Understanding Gonorrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Overview

• Gonorrhea, sometimes called the clap, is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
• Predominantly sexually transmitted, but can be spread nonsexually.
• Infected over 600,000 people in the United States in 2023; actual numbers may be higher due to underreporting.

Transmission and Symptoms

• Gonorrhea can be asymptomatic, especially in females, leading to unknowing spread.
• In females, the cervix is often infected, symptoms include:
  • Vaginal irritation
  • Abnormal discharge
  • Intermenstrual bleeding
• Urethral infections may accompany, symptoms akin to UTIs:
  • Dysuria (painful urination)
  • Frequency and urgency of urination
• Ascending infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) with symptoms like:
  • Pelvic pain
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)

In Males

• Urethra is the most common infection site, symptoms include:
  • Mucopurulent discharge
  • Dysuria
• Epididymis infection can cause unilateral testicular pain and swelling.

Other Infectable Sites

• Rectum through anal intercourse: pain, bleeding, discharge.
• Throat through oral intercourse: sore throat, swollen lymph nodes.
• Eyes (conjunctivitis) in newborns from infected mothers during birth.

Importance of Testing

• Asymptomatic cases highlight the need for nucleic acid amplification testing, which detects bacterial DNA in urine or swab samples.

Treatment Challenges

• First-line treatment: antibiotic ceftriaxone.
• Increasing antibiotic resistance is concerning, making treatment harder.
• Resistance mechanisms include:
  • Reduced antibiotic permeability
  • Cellular pumps expelling antibiotics
  • Genetic sharing among bacteria to spread resistance.

Public Health and Responsibility

• Safe sex practices and regular testing can help manage spread and resistance development.
• There's a discussion on health care providers' role in educating patients about repeat infections and resistance.

Lifelong Learning and Knowledge Building

• Importance of continual education highlighted through partnership with Brilliant for enhancing understanding in math, science, and other disciplines.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on reducing spread and managing antibiotic resistance through informed health practices.
• Encouragement to engage with educational resources and stay informed.

For additional resources, visit the links provided for more information on related topics such as ectopic pregnancies and chlamydia.