**14. Conjunctival diseases in children**

#### **14.1 Ophthalmia neonatarum**

Ophthalmia neonataurum means, conjunctivitis occurring in the first month of life. It is still a significant cause of blindness in underdeveloped countries. It can be bacterial, viral and chemical. The most serious form is caused by *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*. Onset is typically within the first 3-4 days of life. It causes a severe purulent discharge. Treatment includes systemic

Pediatric Ophthalmology / Eye and Disorders 19

Corneal involvement (corneal edema, infiltrations or erosions) may be seen in cystinosis, mucopolysaccharidoses, Wilson disease, Fabry disease and tyrosinaemia type 2. The treatment of the systemic disease is the mainstay treatment of these metabolic keratopathies. Corneal dystrophies and corneal ectasias are frequently diagnosed during puberty or later. They are structural diseases of the cornea and mostly genetically determined, but the clinical picture rarely occurs in childhood. Keratoconus is the most common corneal ectasia of the human eye. It is typically diagnosed during puberty with unilateral impairment of vision. Corneal thinning and irregular astigmatism are the main features of the keratoconus. Hard contact lenses and corneal transplantation are treatment options based on the severity of the

Staphylococcus aeurus, staphylococcus epidermidis, and streptococcus pneumonia are the most common organisms that cause infectious keratitis. Bacterial keratitis usually occurs in patients with damaged corneal epithelial integrity. However, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Corynebacterium diphteriae, Listeria and Haemophilus species may lead to keratitis in the presence of intact epithelium. Bacterial keratitis is characterized by oval shaped corneal infiltrations surrounded by corneal edema, conjunctival hyperemia (injection), ocular pain

Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis tend be very severe and typically produces stromal necrosis with a shaggy surface and adherent mucopurulent exudates. It is an infection usually seen in contact lens users with a damaged corneal epithelial surface. The infection may progress rapidly ending with corneal perforation. In the management of keratitis, ampiric broad-spectrum therapy is recommended until the offending microorganism is identified in the culture. If the type of bacteria is identified from the stained diagnostic

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is more commonly acquired in adolescence than in childhood. It can be transmitted to neonates as they pass through the birth canal of a mother with genital infection that can lead to serious systemic disorders in the newborns. Primary ocular HSV infection is a form of HSV infection that typically manifests in children aged between 6 months and 5 years. It causes unilateral blepharoconjunctivitis that has signs such

disease (Ciralsky & Colby, 2007).

Fig. 7. Gonococcal keratoconjunctivitis

smear, then appropriate single drug therapy may be considered.

**15.1 Keratitis**

and photophobia.

ceftriaxone and topical penicillin as well. Infection with herpes is rarer but requires prompt therapy with acyclovir. Chemical cases are caused by silver nitrate and occur within 24 hours life. Tetracyclin, erythromyicin ointments or povidone-ioidine drops can be used for prophylaxis.
