Question

The baby has had a lot of eye mucus since birth, and sometimes it even sheds tears. As adults, we can only worry on one side, not knowing what the matter is or what to do. What should we do?

Answer

Some newborns have more eye mucus or tears. Parents usually think it’s caused by the baby’s “excessive internal heat.” In fact, it’s due to congenital lacrimal duct development disorders or inflammatory secretions from neonatal conjunctivitis. Newborns have very small lacrimal glands, which only start to secrete around 1-5 months after birth, so newborns don’t cry and shed tears. The lacrimal duct drainage function is completed within weeks or even months after birth. Common clinical symptoms of congenital nasal lacrimal duct obstruction are epiphora, most often occurring 10 days after birth or later. The complete development of tear secretion function begins to appear, sometimes accompanied by different conjunctivitis, mucus, or purulent secretions, indicating infection. It is recommended to immediately take the baby to a regular hospital for treatment.