Patient's question:
The baby is almost eleven months old. Lately, she has had a slight cold, with a runny nose and constant eye discharge. Especially in the mornings after waking up at night, there is more discharge, even sticking to her eyelashes.Doctor's answer:
Congenital dacryocystitis is usually caused by the obstruction of a remnant membrane or valve in the lower segment of the lacrimal duct. Most patients have unilateral disease, while fewer patients have bilateral disease. Most symptoms appear 3-4 days after birth, primarily characterized by increased excretion and tear production. The excessive tear production is due to bacterial invasion of the lacrimal sac, where they multiply and cause pus formation. The purulent material fills the entire lacrimal gland and cannot be excreted downward. It can only be expelled upward from the lacrimal sac and lacrimal ducts into the eye. If not treated promptly, complications such as keratitis may occur, and the cornea may turn white from black, potentially affecting the baby's visual development. The treatment for congenital dacryocystitis often involves lacrimal duct irrigation. If irrigation twice or three times does not resolve the issue, a probe can be used to detect the obstruction in the lacrimal duct. This minor surgery is generally more effective when performed on infants under 6 months old.