Patient's question:
The baby has had a lot of eye discharge since birth, and sometimes it also tears up intermittently. As adults, we can only feel anxious and have no idea what's going on or what to do. What should we do?Doctor's answer:
Hello, some newborns have more eye discharge or tears. Parents usually believe this is caused by the baby's "excessive internal heat." In fact, it is caused by congenital developmental disorders of the lacrimal canal or inflammatory secretions due to neonatal conjunctivitis. A newborn's lacrimal gland is very small and only develops secretion function after about 1-5 months. Therefore, newborns do not tear up when crying, and the lacrimal gland drainage function is completed within weeks or even months after birth. The common clinical symptoms of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction are tearing, most of which occur 10 days or later after birth. Tears begin to appear after the lacrimal secretion function is fully developed, sometimes accompanied by different conjunctivitis, mucus, or purulent secretions, indicating infection. It is recommended to take the baby to a regular hospital for treatment immediately.