Gonorrhea Essays (462 words) - , Term Papers

Gonorrhea 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!