GONORRHEA

Occurrence of the symptoms are usually within two to 14 days after exposure. Some doesn’t develop noticeable symptoms and they are called nonsymptomatic carrier. It means they can still pass the infection to other partners even they don’t have symptoms.

Symptoms in men

Men may not develop evident symptoms for several weeks. Some men may never develop symptoms.

The first visible symptom in men is often a burning or painful sensation during urination. As it progresses, other symptoms may include:

• greater frequency or urgency of urination
• a pus-like discharge (or drip) from the penis (white, yellow, beige, or greenish)
• swelling or redness at the opening of the penis
• swelling or pain in the testicles
• a persistent sore throat

Few weeks after the symptoms have been treated, the infection will continue to stay in the body. Gonorrhea can continue to cause damage to the body In rare instances, specifically the urethra and testicles. Pain may also spread to the rectum.

Symptoms in women

Symptoms in women tend to be mild or similar to other infections, making them more difficult to identify. However, many women don’t develop any noticeable symptoms at all.

Symptoms include:

• discharge from the vagina (watery, creamy, or slightly green)
• pain or burning sensation while urinating
• the need to urinate more frequently
• heavier periods or spotting
• sore throat
• pain upon engaging in sexual intercourse
• sharp pain in the lower abdomen
• fever

DIAGNOSIS

Gonorrhea infection can be diagnose in several ways. One is by taking a sample of fluid from the symptomatic area with a swab (penis, vagina, rectum, or throat) and place it on a glass slide. The doctor or lab technologist adds stain in the suspected sample and examine it under a microscope. If the cells react with the stain, you most likely have a gonorrhoea infection. This method is quick and easy however it is not absolutely certain.

Another method involves taking the same type of sample and will be incubated under ideal growth conditions for several days. If gonorrhea is present, a colony of gonorrhea bacteria will grow.

A preliminary result may be ready within 24 hours. A final result will take up to three days.

TREATMENT

Having numerous sexual partners with unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex higher the  risk of infection. The best protections against the infection are abstinence, monogamy (sex with only one partner), and proper condom usage.

If you already have Gonorrhea, modern antibiotics can cure most of the infections. Gonorrhea is usually treated with an antibiotic injection of Ceftriaxone one time to the buttocks or a single dose of Azithromycin by mouth. Once on antibiotics, you should feel relief within days. Some common antibiotics used include azithromycin and doxycycline. Scientists are working to develop vaccines to prevent gonorrhea infection.