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What're the most common causes of neonatal conjunctivitis?

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Final answer:

Neonatal conjunctivitis typically results from exposure to pathogens when a newborn passes through the birth canal, and the most common types are gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and inclusion conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most common causes of neonatal conjunctivitis are exposure to pathogens during passage through the birth canal. The two specific types are gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum and inclusion conjunctivitis. Gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum is an inflammation of the conjunctiva in newborns caused by the sexually transmitted bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Inclusion conjunctivitis, on the other hand, is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which is an anaerobic, obligate, intracellular parasite. These conditions can result in serious complications if not treated early with preventive measures such as applying antibiotic creams or drops right after birth.

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