Summer BanksGonorrhea and working
December 10th 2006 07:29
Gonorrhea and working :
Gonorrhea is one of the most frequently reported STDs. It is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread primarily through direct sexual contact.
Gonorrhea predominantly affects the penis in men, the cervix in women, and the throat and anus in both sexes. Left untreated, it can lead to a generalized blood infection, sterility, arthritis, and heart trouble. Additionally, in men it can spread throughout the prostate gland and the ducts of the reproductive system, causing painful inflammation.
Gonorrhea can also lead to eye infections if the genital secretions come in contact with the eyes -- for instance, if a person rubs his or her eyes after handling infected genital organs. Because the infant passes through the potentially infected birth canal during the birth process, every state requires that a few drops of penicillin or erythromycin be placed in the eyes of all newborns to prevent infection and possible blindness.
Symptoms :
In women, this disease may have no symptoms, but in many cases, it is marked by a discharge from the vagina and urethra and by frequent, painful urination. Gonorrhea may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which results when the infection extends to the fallopian tubes; the scar tissue that forms may block the tubes, preventing conception and sometimes causing sterility. The symptoms of PID include fever, chills, vaginal discharge, and vomiting.
The primary symptom of gonorrhea in men is a yellowish discharge from the penis that appears within two to ten days of exposure to the disease and is accompanied by painful and burning urination.
Gonorrhea of the anus is marked by a bloody or mucus-filled discharge from the anus and pain during bowel movements. Gonorrhea of the throat may have no symptoms or may reveal itself only as a scratchy, sore throat or a severe, flame-red sore throat.
Diagnosis :
Diagnosis is made by taking a sample of the discharge, examining it under a microscope to identify the infection, and confirming the diagnosis by performing a culture (a technique in which the sample of the discharge is placed in a special substance that encourages the growth of bacteria).
Treatment :
Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single dose of antibiotics (cephalosporins or quinolones such as ciprofloxacin). Because of the high rate of simultaneous infection with chlamydia, patients being treated for gonorrhea are also treated for chlamydia (usually with doxycycline).
Men being treated for gonorrhea should avoid alcohol; recent studies have shown that drinking may increase the chances of developing an inflammation of the urethra (the canal leading from the urinary bladder through the penis).
While under treatment, the patient should abstain from sexual activity until further tests have confirmed that gonorrhea is no longer present. This testing is usually done two weeks after the beginning of treatment. If signs of the disease are still present, drug therapy can be reinstated with a different antibiotic.
A culture to detect a chlamydial infection is usually performed along with the culture to detect gonorrhea. Every sexual partner of the infected person should be examined and, if necessary, treated.
Prevention :
Gonorrhea can be prevented by avoiding sexual contact with someone who has the disease. Because the chance of contracting this and other STDs increases with the number of sexual partners a person has, limiting the number of partners is the first step in prevention. Using condoms also helps to reduce the risk of contracting gonorrhea or other STDs.
Gonorrhea is one of the most frequently reported STDs. It is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread primarily through direct sexual contact.
Gonorrhea predominantly affects the penis in men, the cervix in women, and the throat and anus in both sexes. Left untreated, it can lead to a generalized blood infection, sterility, arthritis, and heart trouble. Additionally, in men it can spread throughout the prostate gland and the ducts of the reproductive system, causing painful inflammation.
Gonorrhea can also lead to eye infections if the genital secretions come in contact with the eyes -- for instance, if a person rubs his or her eyes after handling infected genital organs. Because the infant passes through the potentially infected birth canal during the birth process, every state requires that a few drops of penicillin or erythromycin be placed in the eyes of all newborns to prevent infection and possible blindness.
Symptoms :
In women, this disease may have no symptoms, but in many cases, it is marked by a discharge from the vagina and urethra and by frequent, painful urination. Gonorrhea may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which results when the infection extends to the fallopian tubes; the scar tissue that forms may block the tubes, preventing conception and sometimes causing sterility. The symptoms of PID include fever, chills, vaginal discharge, and vomiting.
The primary symptom of gonorrhea in men is a yellowish discharge from the penis that appears within two to ten days of exposure to the disease and is accompanied by painful and burning urination.
Gonorrhea of the anus is marked by a bloody or mucus-filled discharge from the anus and pain during bowel movements. Gonorrhea of the throat may have no symptoms or may reveal itself only as a scratchy, sore throat or a severe, flame-red sore throat.
Diagnosis :
Diagnosis is made by taking a sample of the discharge, examining it under a microscope to identify the infection, and confirming the diagnosis by performing a culture (a technique in which the sample of the discharge is placed in a special substance that encourages the growth of bacteria).
Treatment :
Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single dose of antibiotics (cephalosporins or quinolones such as ciprofloxacin). Because of the high rate of simultaneous infection with chlamydia, patients being treated for gonorrhea are also treated for chlamydia (usually with doxycycline).
Men being treated for gonorrhea should avoid alcohol; recent studies have shown that drinking may increase the chances of developing an inflammation of the urethra (the canal leading from the urinary bladder through the penis).
While under treatment, the patient should abstain from sexual activity until further tests have confirmed that gonorrhea is no longer present. This testing is usually done two weeks after the beginning of treatment. If signs of the disease are still present, drug therapy can be reinstated with a different antibiotic.
A culture to detect a chlamydial infection is usually performed along with the culture to detect gonorrhea. Every sexual partner of the infected person should be examined and, if necessary, treated.
Prevention :
Gonorrhea can be prevented by avoiding sexual contact with someone who has the disease. Because the chance of contracting this and other STDs increases with the number of sexual partners a person has, limiting the number of partners is the first step in prevention. Using condoms also helps to reduce the risk of contracting gonorrhea or other STDs.
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