gonorrhoea
the most common VENEREAL DISEASE , which is spread primarily by sexual intercourse but may be contracted through contact with infected discharge on clothing, towels, etc. The causative agent is the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and it affects the MUCOUS MEMBRANE of the VAGINA or, in the male, the URETHRA . Symptoms develop approximately one week after infection and include pain on urinating with a discharge of pus. Inflammation of nearby organs may occur (testicle, prostate in men; uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries in women), and prolonged inflammation of the urethra may lead to formation of fibrous tissue, causing STRICTURE . Joints may also be affected, and later complications include ENDOCARDITIS , arthritis and CONJUNCTIVITIS . If a baby is born to a woman with the disease, the baby's eyes may become infected, until recently a major cause of blindness (called ophthalmia neonatorum). Treatment is usually very effective through the administration of penicillin, sulphonamides or tetracycline.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is most common in young adults. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can infect the genital tract, mouth, or anus. You can get gonorrhea during vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected partner. A pregnant woman can pass it to her baby during childbirth.
Gonorrhea does not always cause symptoms. In men, gonorrhea can cause pain when urinating and discharge from the penis. If untreated, it can cause problems with the prostate and testicles.
In women, the early symptoms of gonorrhea often are mild. Later, it can cause bleeding between periods, pain when urinating, and increased discharge from the vagina. If untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes problems with pregnancy and infertility.
Your health care provider will diagnose gonorrhea with lab tests. Treatment is with antibiotics. Treating gonorrhea is becoming more difficult because drug-resistant strains are increasing. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading gonorrhea. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
gonorrhoea