Can chlamydia conjunctivitis spread from the eye to the sexual organs?
FEB 21, 2024
Question:
Can chlamydia conjunctivitis spread from the eye to the sexual organs?
Answer:
Chlamydia conjunctivitis is a sexually transmitted disease from chlamydia trachomatis. Transmission is from direct contact of the eye with infected urinary or genital fluids. Eye to eye transmission is extremely rare. It would be very unlikely for eye secretions to lead to the genitalia infection. It always works the other way around.
Topical antibiotics, like erythromycin ointment, can help reduce the symptoms of chlamydia conjunctivitis, such as red eye, irritation, and discharge. Systemic antibiotics (drugs affecting the whole body not only the eye or other site of infection) are mandatory with either tetracycline or doxycycline by mouth in adults for 2 weeks. Children should take systemic erythromycin. All sexual partners should be treated with oral medications as well.
This question was originally answered on Nov. 12, 2017.