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GONORRHEA

Men's Health, Sexual Health, Women's Health / By

GONORRHEA

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea that can infect both males and females.

  • Globally, an estimated 78 million cases of gonorrhea are diagnosed each year
  • In 2015, it caused about 700 deaths.
  • The bacterium infects warm moist areas of the body, including the eyes, throat, vagina, anus, urethra, and even the cervix in females
  • Gonorrhea is most commonly spread during sexual contact with an infected person. However, it can also spread from mother to child during birth if the mother is infected.
  • Previous infection does not confer immunity. A person who has been previously infected can become infected again by exposure to an infected person
  • In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes. It is called ophthalmia neonatorum
  • Men have a 20% risk of getting the infection from a single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected woman.
  • Women have a 60-80% risk of getting the infection from a single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected woman
  • Untreated gonorrhea can lead to significant complications such as infertility in men and women, a pelvic inflammatory disease in women, infection that spreads to the joint or heart valves.

CAUSES

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

An infected mother may transmit gonorrhea to her newborn during childbirth

Risk factors may include:

  • Multiple sex partners
  • Younger age
  • Previous gonorrhea diagnosis
  • Having other sexually transmitted infections
  • A new sex partner

SYMPTOMS

In many cases, symptoms may not appear. But if they do, they occur 2 to 14 days after exposure and may include:

IN MEN
  • Painful urination
  • Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis which may be yellow, white, beige or greenish.
  • Swelling or pain in the testicles or scrotum
  • Swelling or redness at the opening of the penis
IN WOMEN
  • Increased vaginal discharge (watery, creamy, or slightly green
  • Painful sexual intercourse
  • Painful or frequent urination
  • Abdominal or pelvic pain
  • Painful urination
  • Vaginal bleeding between periods
  • Heavier period
  • Bleeding after intercourse
Symptoms in other sites of the body
RECTUM
  • Anal itching ‘
  • Strain during a bowel movement
  • Pus-like discharge from the rectum
  • Tissue stain with blood
EYES
  • Eye pain
  • Pus-like discharge from one or both eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
THROAT
  • A sore throat. This is usually acquired from performing an oral sex on an infected partner
  • Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Gonorrhea can be diagnosed by analyzing sample of cells. These samples can be collected by:

A swab of affected area. The sample of fluid from the symptomatic area is taken or collected with a swab (penis, vagina, rectum or throat) which is then examined in the laboratory.

Urine test may also help to identify bacteria in the urethra

Home test kits are available for women. These home test kits include vaginal swabs for self-testing that are sent to a specified lab for testing and results are reported directly to the patient.

TREATMENT

If testing is positive for a gonorrhea infection, the individual and partner will need to undergo treatment.

Gonorrhea is treated with an antibiotic ceftriaxone given as an injection one time and an oral medication (azithromycin or doxycycline)

Babies born with gonorrhea receive a medication in their eyes after birth to prevent infection. Antibiotics can be used if an eye infection develops.

Prevention may include:

  • Using a condom during sexual intercourse
  • Consider regular gonorrhea testing

Having one unaffected sex partn