ ocular tissues to the infectious
agent and trauma.
