English

English

  • Submitted By: DrVault
  • Date Submitted: 12/08/2013 7:57 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 388
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 1

Gonorrhea is a common human sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium. The usual symptoms in men are burning with urination and penile discharge. Women, on the other hand, are asymptomatic half the time or have vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. In both men and women if gonorrhea is left untreated, it may spread locally causing pelvic inflammatory disease or throughout the body, affecting joints and heart valves.
Causes- Gonorrhea is caused by the growth and proliferation of the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The disease can survive in the eye, rectum, mouth, penis, throat, or vagina. This means that it can be transmitted through any variety of sexual contact. Once infected, a person runs a high risk of spreading the bacteria to other parts of their body. For instance, someone with gonorrhea may rub his or her eye, inadvertently spreading the infection and elongating the treatment period. The infection can also be spread from mothers to babies during childbirth
Symptoms of gonorrhea, usually appearing between two and ten days after exposure, can take up to 30 days to occur and are sometimes so mild they are mistaken for something else. Most women with gonorrhea show no symptoms. In men, the symptoms include:
* Yellow, green, or white discharge from the penis
* Testicular swelling and/or pain
* Burning during urination
Women may experience:
* Yellow, green, or white vaginal discharge
* Pain or burning during urination
* Pain in twhe pelvic region
* Conjunctivitis (pink-eye)
* Irregular bleeding (between periods)
* Vulvitis (swelling of the vulva)
* Spotting after intercourse
The infection, if spread to the rectum, can cause anal itching, anal discharge, and painful bowel movements. Gonorrhea, as a result of oral sex, can also occur in the throat, characterized by burning sensations and swollen glands. Many women with gonorrhea interpret the symptoms as those of a yeast infection due to the...

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