Yes, newborns can get conjunctivitis, and newborn pink eye needs fast medical care to protect eye health and vision.
A red, sticky eye in a tiny baby can look scary, and many parents wonder can a newborn get conjunctivitis? Newborn eyes are delicate, and infection or irritation can move fast, so clear facts and calm action matter.
What Doctors Mean By Newborn Conjunctivitis
Newborn conjunctivitis, also called ophthalmia neonatorum, means redness and swelling of the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids during the first month after birth. In this age group even mild redness needs attention, because infection can spread from the surface of the eye to deeper tissues.
Doctors group newborn conjunctivitis into a few main types. Some babies react to drops given at birth and develop short-lived irritation. Others pick up bacteria or viruses during birth or from hands that touch the eyes. Another group has a blocked tear duct that causes sticky discharge.
Can A Newborn Get Conjunctivitis? Causes By Source
The short answer to can a newborn get conjunctivitis? is yes, and the cause shapes both treatment and urgency. Some causes clear with simple drops and careful cleaning, while others need rapid hospital treatment to protect vision.
The table below gives an overview of common reasons for newborn pink eye, when each tends to appear, and the signs parents often spot at home.
| Cause Type | Typical Timing | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical irritation from birth drops | First 24 hours | Redness and watering that settles quickly |
| Gonococcal bacterial infection | Days 2 to 5 | Marked swelling with thick yellow or green pus |
| Chlamydial bacterial infection | Days 5 to 14 | Swollen lids with stringy discharge, sometimes cough |
| Other bacterial infection such as staphylococcal | Days 3 to 14 | Red eye with sticky pus, baby often well |
| Viral infection such as herpes simplex | First days to weeks | Red sore eye with blisters on lids or nearby skin |
| Blocked tear duct without surface infection | From birth | Sticky tears with little redness, discharge keeps returning |
| Irritation from smoke, dust, or shampoos | Any time | Redness and watering that eases once the trigger stops |
Newborn Conjunctivitis Symptoms Parents Notice First
Newborns cannot rub their eyes or say that something hurts, so early signs come from what caregivers see. Common clues include redness of the white of the eye, swollen eyelids, yellow or green discharge that crusts on the lashes, and sticky eyes that stay closed after sleep. Some babies also feed less or seem more unsettled.
A mild sticky eye that clears through the day can hint at a blocked tear duct. Thick pus that quickly returns after cleaning, or lids that look puffy and angry, raise concern for infection. If light bothers your baby or the clear front of the eye looks cloudy, seek urgent medical review.
When Red Eyes Are Just A Sticky Tear Duct
Many newborns have a narrow or partly blocked tear duct. Tears cannot drain into the nose, so they pool on the eye and pick up normal skin bacteria. This leads to a sticky eye with crusts on the lashes while the white of the eye often stays almost clear.
Gentle cleaning with cool boiled water and a clean cotton pad helps remove crusts. Some pediatricians show parents how to massage the inside corner of the eye to aid tear flow. If redness grows, discharge turns thick and yellow, or your baby seems unwell, a doctor should review the eyes.
When Can A Newborn Get Conjunctivitis From Infection
Infectious conjunctivitis in newborns often starts in the first two weeks of life. Bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis can pass from the birth canal during delivery, while other bacteria or viruses may spread from adult hands, respiratory droplets, or contaminated towels.
Gonococcal conjunctivitis usually appears within the first few days and can damage the cornea within hours if treatment lags. Chlamydial eye infection tends to develop later and can link with lung infection. Other bacteria or viruses range from a mildly red eye to marked swelling with heavy discharge.
Because some of these germs can spread beyond the eye and affect the lungs, blood stream, or brain, newborn conjunctivitis due to infection is treated as a medical emergency in many guidelines.
Newborn Conjunctivitis And When To Worry
Not every sticky eye points to danger, yet parents rarely regret asking for medical help. Urgent assessment is wise if discharge is thick and constant, if the eyelids swell so much that the eye hardly opens, or if your baby develops fever or blisters on the skin around the eye.
Any baby under four weeks with a red eye should be seen by a doctor or midwife the same day. In many health systems, newborns with marked redness or swelling are sent to hospital eye or pediatric teams for closer checks and antibiotics given directly into a vein.
Diagnosis And Tests For Newborn Conjunctivitis
At the clinic or hospital a doctor will take a history, asking about the timing of eye changes, any discharge, pregnancy care, and infections during pregnancy. They will check the whole baby, not just the eyes, because newborns can become sick quickly.
During the eye exam the doctor looks at the eyelids, the white of the eye, and the clear cornea. A bright light and magnifier help reveal swelling, ulcers, or blisters. Swabs from the eye surface often go to the laboratory, and some babies also need blood tests or chest X-rays.
Lab tests guide the choice of antibiotic or antiviral medicine. When gonorrhea is suspected, treatment starts right away before results return, because the risk to the cornea and to the baby’s general health is high if care waits.
Treatment For Newborn Conjunctivitis
Treatment depends on the cause. Mild chemical irritation from birth drops usually settles within one or two days with gentle cleaning and observation. Blocked tear ducts often improve over months with cleaning and massage, though doctors may add drops if discharge looks infected.
Confirmed or suspected bacterial infection almost always needs antibiotics. For the most dangerous forms, such as gonococcal infection, babies receive antibiotics into a vein plus frequent gentle eye cleaning. Less aggressive bacteria may respond to drops or ointment alone, and some teams also give a dose by mouth.
Viral conjunctivitis in newborns can range from mild to life-threatening. Herpes simplex virus needs urgent treatment with antiviral medicine through a vein and sometimes through the mouth, often for several weeks, together with regular checks for eye damage.
Alongside medicines, careful hygiene at home reduces spread to the other eye and to caregivers. Hand washing before and after eye cleaning, using separate towels for the baby, and discarding used cotton pads straight away all help limit germs.
How To Lower The Risk Of Newborn Conjunctivitis
Prevention starts during pregnancy. Screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea reduce the chance that these germs reach the baby’s eyes. Many hospitals also give antibiotic eye ointment soon after birth as prophylaxis against gonococcal infection.
Good hand hygiene around newborns matters as much as any drop or ointment. Caregivers should wash their hands before feeding, after diaper changes, and before touching the baby’s face. Makeup, false lashes, and contact lenses should stay away from the baby’s eyes, and towels or washcloths should not be shared.
Parents can also ask their midwife or pediatrician about local guidance. National bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish advice on newborn pink eye, including warning signs and typical treatments, and many health services provide leaflets on sticky eye care.
| Eye Or Baby Signs | Age And Context | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| Eye slightly pink with small dry crusts | Baby feeds well, no fever | Clean at home and mention at next routine check |
| Yellow or green discharge that returns soon after wiping | Mild lid swelling, baby otherwise well | See a doctor or midwife the same day |
| Eyelids markedly swollen or hard to open | Thick pus plus red white of the eye | Seek urgent care at emergency department or urgent clinic |
| Red eye plus fever, poor feeding, or low energy | Age under four weeks | Call emergency number or go to hospital straight away |
| Blisters or sores on eyelids or nearby skin | Possible herpes infection | Urgent hospital care for antiviral treatment |
| Red eye in baby whose mother had untreated STI in pregnancy | High risk of gonococcal or chlamydial infection | Hospital assessment for tests and intravenous antibiotics |
| Sticky eye that does not improve over days of cleaning | Whites mostly clear but discharge keeps returning | See doctor to review for blocked tear duct or low-grade infection |
When To Call The Doctor Or Seek Urgent Help
Trust your instincts with a newborn. If the eyes look worse today than yesterday, if both eyes seem affected quickly, or if you feel uneasy about your baby’s general state, seek medical help. Early treatment gives a better chance of clear vision and a shorter hospital stay.
Call emergency services or go straight to hospital if your baby has a red eye plus fever, trouble waking for feeds, difficulty breathing, or pale or mottled skin. These signs point to more than a simple eye problem and need rapid review by pediatric and eye teams.
For less urgent worries, such as mild stickiness without redness, book a same-day appointment with your doctor, midwife, or local child health clinic. Take a list of any medicines you received during pregnancy and any infections you know about, as this information helps the team tailor tests and treatment.
With prompt care and good hygiene, most babies with conjunctivitis heal. Parents who learn how to clean the eyes and spot warning signs play an active part in keeping their newborn’s sight safe.