Gonorrhea is one of the most contagious infections caused by bacteria. It is most often transmitted through sexual activities – oral, vaginal, and anal. Other parts of the body can also be infected with this gonorrhea, such as the eyes and throat. Newborns can also get gonorrhea from their mother during labor, in which case it affects the baby’s eyes or causes severe pneumonia. Only in specific cases do adults get gonorrhea infection in their eyes, and when it happens, KT must be treated immediately so it does not result in more severe complications that can lead to blindness.
Transmission of Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea of the eye is transmitted mainly by touching the eye after touching the genitals of an infected with the same hand. What this means is that anybody with normal gonococcal infection is at risk of getting gonorrhea in the eye. Newborn children can also get gonorrhea in the eye at the point of birth if the mother already has genital gonorrhea. Gonococcal infection can get aggressive if not arrested on time, and it can damage the cornea.
Symptoms of Gonorrhea in the Eye
Some of the common symptoms of gonorrhea in the eye include:
- Sudden redness and itching of the eye.
- Sticky colored eyelids that are difficult to open.
- Severe pain and inflammation of the eye that feels like dirt and sand are in the eye.
- Reduction in vision.
- Difficulty when urinating does both men and women.
- Women sometimes have pelvic inflammation as a symptom of gonorrhea.
Sometimes, you may get these symptoms, but it might be something else. So, what you should do is contact the doctor immediately you see any of these symptoms.
Groups at risk of getting Gonorrhea of the eye:
- Those who are already infected with regular gonococcal infection.
- Those having sexual relations with an infected person.
- Men who have sex with men.
- Men who have unprotected sex with women outside Europe.
- Men who patronize prostitutes.
- Newborns whose mother is infected with gonorrhea.
- Young and sexually active people having unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Sometimes people get lucky and maybe in any of these risk groups but will not get infected. However, staying safe and getting tested regularly is important. Once you take all the necessary precautions to prevent the infection, you can mitigate the risks of transmitting the disease to others. Consult a medical professional or get a home test for gonorrhea to test yourself.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5354566/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150204/