Nursing Diagnosis for Neonatal Conjunctivitis / Ophthalmia Neonatorum

Nursing Care Plan for Neonatal Conjunctivitis / Ophthalmia Neonatorum

Neonatal infection is an infection that occurs in neonates, may occur during the antenatal, perinatal and postpartum.

Clinical manifestations of neonatal infection begins without symptoms, signs of mild, biting, irritable, lethargy, restlessness, and a desire to suckle less can be a sign of major. Unstable temperature can be raised or less than normal (hypothermia usually occur in LBW infants). Skin discoloration, slow capillary refill time, changes in heart rate, frequency of breath, weight suddenly drops, less movement, vomiting and diarrhea becomes real on the state of progressive disease. In addition, there can be edema, bleeding, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and seizures. Generally it can be said when the baby was "not doing well" is most likely a baby suffering from the infection.

Ophthalmia neonatorum (neonatal conjunctivitis) is an eye infection in newborns obtained when the baby through the birth canal. Neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) is an infection of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye) and the membrane that lines the eyelids.

Symptoms: conjunctivitis due to Chlamydia usually occur within 5-14 days after birth. The infection may be mild or severe and produce pus (many or few). Conjunctivitis due to other bacteria begin to emerge on days 4-21, can be accompanied or without the formation of pus. Herpes simplex infection can only strike the eye or it could be the eyes and other body parts.

Conjunctivitis due to gonorrhea bacteria arise on days 2-5 or perhaps earlier (especially if the membranes have ruptured prematurely and the infection has begun to emerge before the baby is born).

Whatever the cause, the eyelids and the white part of the eye is usually swollen. If the lid is opened, the pus will drain out. If treatment is delayed, it can form an open sore on the cornea so that it can happen impaired vision.

Nursing diagnosis that may be found in neonatal infection:
Ineffective breathing pattern related to increasing secretions in the airways.
Hyperthermia related to the infection process.
Imbalanced Nutrition: less than body requirements related to lazy drink, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Fluid volume deficit related to diarrhea and lazy breastfeeding.
Impaired sense of comfort and safety related to the infection.