Gonorrhea

Definition

It is a sexually transmitted disease. Gonorrhea is an infection of the genitourinary tract and, occasionally, the rectum, pharynx, and eyes. Untreated gonorrhea can spread through the blood to the joints, tendons, meninges, and endocardium. In females, it can also lead to chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and can cause ectopic pregnancy and infertility. After adequate treatment, the prognosis for both males and females is excellent, although re-infection is common. Gonorrhea can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.

Causes of Gonorrhea

Transmission of Neisseria gonorrhea, the organism that causes gonorrhea. Pregnant women infected with gonorrhea can pass the disease to their neonate during delivery through the birth canal. Neonates born of infected mothers can contract gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum. Children and adults with gonorrhea can contract gonococcal conjunctivitis by touching their eyes with contaminated hands.

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

Other possible symptoms such as:

• Pharyngitis
• Tonsillitis, and rectal burning
• Itching, and bloody mucopurulent discharge

Other clinical features vary according to the site involved:

• Urethra - dysuria, urinary frequency and incontinence, purulent discharge, itching, and red, edematous meatus
• Vulva - occasional itching, burning, and pain due to exudate from an adjacent infected area
• Vagina - engorgement, redness, swelling, and profuse, purulent discharge
• Liver - right upper quadrant pain in patients with perihepatitis
• Pelvis - severe pelvic and lower abdominal pain, muscle rigidity, tenderness, and abdominal distention as well as nausea. vomiting, fever, and tachycardia in patients with salpingitis or PID as the infection spreads

Possible complications of gonorrhea include gonococcal septicemia and, if the women is pregnant, gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum of the neonate after birth. Gonococcal septicemia is more common in females than in males. Its characteristic signs include tender papillary skin lesions on the hands and feet; these lesions may be pustular, hemorrhagic, or necrotic. Untreated septic arthritis leads to progressive joint destruction.

Signs of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum include:

• Lid edema
• Bilateral conjunctival infection, and abundant purulent discharge 2 to 3 days after birth.

Adult conjunctivitis, most common in men, causes unilateral conjunctival redness and swelling. Untreated gonococcal conjunctivitis can progress to corneal ulceration and blindness. Other possible complications of gonorrhea include infections, arthritis, PID, endocarditis, and infertility in women.

Treatment of Gonorrhea

• For adults and adolescents, the initial treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by susceptible penicillinase-producing N. Gonorrhoeae is a single dose of ceftriaxone, 125 mg I.M.
• Other treatments include a single dose of dprofloxacin, ofloxadn, or levofloxacin. Gonorrhea and chlamydial infections commonly infect people at the same time.
• For presumptive treatment of concurrent Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the clinician may prescribe doxycycline or azithromycin with the ceftriaxone. A single dose of ceftriaxone and erythromycin for 7 days is recommended for pregnant women and patients allergic to penicillin. Ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin are contraindicated for children and pregnant or breast -feeding women.