Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted
disease (STD) that is caused by a bacterium called
Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is spread during sexual
intercourse- vaginal, oral, and anal. Most often,
gonorrhea is found in younger people (aged 15-30
years) who have multiple sex partners. It can also be
spread from mother to child during pregnancy or
child birth.
Gonorrhea does not always cause symptoms. In men,
it can cause pain and burning sensation when
urinating, and discharge from the penis. In women,
gonorrhea can cause pain when urinating, bleeding
between periods, and yellowish discharge from the
vagina. If left untreated, it can lead to complications
like epididymitis in men and pelvic inflammatory
disease in women, which causes infertility.
Laboratory tests like gram stain, culture tests or DNA
tests are useful to diagnose gonorrhea. Gonorrhea can
be cured with antibiotics. Correct usage of latex
condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely
eliminate the risk of transmission of gonorrhea.
CAUSES
A person can get infected with gonorrhea by having
any kind of sexual contact with an infected person. It
can also be spread from an untreated mother to her
baby during childbirth. The bacteria (Neisseria
gonorrhoeae) can grow and multiply quickly in moist,
warm areas of the body such as the cervix, uterus and
fallopian tubes in women, and in urethra in both the
sexes. It can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes or
rectum.People who are more likely to develop this
infection are-
· Those with multiple sexual partners.
· If one of the partner has a past history of any
sexually transmitted infection.
· People whose indulge in unsafe sex and do
not use a condom during sex.
· Those who indulge in alcohol or use illegal
substances.
SYMPTOMS
About 10-15% of infected men and 80% of infected
women may have no symptoms. Symptoms of
gonorrhea usually appear within 2 to 14 days after
infection. About 10-15% of men and about 80% of
women may have no symptoms.
They may be totally unaware that they have caught
the infection. This increases the risk oftransmission.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in men include-
· Painful and burning urination
· Increased urinary frequency
· Pus discharge from the penis
· Pain in the testis
· Swollen testicles
· Anal itching and occasional painful bowel
movements with fresh blood on the feces
· Mouth sores
· Sore throat (gonococcal pharyngitis)
Symptoms of gonorrhea in women include-
§ A yellowish vaginal discharge
§ Redness and swelling of the genitals
§ Burning or itching of the vaginal area
§ Excessive bleeding during menstrual period or
bleeding between periods.
§ Painful and burning urination
§ Painful intercourse
§ Pain in the lower abdomen
§ Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and
women include-
§ Pus like discharge from the anus
§ Pain in the anal region
§ Constipation and bleeding
§ If the infection spreads to the bloodstream, it
may cause fever, joint pain and sparse
peripheral rash.
TREATMENT
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Gonorrhea can
be cured with proper treatment. Medicines will stop
the infection but will not repair any permanent
damage done by the disease. Penicillin derivative
antibiotics such as ampicillin or amoxicillin are
recommended for the treatment of gonorrhea. Since
resistance to penicillin is increasing, other antibiotics
can be given like ceftriaxone or spectinomycin.
Women who are pregnant should not be given
doxycycline and are usually given an alternative
antibiotic such as erythromycin.
All medications should be taken as prescribed, and
the infected person should refrain from sexual
intercourse during the course of treatment. It is also
important to locate and test the sexual partners of
the infected person; and treat them to prevent further
spread of gonorrhea.