Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the country and in the world today.

Gonorrhea is one of the most common diseases passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Infection with gonorrhea is more common in certain groups of people.

Doctor Florence Musayisa works in the internal medicine department of CHUB and says that the highest reported infection rates occur in adolescents, young adults and drug users.

The doctor says that Gonorrhea is caused by the Neisseria Gonorrhoeae bacteria. The infection is transmitted from one person to another through vaginal, oral, and anal sexual relations.

Dr. Musayisa adds that men have a 20 per cent chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a woman infected with gonorrhea, where as women have a 50 per cent chance of getting the infection by having sexual relations with a man infected with gonorrhea. An infected mother may transmit gonorrhea to her newborn during vaginal childbirth.

Symptoms

The doctor explains that symptoms may appear within 2-10 days after exposure but can take up to 3 weeks especially for women. Symptoms vary depending on the sex of an individual.

For women, Gonorrhea may cause irritation of the cervix, a need to urinate often, itching and burning of the vagina, and a thick yellow and green discharge. Bleeding between menstrual periods is another symptom of the disease.

Pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious medical condition that can lead to infertility, can develop in some cases. 

For men, pain and burning during urination, thick, yellow penile discharge, inflammation and infection of a duct in the testicles are common symptoms. There is often inflammation of the prostate.

For newly born babies, irritation of the mucous membranes in the eyes if not treated, can cause blindness. Gonococcal throat infection should be considered in people who complain of sore throat and have other signs of gonococcal infection.

Throat infections from gonorrhea are transmitted through oral sex but occur without any other symptoms in less than 5 per cent of people infected with gonorrhea. Rectal pain or rectal discharge can be a sign of infection of the prostate and is transmitted through anal intercourse.

Other alarming signs of the disease include; fever, abdominal pain, arthritis and joint pain, appearance of a rash with dark centers, and lethargy.

Gonorrhea can develop into more serious medical conditions if not treated. The infection may spread through the bloodstream and affect mucous membranes throughout the body.

Complications of gonorrhea can also include meningitis, an inflammation of the brain, and endocarditis, an infection of the heart.

Diagnosis of the disease

The doctor will conduct a physical examination to confirm the presence of the disease. Tenderness for women in the area of the sex organs and a pus-filled discharge from the vagina or penis, along with a high white blood cell count and fever could indicate an infection.

A sample of the discharge will be sent to the laboratory. The laboratory will put the specimen on a special bacteria plate to see if it will grow the gonorrhea bacteria. This usually takes at least twp days to detect. The doctor may also order diagnostic tests to examine samples of the discharge under a microscope.

Most hospitals and clinics now have urine kits that will screen for gonorrhea. These tests are not as sensitive as genital cultures but are good tests.

Treatment
 
Previously a class of antibiotics known as the fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin was widely used in the treatment of gonorrheal infection.

Because of increasing resistance of many tested samples of N. gonorrheae to the fluoroquinolone drugs, today the cephalosporins are used to treat gonorrheal infections. The doctor may prescribe a single dose injection of an antibiotic such as ceftriaxone.

Prevention
 
Use latex condoms when having sexual intercourse, avoid sexual contact with high risk partners, and treat infected sexual partners or have them tested before having sexual relations.

Contact: josephmunich06@yahoo.co.uk