Final answer:
Pregnant women can indeed transmit gonorrhea to their babies during childbirth, potentially causing serious infections such as gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, which can lead to blindness. Administering antibiotic drops shortly after birth is a standard preventive measure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, pregnant women can pass gonorrhea to their baby during childbirth. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. When a baby passes through the birth canal of a mother with an active infection, the pathogen can spread to the infant. This may result in gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, a serious eye infection that can lead to blindness if not treated promptly.
It is standard practice to administer antibiotic drops to the eyes of infants shortly after birth to prevent such infections. Additionally, gonorrhea can cause joint infections or a potentially life-threatening blood infection in newborns. The risk of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced by proper screening during pregnancy and appropriate treatment.