As a rule, young mothers know that newborn babies should not normally have tears. Usually, tears begin to be produced in children only by the third month of life. That is why increased tearing of the eyes in a baby should not be ignored by parents, prompting them to immediately contact a pediatrician.
Causes of lacrimation in a newborn
One of the most common reasons for this phenomenon in babies in the first weeks of life is the obstruction of the lacrimal canals. During the period when the child is in the womb, the outlet of the nasolacrimal duct is closed with a thin jelly-like film, which should burst when it is born. If this does not happen, and the film remains, the patency of the lacrimal ducts is disrupted, tears begin to accumulate.
Conjunctivitis can be another cause of eye lacrimation in newborns. This disease in infants happens quite rarely, but if it appears, then, most likely, the infection passed during childbirth, when the baby passed through the birth canal. With bacterial conjunctivitis, the child's eyes begin to turn sour and often after waking up, due to accumulated sticky secretions, it becomes impossible to open them.
In addition to bacteria, viruses or allergies can provoke the onset of this disease. With viral conjunctivitis, abundant lacrimal discharge is combined with swelling of the eyelids. The child may experience a burning sensation in the sore eye, sensitivity to light also develops, he becomes moody and whiny. Conjunctivitis of an allergic nature is expressed by swelling of the eyelids, increased tearing of the eyes, as well as pronounced itching. This disease can be triggered by household chemicals or pet hair.
In addition, tearing of the eyes can appear with a common cold, as one of the symptoms of the disease. However, it is easy to distinguish from other diseases, as it is most often accompanied by sore throat, sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion.
Among other things, the appearance of tears in a baby can be caused by a foreign object in the eye, or by an injury that the child could inflict on himself.
Treatment of watery eyes
If you notice that one or both eyes are watery in a newborn baby, you should urgently consult a pediatric ophthalmologist. Only a specialist can identify the true cause of this manifestation and prescribe the appropriate treatment. At best, it can be a simple eye wash or massage, and at worst, more drastic measures, consisting in probing the nasolacrimal canal.
