Question
How should infant dacryocystitis be treated? What should parents do if their child is chronically affected by this condition?
Answer
The cause of infant dacryocystitis leading to excessive tearing is that at birth, the lower end of the nasolacrimal duct may be sealed by a layer of congenital film, or the duct may be blocked by epithelial fragments, preventing normal tears from passing through the duct and causing them to overflow onto the cheeks, resulting in persistent tearing. Most infants are born with this film intact, but it typically breaks down between 3 to 4 weeks, restoring the lacrimal passage and improving the tearing issue. It is recommended that parents closely monitor their child’s condition and take them to the hospital for examination and treatment if necessary.