What Are the Symptoms of Chlamydial Infection in Babies?

What are the symptoms of chlamydia infection in babies? First, conjunctivitis. About 30% to 50% of infected newborns will develop conjunctivitis, which typically occurs between 5 and 14 days after birth, with some cases occurring around 2 days after birth. The condition often starts in one eye, with sticky secretions and swollen, red eyelids.

Second, pneumonia. Approximately 10% to 20% of infected newborns will develop pneumonia, which typically presents between 1 and 3 months after birth. Symptoms include coughing, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, and sometimes fever.

Third, nasopharyngeal infection. Chlamydia invades the lungs through the nasolacrimal duct to the nasopharyngeal area and then to the lungs, resulting in varying degrees of infection in the nasopharyngeal region. Symptoms include coughing, nasal congestion, and sometimes crying due to throat pain.

Can neonatal chlamydia infection be cured? Once diagnosed with trachoma chlamydia conjunctivitis in newborns, parents should take it seriously as it is a disease with a long duration. Doctors typically use a combination of topical medication (eye drops or ointment) and systemic medication to shorten the duration of the illness, reduce complications, and avoid progression to severe or chronic conjunctivitis. With appropriate early treatment, complications are generally avoided in neonatal conjunctivitis. Neonatal chlamydia pneumonia can be cured through routine hospital treatment and usually does not have long-term complications.