Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea

The usual symptoms for most STIs include discomfort in the genitals, painful urination, and even genital lesions. However, sexually Transmitted infections (STIs) can actually cause sore throat, even tonsillitis, along with other symptoms. Common STIs transmitted orally are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes, Syphilis, genital warts (HPV) etc. As the symptoms are similar to common flu or cold, patients might miss out on the best treatment period.

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What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted infection; it is caused by caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It used to be called “the clap”.

Common symptoms:

  • Oral infections: sore throat, swollen throat and lymph nodes in the neck, tonsillitis, fever
  • Rectum infection: Anal itching, pus-like discharge, pain
  • Eye infection: Eye pain, sensitivity to light, pus-like discharge

Gonorrhea symptoms for males:

  • A greenish-yellow discharge from the penis
  • Painful urination
  • Testicular pain and swelling

Gonorrhea symptoms for females:

  • Abnormal, yellowish vaginal discharge
  • Painful urination
  • Painful sex

Sexual Transmission

  • Unsafe sex, such as penetration sex, oral and anal sex
  • Contacting infected person’s body fluid, such as semen, blood, genital discharge etc.
  • Sharing of sex toys

Non-sexual transmission

  • Childbirth
  • Your wound being in contact with infected person’s body fluid
  • Sharing infected person’s used items which has body fluid on them, such as towels, clothes
  • In very rare cases, Gonorrhea can be transmitted via toilet seats and toilet paper, if these items are contaminated.

Incubation period:

Some patients might not have any symptoms, but most experience them between 2 to 5 days.

However, gonorrhea’s incubation period can range from a few days to 2 weeks or more.

How common is gonorrhea?

According to the Department of Health statistics, in 2021, there were 1,769 cases of gonorrhoea in men, which was 6.7 times the number in women.

WHO also states that gonorrhea is the second most common bacteria STI, they estimate that 82.4 million people were newly infected by it in 2020.

Gonorrhea complications

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to severe complications, such as:

Infection spreading to joints and other parts of the body via bloodstream, it can lead to fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling and stiffness.

For men: Gonorrhea can cause sperm duct inflammation and lead to infertility.

For women: Gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and result in infertility and pregnancy complications. PID should be treated immediately.

Prevention

  • Safe sex, wear a condom
  • Don’t have sex with infection person
  • Regular screening

Screening:

  • Neisseria Gonorrhoeae DNA Test

If you suspect you or your partner is infected, you should get a screening asap.

Treatment

Patients with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. During your treatment, you should avoid all sexual contact with your partner, until both parties have recovered.

A follow-up screening should be done at least 4 weeks after your treatment ended.

Reference:

  • Department of Health
  • BMJ journals
  • NHS
  • Mayo Clinic
  • WHO