Dacryocystitis is an infection of the tear sac that lies between the inner corner of the eyelids and the nose. It is infection of the lacrimal sac. Dacryocystitis is occour suddenly without any any symptoms at first and it present for a longtime in the body. The cause of dacryocystitis is not known.

It is found that women are four times as likely to be afflicted with dacrocystitis as men. This condition most commonly presents when there is obstruction in the tear drainage pathways. Although tear duct infections can occur at any age, they are most common in infants, who commonly have a congenital (inborn) obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.

Causes

In children who have dacryocystitis, tears are unable to drain from the lacrimal sac, so they pool in the eye and allow bacteria to grow, leading to infection. The cause of dacryocystitis in adults is usually associated with inflammation and infection in the nasal region. Possibly cause of dacryocystitis includes :-

Blocked tear duct

Nasal inflammation

Symptoms

Note that Dacryocystitis symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Dacryocystitis signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor: The main symptoms are excessive tearing or watering of the eye, even when the child is not crying. The tearing is usually accompanied by redness at the inner corner of the eye and mild tenderness and a swelling or bump at the side of the nose. White, yellow, or tan drainage that looks like pus may also be present.

Treatment

Conservative treatments are usually recommended. Massage over the infected area, coupled with application of warm compresses often provides relief and speeds the healing process. Irrigation of the infected ducts by a physician may also be helpful. The major treatment are :-

Antibiotic ointments

Tear duct irrigation

Surgery to open tear duct

Antibiotic eyedrops

Blood cultures and cultures of the lacrimal secretions should be obtained prior to antibiotic therapy.

If other treatments fail to clear up the symptoms, surgery (dacryocystorhinostomy) to drain the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity can be performed. In extreme cases, the lacrimal sac will be removed completely.

Treatment with warm compresses may aid in resolution of the disease.

Occasionally, infracting of the inferior turbinate bone, submucuous resection of the turbinate, and/or lacrimal outflow probing may be successful treatment of dacryocystitis

If there is a permanent blockage that prevents drainage, infection may recur and surgery may be required to open the duct.