Gonorrhea Essay, Research Paper

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!