Dacryostenosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Dacryostenosis occurs when one or both of your child's tear ducts are blocked. Dacryostenosis is also called congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO). Congenital means that your child was born with this condition. A tear duct is a small passage extending from your child's eye to his nose. Normally, tears drain through a hole in the inner corner of your child's eyes into his tear duct. When your child's tear duct is blocked, tears cannot drain properly. Your child may be more likely to have dacryostenosis if he was born with a disease like Down syndrome. Dacryostenosis is also more common in children who were born with head or face problems.
  
  
• Dacryostenosis often occurs because skin tissue blocks the opening of your child's tear duct into his nose. If your child has complete dacryostenosis, no tears can drain. With partial dacryostenosis, some of your child's tears may still be able to drain. Your child's symptoms may become worse during certain weather conditions such as extreme sun, wind, or cold. His dacryostenosis may also become worse when the skin tissue in his nose is swollen. Your child's tear duct will usually open up on its own without treatment. Having your child's dacryostenosis treated may stop tears from overflowing onto his eyelids and face. Treatment may help prevent your child's eye from swelling and getting a serious infection from germs called bacteria.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
  
  
• Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Topical medicine: This medicine is put on your child's eyes. It contains antibiotic medicine to help treat or prevent infection. It may also contain steroid medicine to decrease redness and swelling.

Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.

Caring for your child at home: Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the following ways to care for your child at home:

• Eye rubbing: Prevent your child from rubbing his eyes for up to two weeks after surgery.
  
  
• Massage: Put gentle pressure on the inner corner of your child's eye to remove fluid from his tear ducts. You may also need to clean your child’s eyelids and eyelashes with warm water before and after massage.
  
  
• Warm compresses: A warm compress (often a towel) may be pressed on your child's eye to decrease swelling.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• The tube inserted into your child's tear duct breaks, sticks out, or completely falls out.
  
  
• Your child acts weak or unhappy (irritable).
  
  
• Your child has a fever (high body temperature).
  
  
• Your child has a yellowish fluid leaking from his eye.
  
  
• Your child has a nose bleed.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your child's condition, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your child's eye becomes red, swollen, or painful.
  
  
• Your child's eye starts to bleed.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page