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Ohthalmia neonatorum in Northern Norway
Author(s) -
Dannevig Lise,
Straume Bjørn,
Melby Kjetil
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1992.tb02086.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chlamydial infection , incidence (geometry) , sex organ , pediatrics , obstetrics , chlamydia trachomatis , gynecology , physics , biology , optics , genetics
Abstract During one year, 1928 of all 1958 neonates born in the county of Troms in Northern Norway were followed until 6 weeks of age, regarding the development of ophthalmia neonatorum. Conjunctivitis was found in 364 cases (189 per 1000 neonates), including mild and self‐limiting cases. In 14.5 cases per 1000 neonates the ophthalmia neonatorum was recorded as severe. Boys were more often affected than girls ( P =0.001). The age of the mother and obstetric events did not significantly influence the occurrence of conjunctivitis. 31.4% of the neonates received silver nitrate instillation. The frequency of conjunctivitis in the group with and without prophylaxis was 15.9 and 20.3%, respectively ( P =0.023). The incidence of chlamydial ophthalmia was 8 per 1000 neonates. At present, chlamydial ophthalmia is a common disease in neonates. Efforts should be made to screen fertile women for chlamydial genital infection and to encourage prompt microbiological examination in cases of ophthalmia neonatorum.