Gonococcal infection in children, complications, treatment.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. It occurs most often in teenagers aged 15 to 19 years. The infection is spread through intimate contact, including sexual interactions. When it is present in a child after the newborn period and before puberty, this infection may be a sign of sexual abuse. Gonorrhea can also be spread from a mother to her baby during delivery.
- Signs and symptoms:
- Ophthalmia neonatorum(ocular infection) – causes corneal perforation or scarring (mainly in newborns). It develops within 7 days of birth and is always bilateral. Lid edema, erythema and marked purulent discharge can be seen.
- A pus-like discharge from the penis and a bloody or yellow discharge from the vagina
- Pain in the penis
- Pain or Burning during urination
- Bleeding during sexual intercourse of teenagers
- In females, untreated gonorrhea can spread upward from the vaginal area to cause acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. It can lead to abscesses in the fallopian tubes and even infertility.
- Diagnosis:
- Pediatrician may take a sample of the discharge from the cervix or the penis and have it tested in the laboratory. Urine tests can also be conducted. If a newborn has discharge from the eye, it is tested by microscopic examination and culture.
- When gonorrhea is diagnosed, the patient should be tested for other STIs such as syphilis, HIV, chlamydial infection, or hepatitis B. In fact, gonorrhea and chlamydial infections often occur at the same time. The sexual partners of the infected person should also be tested for STIs.
- Treatment:
- If a young child is infected, she may also be treated with an injection of ceftriaxone. If chlamydial infection cannot be excluded, your child’s doctor may recommend treating for both infections.
- Immediately after birth, infants are routinely given tetracycline or erythromycin ointment in their eyes to protect them from gonorrheal infection.
- Adolescents should practice safe sex
- All teens who have had any type of sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) should be screened regularly for STDs