children s health issues
Conjunctivitis in Newborns
Prevention of Conjunctivitis in Newborns
In the United States,erythromycinointment or drops are routinely put into each of the newborn's eyes after delivery to prevent conjunctivitis caused byNeisseria gonorrhoeae. In other countries,silver nitrate,tetracycline, or povidone iodine also may be used. Except for povidone iodine, these substances do not prevent conjunctivitis caused byChlamydia. Newborns of women who have untreated gonorrhea should receive a single injection of the antibioticceftriaxoneeven if they are not yet ill. 