Ophthalmia Neonatorum

Ophthalmia neonatorum is a bacterial eye infection in newborn infants that is passed from a mother with a gonorrhea or chlamydia infection during birth. Symptoms include red eyes, pus in the eye and swollen eyelids. Though rare, severe infections can cause blindness. Prevention includes screening of pregnant women and antibiotic treatment of infected mothers and infants.

 

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Communicable Disease Control

Communicable.DiseaseControl@oahpp.ca

Updated 22 Oct 2019