The resistant strains are usually acquired overseas. Gonorrhoea has progressively developed resistance to the antibiotics prescribed to treat it. Untreated gonorrhoea in women can lead to a long-lasting infection of the womb and tubes called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and this can cause infertility (inability to get pregnant). If left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause serious health problems including infections of the skin, joints and the covering of the brain (meningitis). Infection can occur in the throat, anus, urethra (urine passage), cervix (neck of the womb) and eyes. Source: (sometimes known as "the clap") is a sexually transmissible infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. If you think you might already have a sexually transmitted infection, you should avoid sex until you've talked to your doctor.Īll material copyright MediResource Inc. Use protection and choose your partners carefully. You can prevent gonorrhea in the same way you prevent any sexually transmitted infection. Treatment with different antibiotics will usually solve this problem. This condition is usually caused by chlamydia that didn't respond to an earlier treatment. Symptoms sometimes remain for a while after treatment. Men can suffer from post-gonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra, the tube running down the centre of the penis). It is strongly recommended that people follow-up with their doctor 6 months after completing treatment for gonorrhea, to screen for any recurrent infections. It is very important to take medications exactly as prescribed. For any individuals that test positive, follow-up testing within either 3 to 7 days or 2 to 3 weeks (depending on the testing method used) should be performed to ensure the bacteria has been fully eliminated.įluoroquinolones, penicillins, or tetracyclines used to be effective therapies, but many of the strains today have developed resistance to these antibiotics. Regardless of whether or not the partners also test positive, or whether they are still waiting for results, they should receive antibiotic treatment. ![]() ![]() Ask your doctor how long you should wait before beginning sexual contact again after the treatment.Īny sexual partners who have had contact with an infected individual in the past 60 days should be referred to a doctor for evaluation. ![]() People with gonorrhea often have chlamydia, and this treatment treats chlamydia as well. In uncomplicated cases, the usual treatment is a single dose of a medication such as ceftriaxone* injected into the muscle, or cefixime, a pill, plus a dose of oral azithromycin. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. A variety of treatments are available for gonorrhea. Some people with gonorrhea have symptoms involving the rectum such as itching and discharge or possibly painful bowel movements. Gonorrhea in the eyes is serious – it can cause blindness if left untreated. Gonorrhea of the throat usually has no symptoms but sometimes causes a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. They can cause inflammation and pain in the joints ( arthritis) and liver ( perihepatitis) and a potentially serious infection of the heart valves ( endocarditis). Other complications of gonorrhea occur when the bacteria get into the bloodstream. The main complication in men is epididymitis (inflammation of the part of the testicles where sperm is stored), which can cause infertility if not treated. Symptoms of PID include pelvic pain, fever, abdominal tenderness, and vaginal discharge. The result is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which occurs in up to 20% of women with gonorrhea and can cause infertility. While women feel fewer symptoms, they are far more vulnerable to serious complications of gonorrhea. Left untreated, gonorrhea can work its way up the urethra and cervix to other pelvic organs. Most women are diagnosed only when their partner seeks treatment. The discharge is usually yellow or green, but it may also contain blood. A few have a noticeable vaginal discharge, which may actually be coming from the cervix. Most women don't have symptoms unless there are complications. A few may experience pain on urination. The opening of the penis may be red and swollen. Urinating often causes burning pain that can be severe. ![]() In men, there is a discharge of yellow or greenish pus from the penis and a frequent need to urinate. Gonorrhea is far more likely to cause symptoms in men than in women. The first symptoms typically appear after 2 to 14 days, but occasionally appear months after infection.
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