Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
We're talking about health issues associated with infants this week on Healthwatch. One of the few ways a newborn has to communicate is crying. When your baby cries, do you notice that there are more tears coming from one eye than from the other? Doctors at
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say this could be because of a relatively common condition that partially blocks the tiny tube that drains tears from the eye into the nose. Instead, tears may drain out of the eye or thicken. Another symptom of this condition is an eye that's stuck shut in the morning.
Dr. Angela Mihalic, a UT Southwestern pediatrician, says the condition can be managed by cleaning the eyes with warm water to keep then open so normal vision can develop. Some cases may require antibiotic drops or ointment if redness develops or drainage increases. Contact a doctor if you notice fever or swelling.
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September 2005
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