What Is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea, sometimes referred to as GC or clap, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhea. It is a relatively common venereal disease. Gonorrhea primarily affects the male and female reproductive tract but can attack other organs as well. If treated immediately, most people can be spared injury. If left untreated it can lead to pelvic infection in women, urethritis in men and infections of the joints, blood or eyes. Gonorrhea when treated early is 100% reversible. If gonorrhea is not treated early enough it may progress to create serious complications including sterility, heart injury, arthritis, pelvic adhesions or even abscesses which may require major surgery.
Gonorrhea is most commonly transmitted during intimate physical contact with the sex organs or rectum of an infected person. Gonorrhea may be present as a throat infection and transmitted orally.
The Symptoms Of Gonorrhea
When gonorrhea involves the male, the first symptom is usually a burning pain on urination, accompanied by a pus-like discharge from the penile urethra. This usually occurs between two and six days after contact with the infected person. Approximately one/third of all men who contract gonorrhea will have no visible symptoms. Many women infected with gonorrhea are totally unaware that they have been infected until the sudden onset of pelvic infection, abdominal pain, fever or loss of fertility. While men are often alerted to gonorrhea by a burning sensation on urination, this symptom does not usually occur in most women. In women the only sign prior to the onset of pelvic infection may be an increase in vaginal discharge. Since many women are unaware that they have gonorrhea, they may unknowingly spread the infection to others and allow their own infections to progress to the level of more serious complications. It is also possible to have gonorrhea involving the rectum and not know it. More commonly, however, there is rectal irritation and a discharge which often requires medical attention. When gonorrhea infects the throat after oral-genital contact, a sore throat may develop. Gonorrhea can be spread to the newborn at the time of a vaginal birth.
Making A Diagnosis
There are several simple tests that can be performed to confirm the presence of gonorrhea in either the male or the female. Diagnosis is best be made prior to the onset of serious symptoms or complications of the infection. Once there is a suspicion on gonorrhea either a culture of the cervical or urethra discharge can be performed, a smear, Gram Stain, of the secretions will often show the gonorrhea bacteria in the discharge and recently there is a blood test which can confirm gonorrhea.
Treatment
Gonorrhea can be treated very effectively with several different antibiotics. Effective treatment can be given both orally or by injection. ALL CONTACTS SHOULD BE INFORMED TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT.
It is always essential to have a follow-up culture, after treatment, to make sure the cure has been complete.
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