All About Gonococcal Conjunctivitis

Source : http://optometrist.com.au/gonococcal-conjunctivitis/

Most people are familiar with conjunctivitis as a common eye condition that involves the
inflammation and infection of the conjunctiva or the membrane lining the eyelids. Some people
know it as pink eye because it involves redness of the eye. However, very few people know that
conjunctivitis may also be sexually transmitted. Here is a discussion on how this is possible.
Gonococcal conjunctivitis is a contagious sexually transmitted ocular disease that is also
referred to as hyperacute conjunctivitis. It has an incubation period of two to seven days.
Cause
This condition is caused by the infectious organism Neisseria gonorrhoeae which is a gram
negative and intracellular diplococcus. This organism can invade an intact mucosal membrane. It
can also penetrate an intact corneal epithelium which increases the risk of ulceration and corneal
infection.
Sources
This condition may be obtained from the following:

Sexual contact
Casual interaction with infected persons
Infection of the cervix, rectum and urethra
A newborn may acquire this if he passes through his mothers infected birth canal.

Symptoms
The following symptoms may be observed if you are suffering from this condition:
In some cases, patients do not exhibit symptoms.
Severe purulent discharge from the affected eye may be observed.
Eye irritation
Foreign body sensation inside the eye
Red eye
Affected eye may be difficult to open due to the sticky discharge.
In severe cases, peripheral subepithelial corneal infiltrates may be present which can result in
marginal ulceration with anterior uveitis.

 The following may also be present: superficial punctate keratitis, marked chemosis,
hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, preauricular lymph nodes, conjunctival papillae and true membrane
formation.
Detection and Treatment
This condition may be addressed as follows:
If you suspect that you suffer from this condition because you exhibit the symptoms listed
above, you should immediately have your eye checked. Your doctor can perform a conjunctival
scraping for culture and sensitivity testing.
To treat the gonococcal infection, hospitalization is recommended. You should be given one
gram of ceftriaxone intravenously within 12 to 24 hours. Upon discharge from the hospital, your
doctor may prescribe the following medications that you may take orally: 250 to 500 mg
tetracycline taken four times a day, 100 mg doxycycline taken twice a day or 250 to 500 mg
erythromicin taken four times a day.
To treat your gonococcal conjunctivitis, you should start with a saline lavage in order to clear
and remove the mucopurulent debris from your conjunctiva and eyelids. If you suffer from
corneal infection as well, a topical fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin may also
be prescribed. Note, however, that this condition does not usually respond to topical antibiotics.
Your doctor should monitor your condition closely. He should do this everyday, if possible,
until he can observe consistent improvement. Remember that this condition is contagious and it
can likely infect your partner. You should consult your doctor for advice on dos and donts for
persons suffering from gonococcal conjunctivitis.