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Gonorrhoea
Medical Questions » Gonorrhoea
| Name: Gonorrhoea |
| Also known as: Clap |
| A common sexually transmitted bacterial infection. |
Causes of Gonorrhoea
Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae which can only be caught by having sex with a person who already has the disease. It has an incubation period of three to seven days after contact. Some degree of protection can be obtained by using a condom. |
Symptoms of Gonorrhoea
The symptoms vary significantly between men and women.
Women: may be minimal symptoms with a mild attack. When symptoms do occur they include a foul discharge from the vagina, pain on passing urine, pain in the lower abdomen, passing urine frequently, tender lymph nodes in
the groin, and fever.
Men: symptoms are usually obvious with a yellow milky discharge from the penis, pain on passing urine and, in advanced cases, inflamed lymph nodes in the groin.
With anal intercourse, a rectal infection with gonorrhea can develop and cause an anal discharge, mild diarrhea, rectal discomfort and pain on passing faeces. Oral sex can lead to the development of a gonococcal throat infection. |
Tests for Gonorrhoea
Confirmed by examining a swab from the urethra, vagina or anus under a microscope and culturing the bacteria on a nutrient substance. There are no blood tests available for gonorrhea. Other sexually transmitted diseases should also be tested for when gonorrhea is diagnosed, as they may be contracted at the same time. For this reason, blood tests are often ordered when treating anyone with any form of venereal disease. |
Treatment for Gonorrhoea
Readily treated with a course of penicillin until recently, but many strains of gonorrhea are now resistant to penicillin and more potent antibiotics are required. All sexual contacts of the infected person need to be notified as they may be carriers of the disease and unaware of the presence of the infection. After treatment, a follow-up swab is important to ensure that the infection has been adequately treated.
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Complications of Gonorrhoea of its treatment
Women: the infection can involve the uterus and Fallopian tubes to cause salpingitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (see separate entries) which can result in infertility and persistent pelvic pain. Babies born to mothers with the infection can develop a gonococcal conjunctivitis (eye infection).
Men: if left untreated the prostate can become infected, which can cause scarring of the urine tube (urethra), permanent difficulty in passing urine and reduced fertility.
Both sexes: gonorrhea may enter the bloodstream and cause septicemia (see separate entry). An unusual complication is gonococcal arthritis, which causes pain in the knees, ankles and wrists. Other rarer complications include infections of the heart, brain and tendons. |
Likely Outcome of Gonorrhoea
More than 95% of cases of gonorrhea can be cured by the appropriate antibiotics. |
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