Conjunctivitis of the newborn : prevention and treatment at the primary health care level

Abstract

An illustrated handbook covering the prevention and treatment of neonatal conjunctivitis, primarily as caused by gonococcal or chlamydial infections. Recommended procedures for clinical and laboratory diagnosis are presented together with guidelines for the detection and treatment of infected pregnant women and for ocular prophylaxis in the newborn. Separate sections explain how to obtain specimens from the eye, describe laboratory methods for identifying the causative organisms, and provide recommendations for treating gonococcal infections in adults. Problems created by the emergence of penicillinase-producing strains of N. gonorrhoeae are also considered. Given the vital role of community health workers and traditional birth attendants in preventing blindness due to these infections, the book features additional sections on health education and training of personnel and techniques for surveillance and reporting