What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There are various manifestations of infection, but, unfortunately, modern antibiotic therapy has made gonorrhea bacteria very resistant to drug therapy.
Gonorrhea most commonly affects people between the ages of 15 and 30. In 2013, the Japanese discovered a special type of gonorrhea – HO41, which is rapidly spreading around the world and is absolutely resistant to any treatment. The practice of promiscuity with many strangers is considered a major risk factor for gonorrhea.
How does infection occur?
Gonorrhea is sexually transmitted through vaginal or anal sex. Oral sex can also facilitate the transmission of infection, which is manifested by a dry throat and an incipient infection of the tonsils. Pregnant women infected with gonorrhea can pass the disease on to their fetuses. If left untreated, babies can develop severe eye infections after birth, which can lead to blindness.
What are the main symptoms of gonorrhea?
Half of the infected patients show some clinical symptoms, while the rest remain asymptomatic. In men, the main symptom is painful and burning urination. Gonorrhea can also affect the lining of the rectum in people who practice anal sex. Anal gonorrhea can be completely asymptomatic. Pain during bowel movements, redness, and abnormal discharge around the anus is very rare. The same applies to vaginal infections in women. They are often manifested by painful urination and the discharge of a whitish pathological secretion from the walls of the vagina.
In both sexes, oral-sex throat infection presents with the same dental presentation. She has a dry throat and inflammation of the tonsils. Very rarely, it can be complicated by the development of fever.
Is there prophylaxis for gonorrhea?
The question of whether there are ways to prevent the development of gonorrhea has long been open. Of course, there is! The main preventive measure is to stop the practice of sexual contact with strangers and promiscuity. Promiscuity suffers much more often than those in serious relationships or people with less frequent, though optional, sex. Another protective measure is the mandatory use of condoms during vaginal and anal sex, as well as abundant rinsing with antiseptic tooth water after cunnilingus.
How is gonorrhea diagnosed?
The bacterium can be detected by taking a sample of the urethra in men and by taking a sample of the walls of the vagina and cervix in women. You can also do a microbiological culture of secretions from the pharynx and rectum.
Intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics are recommended as the main treatment. The best drugs of choice are cephalosporins cefexime and ceftriaxone, as well as azithromycin.
