Symptoms and treatment of Gonorrhoea

Description

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection, also called a sexually transmitted disease, caused by bacteria. Sexually transmitted diseases are infections that are spread primarily by contact with the genitals or body fluids. Also called Stds, sexually transmitted infections or venereal diseases, sexually transmitted infections are caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Gonorrhea bacteria can infect the urethra, the rectum, the female reproductive tract, the mouth, the throat, or eyes. Gonorrhea is most commonly spread during vaginal, oral or anal sexual activity. But babies can contract the infection during birth. In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes.

Avoid sexual activity, and not having sex prevent the spread of gonorrhea. The use of a condom during sexual activity can help to prevent the spread of gonorrhea. Being in a mutually monogamous relationship in which both partners have sex only with each other, and none of the two is infected, it also limits the risk of an infection.

Symptoms

In many people, gonorrhea, infection does not cause symptoms. If there are symptoms, often affecting the genital tract, but it can also occur in other places.

Gonorrhea affecting the genital tract

Male symptoms of gonorrhea infection include:

Pain when you urinate.
Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis.
Pain or swelling in a testicle.

Women, symptoms of gonorrhea infection include:

Increased vaginal discharge.
Pain when you urinate.
Vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after vaginal intercourse.
Abdominal or pelvic pain.

Gonorrhea in other sites in the body

Gonorrhea can also affect these parts of the body:

The rectum. Symptoms include anal itching, pus-like discharge from the rectum, spots of bright red blood on the toilet paper and strain during bowel movements.
The eyes. The gonorrhea that affects the eyes can cause eye pain, sensitivity to light, and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.
Of the throat. The symptoms of an infection in the throat can include a sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
In the joints. If one or more joints become infected by the affected joints may be warm, red, swollen, and very painful, especially during the movement. This condition is known as septic arthritis.

When to see your doctor

Make an appointment with your health care professional if you experience symptoms such as a burning feeling when urinating, or a pus-like discharge in the penis, vagina, or rectum.

Also make an appointment with your doctor if your partner has been diagnosed with gonorrhea. You may not have symptoms, but if you have the infection, you can infect your partner, even after your partner has been treated for gonorrhea.

Causes

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhoea, bacteria are most often transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse.

Risk factors

Sexually active women under 25 years of age and men who have sex with men are at greater risk of getting gonorrhea.

Other factors that may increase your risk include:

Having a new sex partner.
To have a sexual partner who has other partners.
Having more than one sexual partner.
After having had gonorrhea or other sexually transmitted infection.

Complications

Gonorrhea is not treated can lead to serious complications, such as:

Infertility in women. Gonorrhea can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can result in scarring of the tubes, and a higher risk of pregnancy complications and infertility. PID requires immediate treatment.
Infertility in men. Gonorrhea can cause swelling in the epididymis, a coiled tube above and behind the testicles that stores and carries sperm. This inflammation is known as epididymitis and without treatment can lead to infertility.
Infection that spreads to the joints and other areas of the body. The bacterium that causes gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of the body, including the joints. Fever, skin rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling, and stiffness are the possible results.
Increased risk of HIV/AIDS. Have gonorrhea makes it more susceptible to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. The people who have gonorrhea and HIV can pass both diseases more easily to their partners.
Complications in the baby. Babies who get gonorrhea during childbirth can develop blindness, sores on the scalp and infections.

Prevention

To reduce your risk of getting gonorrhea:

Use a condom if you have sex. Not to have sex and to avoid sexual activity is the most secure way to prevent gonorrhea. But if you decide to have sex, use a condom during any type of sexual contact, including anal sex, oral sex or vaginal sex.
Limit the number of sexual partners. To be in a monogamous relationship in which neither of the two have a sexual relationship with another person can reduce their risk.
Make sure that you and your partner are the tests to detect sexually transmitted infections. Before you have sex, do the test and share the results with each other.
Do not have sex with someone who seems to have a sexually transmitted infection. If someone has symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, such as burning when urinating, or a genital rash or pain, do not have sexual relations with that person.
Consider regular screening for gonorrhea. Annual screening is recommended for sexually active women under 25 years of age and for older women at increased risk of infection. This includes women who have new sex partners, more than one sexual partner, sex partners with other partners, or sex partners who have sexually transmitted infections.

Regular screening is also recommended for men who have sex with men. Their partners should also be tested.

A drug called doxycycline may be an option for preventing hiv infection among people who are at greater risk than the average of contracting gonorrhea. High-risk groups include men who have sex with men and transgender women.

Taking doxycycline within 3 days of sexual activity reduces the risk of infection with the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. Your healthcare provider may prescribe doxycycline, and any test that you need while you are taking the medication.

If you have been diagnosed with gonorrhea, do not have sex until after you and your partner have completed treatment and after the symptoms have disappeared. This helps to avoid getting gonorrhea.

Diagnosis

You may be able to use a test that is available without a prescription, sometimes called a test at home to see if you have gonorrhea. If the test shows that you have gonorrhea, you should consult a health professional to confirm the diagnosis and start the treatment.

To determine if you have gonorrhea, your health care professional will analyze a sample of cells. Samples can be collected:

A urine test. This may help identify bacteria in your urethra.
A sample of the affected area. A sample of the throat, urethra, vagina or rectum may collect bacteria that can be identified in a laboratory.

Testing for other sexually transmitted infections

Your health care professional may recommend testing for other sexually transmitted infections. Gonorrhea increases the risk of these infections, in particular, chlamydia, which often accompanies gonorrhea.

Testing for HIV is recommended for anyone diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. Depending on your risk factors, testing for other sexually transmitted infections could be beneficial.

Treatment

Gonorrhea treatment in adults

Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that uncomplicated gonorrhea be treated with the antibiotic ceftriaxone. This antibiotic is administered as an injection, also called an injection.

After getting the antibiotic, you can still spread the infection to other people for up to seven days. To avoid sexual activity for at least seven days.

Three months after treatment, the CDC also recommends getting tested for gonorrhea. This is to ensure that the people have not been re-infected with the bacteria, which can happen if sexual partners are not treated, or new sexual partners has the bacteria on it.

Gonorrhea treatment for partners

Your sexual partner or partners in the last 60 days, must also be examined and treated, even if they have no symptoms. If the treatment for gonorrhea and their sex partners are not treated, they can become infected again through sexual contact. Make sure to wait until seven days after that a couple is treated before having any type of sexual contact.

Gonorrhea treatment for babies

Babies who develop gonorrhea after birth of a person with the infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that you see your primary healthcare professional. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.

Make a list of:

Your symptoms, if you have any, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment, and when they began.
All medications, vitamins or supplements that you take, including over-dose.
Questions to ask your health care professional.

For gonorrhea, the questions are:

What tests do I need?
Should I be tested for other sexually transmitted infections?
In the event that my partner to be tested for gonorrhea?
How long should I wait before I resume sexual activity?
How can I prevent gonorrhea in the future?
What gonorrhea complications should I be alert?
Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?
I'm going to need a follow-up visit?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Ask your health care professional will ask include:

The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
How severe are the symptoms?
Have you been exposed to sexually transmitted infections?

What you can do in the meantime

Avoid sexual activity until you see your health care professional. Alert your sexual partners that you are having the symptoms for what you can do to see a member of your health care team for the test.