The obstruction of the lacrimal nasal canal in newborns in medicine is called dacryocystitis. Among infants, a disease in which mucopurulent or mucosal discharge occurs occurs quite often. As a rule, it is possible to reveal a predisposition to impassability of a tear duct in a baby right after birth.
Tears play a very important role in the proper operation of the human eye. First of all, they perform the function of protecting the eyeballs from getting into them various small particles of dirt and dust, and also maintain their respective humidity. After distribution on the surface of the eyes, a tear along the tear ducts passes through the nasal passage.
The cause of dacryocystitis is usually a gelatinous film or, as it is also called, a stopper that is in the lacrimal nasal duct. With the intrauterine life of the child, it performs a protective function against the penetration of amniotic fluid. At the birth of the child, at the time of the first cry, the film should burst. But in the event that this does not happen - the tear begins to accumulate and stagnate in the lacrimal sac, as a result of which, an infection can develop. Also, the cause of the impassability of the lacrimal canal is the pathology of the nose and surrounding tissues, which can result from inflammation or trauma.
Symptoms of an impassable tear duct in a newborn
- The main sign that determines the obstruction of the lacrimal canal in infants is the appearance of mucopurulent or mucous discharge when pressing on a tear sack.
- In the corners of the baby's eyes, it seems like a "tear" is constantly standing.
- If the lacrimal canal is obstructed, regular lacrimation is observed in children.
- Due to the constant tear secretion, the child has reddening and swelling of the eyelids.
How to treat the obstruction of the tear duct in a newborn?
If your baby has an obstruction of the lacrimal canal, then, most likely, as a treatment, initially you will be prescribed drops and massage.
Massage in the impassability of the lacrimal canal
- Before you drip your eyes and start the massage, you need to clear them from the accumulated purulent discharge. For this, wipe both eyes of the baby with different cotton swabs, soaked in warm water or in physiological saline. Then gently drip the drops in the lower eyelid.
- Now you can proceed to a therapeutic massage of the lacrimal canal, the purpose of which is to break that same gelatinous film. Make sure that your hands are always clean and with short-cut nails, and best of all use sterile gloves. Massage should be done by vibrating or jerking movements of the fingers, from the top of the inner corner of the eye downwards.
- After the treatment procedure has been done, it is necessary to drip the baby's eyes again with prescribed drops.
For the effectiveness of treatment with this method of obstruction of the tear duct, it is recommended to perform this procedure up to 10 times a day.
With a futile treatment with massage and drops in the newborn, the lacrimal canal is probed. This is an effective and fairly simple operation, as a result of which a gelatinous film is pierced. As a rule, such surgical intervention is resorted only in the most extreme cases. In order to prevent relapse, the first time after surgery is recommended to do a massage of lacrimal canals.
Dear parents, try to correctly assess the health of your child and take the necessary measures in time! Health to your children!