AIM: To explore the treatment method and timing for neonatal dacryocystitis in different month-old children.

METHODS: A total of 180 children(207 eyes)with dacryocystitis who were admitted to our hospital between Jan. 2010 and Dec. 2014 were selected as the study subjects. According to months of age, they were divided into <3 months old group(n=41, 45 eyes), 3-6 months old group(n=75, 91 eyes)and 6-12 months old group(n=64, 71 eyes). Three groups were respectively treated with lacrimal massage combined with antibiotics, lacrimal duct washing with pressure and lacrimal duct probing, etc. The curative effect was compared between different months old children with dacryocystitis. The cure rate was statistically analyzed. The mean times of treatment was recorded and the best time for treatment was summarized.

RESULTS: 1)Hasner valvular obstruction was common in different months old children, and the proportion was higher than that of children with nasolacrimal duct bony part obstruction(P<0.05). The proportion of children with nasolacrimal duct bony part obstruction in 6-12 months old group was higher than that in <3 months old group and that in 3-6 months old group(P < 0.05). The proportion of children with Hasner valvular obstruction was lower than that in <3 months old group and that in 3-6 months old group(P<0.05); 2)the number of cured eyes in < 3 months old group was higher than that in 3-6 months old group and that in 6-12 months old group(P<0.05), and the number of cures eyes in 3-6 months old group was higher than that in 6-12 months old group(P<0.05); 3)the effective rates of lacrimal duct washing with pressure in <3 months old group and 6-12 months old group were similar, lower than that in 3-6 months old group(P<0.05); 4)the effective rates of lacrimal duct probing in the three group were higher than 90%(P>0.05); 5)the times of treatment in 3-6 months old group and 6-12 months old group was more than that in <3 months old group(P<0.05), and that in 6-12 months old group was more than that in 3-6 months old group(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: For <3 months old children with dacryocystitis, conservative treatment like lacrimal massage should be preferred. For children without effect, lacrimal duct washing with pressure and lacrimal duct probing should be given; For 3-6 months old children, lacrimal duct washing with pressure is preferred, and for 6-12 months old children, lacrimal duct probing is recommended.