| Paediatric
ophthalmology
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Gonococcus is an important cause of acute purulent conjunctivitis in the neonates. It can lead to severe corneal scarring and perforation. The infection is acquired from the birth canal of infected mother. The German obstetrician, Karl Franz Crede (1819-1892) advocated the routine use of 2% silver nitrate drops for all neonates. This dramatically reduced the rate of childhood blindness from gonorrhoea. This practice is still used in some countries but not in the UK. 2% silver nitrate is an irritant and frequently causes chemical conjunctivitis, antibiotic drop is now replacing it. |
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