Gonorrhea: Overview
Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease affecting both men and women. Infection may involve sexual organs, oral region, and anal region, depending on the sexual activities. Gonorrhea can be insidious with no early symptoms and even ongoing mild or vague symptoms. Symptoms in women include vaginal discharge, urinary symptoms such as painful urination (if bladder is infected), Bartholinitis (infected Bartholin’s gland), abdominal pain, and other symptoms. Symptoms in men include penile discharge, painful urination, abdominal pain, and testicle pain/swelling. Rectal gonorrhea can cause rectal pain, painful defecation and other symptoms. Oral gonorrhea can cause throat infection with sore throat, painful swallowing, etc. Gonorrhea can also infect the eye causing conjunctivitis. Neonatal gonorrhea can also occur when an infected mother passes the infection to a baby during birth. Complications of gonorrhea can include: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women (which is itself an insidious disease that may cause many additional complications), epididymis (testicle cord) infection in men, gonorrheal blood infection, and other conditions. Differential diagnosis involves a number of other sexually transmitted diseases. Diagnosis is by symptoms, swab culture, and blood tests. Treatment is mainly by antibiotics (oral or injected at a doctor’s office), but hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics may be required in severe cases.
• • •
Back to: « Gonorrhea
Related Articles
- Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation or infection, affecting the conjunctiva of the eye. The main types are viral conjunctivitis and
...
... More on Conjunctivitis »
- Childbirth: Childbirth is the delivery of a baby from the pregnant mother. It is also called “labor” or “confinement”. A birth
...
... More on Childbirth »
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the internal reproductive organs in women. The infection may involve the uterus
...
... More on Pelvic Inflammatory Disease »
- Sexually Transmitted Disease: Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs) are diseases that are contagious from sexual activity. Examples include genital herpes, HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis
...
... More on Sexually Transmitted Disease »
- Infection: Infection refers to the body reacting to a microbe or pathogen. It is somewhat distinct from “inflammation” but there is
...
... More on Infection »
Related Symptoms
- Infection- Overview| Types
- Vague Symptoms- Overview| Causes
- Vaginal discharge- Overview| Causes
- Urinary system symptoms- Overview| Causes| Types
- Painful Urination- Overview| Causes
- Abdominal Pain- Overview| Causes
- Swelling- Overview| Types
- Rectal Pain- Overview| Causes
- Sore throat- Overview| Causes
Related Disease Topics
- Conjunctivitis- Overview| Causes
- Childbirth
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease- Overview
- Sexually Transmitted Disease- Overview
Note: This site is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. See your doctor or other qualified medical professional for all your medical needs.