Gonorrhea Essay, Research Paper
Gonorrhea
We chose the bacterial disease gonorrhea. We were not able to find
when the disease was discovered or who discovered it.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial disease that is an infection caused by
gonoccocus bacteria. This bacteria is round shaped and can live only in dark,
warm, moist places. These places would include; inside your body, cervix,
penis, throat, and rectum. It usually involves the urethra in males, and
vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes in females.
For 2-9 days there are no symptoms of Gonorrhea. Then some do
occur. There can be frequent burring urination and thick green-yellow
discharge from the penis or vagina. Also, there may be rectal discomfort
and discharge, joint pain, a mild rash, or sore throat and swollen glands. For
men, the opening of the penis may be red and sore. Symptoms of gonorrhea
show up more in males than in females, in fact, about half of the women with
gonorrhea have no symptoms. Effects of this disease could include;
gonococcal eye infection, blood poisoning, infectious arthritis, pelvic
inflammatory disease, epididnmitis, endocarditis, sexual impotence in men,
and infertility in women. Also, pregnant women can infect unborn babies.
Gonorrhea can be diagnosed by tests that include blood studies.
There could be laboratory cultures and microscopic analysis of the discharge
from the reproductive organs, rectum, or throat. Of course, you will have to
obtain some of the symptoms before the doctor will confirm that the tests
be administered.
This disease is transmitted by sexual contact. Any form of sexual
penetration, oral, anal, and vaginal can transmit gonorrhea. There are other
means of catching the disease, but they are not common. A person with
gonorrhea can infect another area of their body by touching the infected
area and transferring the excretions. Gonorrhea may also be spread in
clothing or wash clothes if used by an infected person, and then soon after
by someone who isn’t infected. Sometimes infected secretions from the
vagina drip down around the anus causing infection in women.
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Common ones include:
ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, cefixime, certriaxone, azithromycin, you can also
take non-prescription drugs such as Tylenol or aspirin to reduce discomfort
and inflammatory pain. To prevent getting gonorrhea, avoid sexual partners
whose health practices are uncertain. Also, always use a latex condom
during intercourse. Also, always be responsible and visit your doctor for
regular check-ups. If you do find out you have it, you should stop sexual
activities until cured.
Gonorrhea can be transmitted through any kind of sexual intercourse.
The symptoms are all but pleasant, and probably aren’t fun to experience.
The disease will probably go away in 1-2 weeks with treatment. Gonorrhea
will not go away by itself, even if symptoms disappear. A man’s chance of
catching gonorrhea from an infected women is from 30-50%. A women’s risk
with an infected man is much higher, being 60-90%. Remember, you can get
gonorrhea over and over again, use a condom!