How Is Gonorrhea Contagious?
Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Its causative agent is Neisseria gonorrhoeae and can easily reproduce especially in hot and humid parts of the reproductive system such as cervix (cervix), uterus, tubes and urethra (urinary tract). It can also be detected in the mouth, throat, eyes and anus regions.
How Is It Transmitted?
Gonorrhea; It can be transmitted by contact with the penis, vagina, mouth and anus. Since the disease can be transmitted by anal or oral route, it is also possible to carry it in homosexual relationships. If gonorrhea patients are not treated with their partners, the disease can be transmitted again. Also the disease; It can be passed from a pregnant mother to a child during vaginal delivery. It has also been reported that Neisseria gonorrhoeae can survive for 3 hours on toilet paper and 24 hours on toilet paper and towel.
Gonorrhea is not an inherited disease.
Who is in the Risk Group?
Anyone who is sexually active can get gonorrhea. Those who are partners of a person with gonorrhea infection, those who have unprotected sexual contact, babies of pregnant women with gonorrhea constitute the groups at risk.
What are the Symptoms?
- Urethritis develops with complaints of acute purulent urethral discharge and dysuria within 2-7 days after suspected sexual contact.
- Mucopurulent cervicitis in women, abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding after sexual intercourse may occur, but the picture is often asymptomatic.
- N.gonorrhoeae can also cause conjunctivitis in newborns and rarely in adults.
- There is a systemic spread possibility in 0.5-1% of all gonococcal infections. As a result, arthritis, skin lesions, endocarditis, and meningitis may develop.
- Pharyngeal and anorecral infections are not uncommon in women and homosexual men.
- In about 10% of male genital infections, no symptoms are observed. However, in some men, symptoms may become apparent within 2-5 days after infection, while this may take up to 30 days.
- Vulvo vaginitis may develop in prepubertal girls due to sexual abuse.
- It can cause endometritis and salpingitis during pregnancy. Gonorrhea may cause serious complications such as peritonitis as a result of infertility or ectopic pregnancy. In pregnant women with gonorrhea, bacteria can be transmitted to the baby during birth. This situation in the baby; Since it can cause blindness, joint or blood infection, it is aimed to reduce the risk of complications by starting treatment in cases with infection.
Clinical Findings:
Men: not seen in some places.
- Burning in urine
- White, yellow, or green discharge from the penis
- Swelling and pain of the testicles
Women:
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Burning and pain in urine
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- In approximately 50% of female genital area infections, symptoms are not observed or have a mild course. Gonorrhea cannot be clearly diagnosed even in cases where symptoms are observed. Although symptoms are not observed in women with gonorrhea, there is a risk of serious complications (side effects).
- In anal area infection, symptoms may not be observed or symptoms such as anal itching, pain, bleeding and painful bowel movements may occur. In addition, while no symptoms are observed in throat infections, some cases may be painful.
How Is It Diagnosed?
There are various laboratory tests for diagnostic purposes. Swabs are taken from the infected areas (cervix, urethra, rectum, throat) and sent to the laboratory. First samples may be sufficient for infections in the cervix and urinary tract. Sample smears from sample swabs from these regions are stained with gram stain and bacteria are sought under a microscope. This test method gives better results in men than women.
How is it treated?
Gonorrhea is successfully treated with various antibiotics. However, with the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria types, treatments have become difficult. Many patients have gonorrhea and chlamydia infection. Antibiotics for both are given together in the treatment. People with gonorrhea should also be investigated in terms of other sexually transmitted infections. It is important to use the given treatment to its fullest. Even if the infection ends with medication, permanent damage does not disappear.
People whose gonorrhea has been treated can get sick again after contact with infected people. If the symptoms persist despite the treatment, the person should consult his doctor again.
Gonorrhea in children is successfully treated with various antibiotics. However, with the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria types, treatments have become difficult.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in men and women.
It often causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. PID; It is a disease that damages the tubes, causes infertility or ectopic pregnancy. PID; It can be very mild or cause serious symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain. Starting from the cervix, PID causes infection in the female genital organs and turns into chronic pelvic pain in the long term.
Gonorrhea causes epididymitis in men. Epididymitis; The infection of the organ called epididymis, which carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra (urinary canal), can lead to infertility if not treated.
Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints and become a life-threatening disease. In addition, gonorrhea increases the likelihood of the patient being infected with HIV.
What are the Ways of Protection?
The most important factor in protecting against sexually transmitted diseases is to avoid unprotected sexual intercourse. In addition, monogamy is recommended.
Latex condoms reduce the risk of disease transmission when used correctly and every time.
In case of discharge, burning, pain or redness while urinating, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
The partners of the person with the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhea, who have recently had sexual intercourse, should also be examined, tested and, if necessary, treated. Thus, possible complications that may develop in these people can be prevented and they are prevented from transmitting the infection again and again. Patients should not have sexual intercourse until the treatment is completed.
In addition, it is recommended to go for a check-up and have a test once a year, even if there is no complaint.
