Gonorrhea

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Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea, which is also known as clap or drip, is a common sexually transmitted infections in humans. As it categorization suggests, it is spread from one person to another through sexual contact with an infected person. People who contract the diseases especially women are likely to have their reproductive system adversely affected (Shmaefsky, 2009). It is a production of infection by a bacterium called Neisseria gonnorrhoeae. The disease has a number of symptoms which, unfortunately, may be subtle in some patient. In such cases, the patient can spread the infection to other people s/he has sexual contact with. As such, sexual contact remains the grates risk factor, and thus people who engage in sexual activity with many people have the highest risk of getting infected. In the presence of symptoms or a suspected case of infections, healthcare providers employ three different tests to diagnoses the disease and uses various antibiotics to treat it.

Risk factors increase the probability of a patient contracting a disease (Shmaefsky, 2009). For gonorrhea, sexual contact with multiple partners is the greatest risk factor. Others include sex with a new partner, inconsistent use of a condom, and previous diagnosis of the disease, oral and annuls sex, presence of infection by other STIs, sex work or prostitution, and indulgence in drugs. Age is also a significant risk factor. Most men and women bellow the age of 25 years, and more so, teenagers who are sexually active have a compounded risk of getting infected than any other age group. Most of these factors create opportunities for the bacteria responsible for the condition to move from one person to another. Sharing of clothes has also been said to posses such ability and is thus considered a risk factor (Ford, & Bowers, 2009).

Infected persons exhibit various kinds of symptoms. However, it is not every infected person exhibits symptoms of the disease. Symptoms may also vary from men to women. Symptoms may occur between the second and the tenth day of as contracting the infection. However, sometimes they take up to a month before they become noticeable. In men symptoms include, a greenish whitish or yellowish discharge oozing from the penis, a burning sensation during urination, burning sensation in the esophagus and swollen throat glands in those who engage in oral, swollen and painful testicles. Men normal exhibit these symptoms between two to fourteen days after contracting the infection (Shmaefsky, 2009). For women, symptoms include spotting after sex, burning sensation during urination, vulvitis, pain in the pelvic or lower abdomen, conjunctivitis, bleeding in between periods and swelling of throat land and burning sensation in the throat as a result of infection through oral sex. Sometimes the symptoms in women can go unnoticed. Vaginal discharge may sometime get confused for other infections such as yeast infection (Ford, & Bowers, 2009).

Treatment and prognosis for the infection can be done through taking antibiotics. However, it is not advisable for patient to treat themselves without recommendation from a doctor or first seeing a doctor for diagnosis. Healthcare providers can help determine up to treatment options for the condition especially when it is accompanied by other STIs such as Chlamydia. A hepatitis B vaccine must be administered alongside the treatment and additional HPV vaccine for those under the age of 26 years. The patient must make a follow up after the seventh day, by revisiting the doctor, especially if s/he experiences joint pain, belly pains, skin rashes especially in the groin. Tests can be done to confirm whether the patient is totally healed. The patient must make contact with all persons s/he had sexual contact with to make sure they go for check up and treatment (Shmaefsky, 2009). Counseling for partners is also advisable. In general gonorrhea infections which are in their initial stages are easily cured by antibiotics. However, infections that have spread to other areas such as the blood stream require specialized treatment, but get batter after the treatment.

In conclusion, gonorrhea is a highly infectious disease that spread very quickly from one person to another through sexual contact. Between two to three days after infection, symptoms start exhibiting themselves. The symptoms vary from men to women; however in some cases they fail to exhibit themselves (Ford, & Bowers, 2009). There are a number of risk factors that expose people to infections avoiding these factors can help avoid getting infected. Knowledge about gonorrhea is critical since it can help people avoid infections. For, those who are already infected this information can help them recognizes the symptom and see treatment since gonorrhea is very common. Failure to recognize symptoms and seek treatment can lead to negative health consequences including bareness in women.

References

Ford, C. A., & Bowers, E. S. (2009). Living with sexually transmitted diseases. New York: Facts On File.

Shmaefsky, B. R. (2009). Gonorrhea. New York: Infobase Publishing.