What is the reason why children have eye mucus?

Eye boogers are a kind of secretion from our eyes. I believe everyone will find the presence of this substance after getting up. If a child has a lot of eye mucus, parents should pay more attention, because excessive eye secretions may also be a sign of physical discomfort. Common causes include conjunctivitis, dacryocystitis, gonococcal pyokermatitis, etc.

Suspicious reason for baby's excessive eye mucus: conjunctival inflammation

After the baby is born, many parents are afraid that the child will catch a cold, so the room temperature at home is often high, and bacteria are easy to multiply. In addition, the newborn will unconsciously rub his eyes with his hands, which can easily lead to symptoms of conjunctivitis such as increased eye secretions and conjunctival congestion. If it is a serious bacterial infection, or a cold and fever occurs, symptoms such as increased secretions, increased tears, and congestion of the eyes will be more obvious, and may also cause redness and swelling of the eyelid skin.

The second suspicious reason for the baby's excessive eye mucus: neonatal dacryocystitis

Neonatal dacryocystitis is caused by blockage of the tear duct and nasolacrimal duct that excrete tears. Because the embryonic residual membrane at the lower end of the nasolacrimal duct has not degenerated, it blocks the lower end of the nasolacrimal duct, and tears and bacteria accumulate in the lacrimal sac under the skin at the inner corner of the eye, causing secondary infection. About 2%-4% of full-term newborns have this residual membrane, and most of them will shrink on their own within 4-6 weeks.

The third suspected reason for the baby's excessive eye mucus: gonococcal pyophthalmia

Gonococcal pyophthalmia is caused by gonococcal infection, with an incubation period of 2-4 days. It is often caused by mothers suffering from gonorrhea, and the newborn is infected when passing through the birth canal. Both eyes are affected at the same time, manifesting as acute purulent conjunctivitis. Usually the child's eyelids will be extremely red and swollen, almost unable to open, and a large amount of pus-like eye discharge will be produced continuously. If not treated properly, corneal ulcers may occur, leading to corneal perforation and even the risk of blindness.