Gonococcal conjunctivitis in a four-month-old infant

Classic neonatal gonococcal ophthalmia usually manifests during the first week of life with a purulent ocular discharge accompanied by periorbital edema and erythema. This case report describes a 4-month-old child with chronic but minimal ocular discharge and intermittent mild conjunctival infection who proved to be infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This experience emphasizes the need for the physician to evaluate for gonococcal infection any child with conjunctivitis.