Gonorrhea history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
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* If the [[infection]] spreads to the [[bloodstream]], [[fever]], vomiting, [[rash]], and [[arthritis]]-like symptoms may occur. | * If the [[infection]] spreads to the [[bloodstream]], [[fever]], vomiting, [[rash]], and [[arthritis]]-like symptoms may occur. | ||
== | ==Gonococcal proctitis (Rectal)== | ||
* It is usually contracted from having rough [[anal sex]]. It can be avoided by using toys instead. It may affect both men and women | * It is usually contracted from having rough [[anal sex]]. It can be avoided by using toys instead. It may affect both men and women | ||
* Often asymptomatic | * Often asymptomatic |
Revision as of 17:18, 6 April 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [2]
Overview
Half of women with gonorrhea are asymptomatic while others have vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain or pain with intercourse. Most men who are infected have symptoms such as urethritis associated with burning with urination and discharge from the penis. Either sex may also acquire gonorrhea of the throat from performing oral sex on an infected partner, usually a male partner. Such infection is asymptomatic in 90% of cases, and produces a sore throat in the remaining 10%. The incubation period is 2 to 14 days with most of these symptoms occurring between 4–6 days after being infected. Rarely, gonorrhea may cause skin legions and joint infection (pain and swelling in the joints) after traveling through the blood stream. Very rarely it may settle in the heart causing endocarditis or in the spinal column causing meningitis (both are more likely among individuals with suppressed immune systems.
History
Symptoms
- The incubation time varies from 2 to 14 days with most symptoms occurring between days 2 and 5 after being infected from an infected partner.
- A small number of people may be asymptomatic for up to a year. They may be completely unaware that they have caught the disease, and therefore do not seek treatment. This increases the risk of complications and the chances of passing the infection on to another person.
- Between 30–60% of women with gonorrhea are asymptomatic or have subclinical disease.[1]
Genitourinary
Male
- Thick, copious, white, yellow, or green colored discharge from penis (also known as gleet) is the most common presentation.
- Burning and pain while urinating
- Increased urinary frequency or urgency
- Painful or swollen testicles
- scrotal pain or swelling.
Female
Symptoms in women can be very mild or nonspecific, and may be mistaken for another type of infection. However, even asymptomatic females are prone to have complications due to gonorrheal infection. The symptoms include:
- Vaginal discharge
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Off-cycle menstrual bleeding, or bleeding after sexual intercourse.
- Increased frequency of urination.
- Burning and pain while urinating
- Severe pain in lower abdomen, fever (if the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes
- If the infection spreads to the bloodstream, fever, vomiting, rash, and arthritis-like symptoms may occur.
Gonococcal proctitis (Rectal)
- It is usually contracted from having rough anal sex. It can be avoided by using toys instead. It may affect both men and women
- Often asymptomatic
- Anal discharge
- Pain on defecating
- Rectal bleeding.
Gonococcal pharyngitis
- Caused by oral sex with a partner infected with gonorrhea.
- Usually asymptomatic
- Sore throat.
Gonorrhea endocarditis, Meningitis
Very rarely it may settle in the heart causing endocarditis or in the spinal column causing meningitis (both are more likely among individuals with suppressed immune systems.
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Skin lesion on foot in a patient with Gonorrhea
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Gonococcal infection of the conjunctiva in a neonate
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Penile discharge in a patient with Gonorrhea
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Swollen testes consistent with epididymitis in a patient with Gonorrhea