Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction: Clinical, microbiological and management in a tertiary health care centre in central India- A descriptive study

Introduction: Congenital nasolacrimal duct has accounts for 6 % of newborn infants with various treatment. Microbiological studies to identify the type of species involved in Lacrimal Sac infection secondary to Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction (CNLDO) have been extensively reposted. Aims and Objective: to assess microorganisms causing congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. To see efficacy of probing as compared to silastic intubation. Materials and Methods: A total 100 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients came with epiphora and mucous discharge. Inclusion criteria for the study was patients presenting with CNLDO (Presence of atleast one sign of NLDO: Epiphora, increased tear lake, and/or mucopurlent discharge), Age upto 9 years. Exclusion Criteria: Punctual or canalicular abnormality, H/o previous surgery, H/o faciomaxillary trauma, cleft lip/ cleft palate or any facial deformity, acute dacryocystitis, previous history of probing. Sample size was 100 patients. Results: Haemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumonia were the most common microorganisms (n= 56, 40.5%; n= 37, 26.8% respectively) followed by moraxella catarrhalis (n=19, 13.7%), staphylococcus aureus (n=17, 12.3%), pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=9, 0.65%). Discussion: Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction results in stagnation of fluid within the lacrimal sac area which causes secondary bacterial infection. The prevalence of CNLDO with no growth shows the sole effect of congenital anomaly on the degree of tightness. Conclusion: The mocobiological study of CNLDO may have a value in predicting the obstruction.