How Do You Spell OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM?

Pronunciation: [ɒfθˈalmi͡ə nˌiːə͡ʊnɐtˈɔːɹəm] (IPA)

Ophthalmia Neonatorum is a medical condition that affects newborn infants. The word is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˌɒfθælˈmaɪə ˌniːəʊnəˈtɔːrəm/. The first part, "ophthalmia," is pronounced with the sound "of-thal-mee-ah." The second part, "neonatorum," is pronounced with the sounds "nee-oh-nah-tor-um." This condition is caused by a bacterial infection in the eyes and can cause severe damage to an infant's vision if left untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further complications.

OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM Meaning and Definition

1. Ophthalmia neonatorum is a medical condition characterized by inflammation or infection of the eyes that occurs in newborn babies. It is commonly caused by the transmission of bacteria or viruses during childbirth, when the baby passes through the birth canal, which may expose the eyes to infectious agents present in the mother's genital tract.

   The condition typically presents with symptoms such as redness, swelling, discharge, and discomfort in one or both eyes of the newborn. If left untreated, ophthalmia neonatorum can lead to serious complications, such as corneal scarring, vision loss, and even blindness.

   In order to prevent and manage ophthalmia neonatorum, it is crucial for pregnant women to receive prenatal care and be screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are significant risk factors for the condition. It is also important for healthcare providers to administer preventive treatments to infants, such as antibiotic eye drops or ointments, immediately after birth. These treatments effectively reduce the risk of developing ophthalmia neonatorum.

   Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum are crucial to prevent complications and ensure the baby's eye health. Healthcare professionals may conduct a thorough examination and take samples from the eye discharge to identify the specific infectious agent causing the condition. Timely administration of antimicrobial agents, based on the identified pathogen, can effectively manage the infection and prevent further damage.

2. Acute purulent conjunctivitis in the new-born infant, due to infection by a gonorrheal discharge from the genitals of the mother.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM

• iphthalmia neonatorum
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• pphthalmia neonatorum
• 0phthalmia neonatorum
• 9phthalmia neonatorum
• oohthalmia neonatorum
• olhthalmia neonatorum
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• o0hthalmia neonatorum
• opgthalmia neonatorum
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• opnthalmia neonatorum
• opjthalmia neonatorum
• oputhalmia neonatorum
• opythalmia neonatorum
• ophrhalmia neonatorum
• ophfhalmia neonatorum
• ophghalmia neonatorum

Etymology of OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM

The word "Ophthalmia Neonatorum" is derived from two terms: "ophthalmia" and "neonatorum".

1. Ophthalmia: The term "ophthalmia" can be traced back to the Greek word "ophthalmos", which means "eye". It is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to any inflammation or infection of the eye.

2. Neonatorum: The term "neonatorum" is a Latin genitive noun form, derived from the word "neonatus", which means "newborn". In medical language, it is used to indicate a condition or disease that occurs in newborn infants.

Therefore, combining these two terms, "Ophthalmia Neonatorum" refers to an eye infection or inflammation that affects newborn infants.