Gonorrhea
By: Carina and Ashley
WHO IS AT RISK FOR GONORRHEA?
Anyone who has sexual relations with an infected person is at risk. The risk increases when people do not use condoms, or when people have multiple sexual partners. Gonorrhea may be spread by genital, anal, or oralgenital sex. In the United States, the highest rate of gonorrhea infection occur among teenagers and adults in their twenties. People who have chlamydial infections, or other sexually transmitted diseases, are more likely to have gonorrhea as well. Public health officials recommend that all sexually active young women and young men be tested regularly for both gonorrhea and chlamydia.
HOW IS GONORRHEA TRANSMITTED?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that usually spreads from person to person during sexual contact, making it a sexually transmitted disease. It also can be transmitted from an infected mother to a baby during childbirth. If untreated, gonorrhea may result in infertility in women, among other problems.
GONORRHEA SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of gonorrhea usually appear 2-5 days after infection. However, it may take up to a month for symptoms to appear in men. Some people do not have symptoms. They may not know that they have caught the infection, so do not seek treatment. This increases the risk of complications and the chances of passing the infection on to another person.
SYMPTOMS:
- Burning and pain while urinating
- Need to urinate urgently or more often
- Discharge from the penis/vaginal
- Red or swollen opening of penis (urethra)
- Tender or swollen testicles
- Sore throat (gonococcal pharyngitis)
- Fever
- Rash
- Increased urination
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Severe pain in lower abdomen
DISEASE CLASSIFICATION
Gonorrhea is a endogenous disease.
TREATMENTS
- Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics.
- Babies born to mothers with gonorrhea receive a medication in their eyes soon after birth to prevent infection. If an eye infection develops, babies can be treated with antibiotics.
- Gonorrhea does not cause long-term problems if it is treated before any complications develop. But gonorrhea can lead to many complications if it is not treated.
- You may be given an antibiotic injection or shot, and then perhaps be sent home with antibiotic pills.
- More severe cases of PID (Pelvic inflammatory disease) may require you to stay in the hospital. Antibiotics are first given by IV.
- Never treat yourself without being seen by your doctor first. Your health care provider will determine the best treatment.
- Treatment success rate is high.
INFECTION CYCLE
Infectious Agent: The infectious agent associated with gonorrhea it the gonococcus bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Susceptible Host: Susceptibility is general and all that come into contact with the agent are susceptible. In addition to this, there is no immunity after infection, meaning that reinfection may occur.
Portal of Entry: The portal of entry is through the mucous membranes of the genitals, mouth or anus. In addition to these portals of entry, babies may acquire an eye infection as a result of the disease when they are born.
Means of Transmission: The transmission of gonorrhea is by direct contact with body fluid of an infected individual, nearly always through sexual activity.
Portal of Exit: Body fluids of the infected area(s) are the portal of exit.
Reservoir: Humans are the reservoir for gonorrhea.
Susceptible Host: Susceptibility is general and all that come into contact with the agent are susceptible. In addition to this, there is no immunity after infection, meaning that reinfection may occur.
Portal of Entry: The portal of entry is through the mucous membranes of the genitals, mouth or anus. In addition to these portals of entry, babies may acquire an eye infection as a result of the disease when they are born.
Means of Transmission: The transmission of gonorrhea is by direct contact with body fluid of an infected individual, nearly always through sexual activity.
Portal of Exit: Body fluids of the infected area(s) are the portal of exit.
Reservoir: Humans are the reservoir for gonorrhea.