Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options - Internal Medicine

Dr. Liao Zhongxin reply Internal Medicine

---

Dear readers,
1.
First, let’s introduce gonorrhea based on information from the Centers for Disease Control:
(A) Transmission: The primary mode of transmission for gonorrhea is through sexual intercourse.
It can also be transmitted if an open wound comes into direct contact with an infected person's semen, blood, vaginal secretions, or other mucosal fluids.
Infants can contract the infection during delivery if the mother has gonorrhea, leading to conjunctivitis in newborns.

(B) Incubation period: The typical incubation period for gonorrhea is about 2 to 3 days, but it can be longer.

(C) Symptoms: Clinical symptoms differ between genders.
In men, symptoms typically appear 2 to 7 days after infection and may include: purulent urethral discharge, painful or burning sensation during urination.
Some patients may resolve the infection on their own, while others may become asymptomatic carriers.
However, the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria can still enter the body through the urethra, potentially causing systemic symptoms, and may lead to inflammation of the seminal vesicles and prostate, infertility, and urethral stricture.
Additionally, men who have sex with men often experience rectal infections, which may present with itching and discharge, but most have no obvious symptoms.
In women, symptoms may appear a few days after infection, including urethritis or cervicitis, often without pain and may be subtle, leading to neglect.
Women are also prone to bladder infections due to gonorrhea, presenting with frequent urination and burning sensations.
About 20% of women may develop uterine infections due to their menstrual cycle, leading to endometritis, salpingitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease, which can ultimately result in ectopic pregnancy or infertility.
Furthermore, newborns can easily contract gonococcal conjunctivitis during delivery if the mother is infected, which, if not properly treated, may lead to blindness.

(D) Prevention methods: 1.
Avoid multiple sexual partners.
2.
Use condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity; if lubrication is needed, use water-based lubricants and avoid oil-based substances (like baby oil or petroleum jelly) to prevent condom breakage.
3.
If you suspect you have gonorrhea, do not self-medicate or rely on folk remedies; seek medical attention promptly for early diagnosis and treatment.
4.
If a mother is infected with untreated gonorrhea, she should inform her physician, who can administer antibiotic eye drops to the newborn at birth to effectively prevent gonococcal infection.

Treatment methods and medical information: There are currently antibiotics available that can effectively treat gonorrhea.
If you exhibit clinical symptoms of gonorrhea or suspect you are infected, seek medical treatment immediately.
You can visit urology, dermatology, or obstetrics and gynecology departments in medical facilities, or refer to the list of recommended sexually transmitted disease clinics provided by the health department, and also get tested for HIV.

2.
From the above, it is clear that gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual activity, with differing presentations in men and women; moreover, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is difficult to culture.
A simple method for diagnosis is to take a sample from the affected area for a Gram stain; if pink-stained diplococci are present within the cells, a diagnosis can be confirmed for treatment.

3.
After treatment, if there are any further issues, please follow up at a hospital or clinic to avoid misinformation.
Thank you!

---

Reply Date: 2014/04/05