gonorrhea

Tripper: description

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Tripper is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci), which was discovered in 1879 by dermatologist Albert Neisser.

In gonorrhea, it causes inflammation of the genital organs and the urinary tract. Typical of gonorrhea in men is a purulent discharge from the urethra. In women, the symptoms are usually much weaker, so gonorrhea often remains unrecognized in women. If left untreated, gonococci may also spread throughout the body. The gonococci are transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person.

An infection of the child at birth by the mother is possible. This form of gonorrhea used to be the most common cause of blindness among children in the western world (“neonatal blenorrhoea”). To prevent this, the newborn at that time a one percent solution of silver nitrate in the eye dripped (Credé prophylaxis). Today, antibiotic eye drops or ointments can be used for this purpose.

Occurrence and frequency of gonorrhea

Tripper is common around the world. Only humans develop this sexually transmitted disease (STD). According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, gonorrhea is the third most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) with approximately 106 million new cases annually.

The number of gonorrhea was decreasing for several years. Since the mid-1990s, an increase in cases of gonorrhea has also been observed in Germany. In particular, younger adults are affected by gonorrhea, although both men and women can become ill. The average age is about 30 years. By the year 2000, gonorrhea was a notifiable disease. However, most of the gonorrhea was not reported, so they have withdrawn the obligation to register in Germany. For this reason, there is hardly any current, reliable data on the frequency of gonorrhea in Germany.

Some gonococcal strains are resistant to antibiotics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), gonorrhea could pose a major problem for humanity in the coming years. Reason for concern is the observation that some gonococcal strains have become resistant to the usual antibiotic gonorrhea therapy. (Antibiotic resistance). Even today, gonorrhea is treated with a combination of two antibiotics, as one preparation alone does not provide adequate safety. More and more completely resistant gonococcal strains are found worldwide, especially in Asia.

Tripper: Symptoms

Everything important to the typical signs of gonorrhea can be read in the post gonorrhea symptoms.

Tripper: causes and risk factors

The cause of gonorrhea is an infection with the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci). Tripper is primarily transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. Bacteria-containing body fluids must come into direct contact with the mucous membrane (for example, the urethra, cervix, rectum, pharynx, conjunctiva). Outside the human body, gonococci die very rapidly, which is why transmission occurs almost exclusively through unprotected vaginal, oral and anal intercourse. The bacteria initially multiply locally at the site of infection and trigger an inflammation there. This can continue to spread untreated.

Even pregnant women, who are suffering from gonorrhea, can infect their baby during the birth. This can cause a serious infection of the eyes (“neonatal blenorrhoea”). Infection can be prevented by preventive (prophylactic) treatment with antibiotic eye drops or ointments.

Especially in women the symptoms of gonorrhea are often very low and difficult to recognize. This can easily spread the disease. Most people at risk of gonorrhea are those offering or using sexual services, as well as people with frequently-changing sexual partners. The use of condoms dramatically reduces the risk of infection in gonorrhea.

Tripper: examinations and diagnosis

A specialist in skin and venereal diseases is the right contact for suspected gonorrhea. These doctors are also called “venerologist”. Venereology is the study of sexually transmitted diseases. Even the family doctor or the gynecologist can be a first port of call for suspected gonorrhea.

Doctors are subject to confidentiality:So do not be wary of symptoms that could fit gonorrhea, see a doctor, In purulent discharge from the urethra or the vagina, a study in any case makes sense. All partners of infected or persons with unclear inflammatory abdominal complaints should undergo a gonorrhea control. For men under 40 years with testicular or epididymitis, it is also important to be examined for a gonococcal infection.

For the diagnosis of gonorrhea, the pathogens (gonococci) must be detected. The gonococci are microscopically detectable in a smear of the urethra, uterus, pharynx, anus or conjunctiva. In addition, a cultural proof must be provided to secure the diagnosis gonorrhea. This means that gonococci multiply from a smear on a suitable nutrient medium and then can be detected safely.

For effective gonorrhea therapy, various antibiotics are also tested for their effectiveness in bacterial culture (antibiogram). So you can see on which antibiotics the gonococci are particularly sensitive and which drugs are ineffective. Over the past few years bacteria have repeatedly been found to be resistant to the usual antibiotics. (Antibiotic resistance). In the case of gonorrhea-infected individuals without symptoms (asymptomatic), test procedures based on a laboratory amplification of the bacterial genome (PCR, polymerase chain reaction) are more accurate than the bacterial cultures. Even if there are no complaints, it is possible to infect other people.

Tripper: treatment

For gonorrhea therapy antibiotics are suitable. In the past, penicillin was mainly used for gonorrhea. Penicillin-resistant gonococcal strains from Asia and Africa have become more common in recent years. Therefore, other antibiotics (especially so-called cephalosporins and gyrase inhibitors) are now recommended for gonorrhea. At least two different antibiotics are used in combination.

In most cases of gonococci, the gonococci die after a single administration of the antibiotics and are no longer detectable. Nevertheless, it is not recommended to stop gonorrhea therapy too early: this promotes the development of resistance – and resistant bacteria are difficult to treat.

All sexual partners of gonorrhea-infected individuals must also be examined and treated if necessary. This applies to the sexual contacts within two weeks before the onset of symptoms. If a gonorrhea without symptoms was discovered by accident, all sexual partners of the last 90 days should undergo gonorrhea therapy. Until the end of therapy, it is important for all those affected to abstain from unprotected sex.

Newborns with purulent conjunctivitis due to gonorrhea receive a single dose of antibiotics in the muscle (intramuscular) or in the vein (intravenously). Additionally, eyes and conjunctivae should be rinsed with saline regularly.

Tripper: Disease course and prognosis

The prognosis of gonorrhea (gonorrhea) is usually good: If gonorrhea is treated in time, you do not have to expect any long-term consequences.

If a gonorrhea is not treated, it may lead to serious long-term consequences. Such long-term consequences of gonorrhea are chronic inflammation of the internal sex organs with persistent pain, sticking of the egg or vas deferens and thus infertility. Therapy is therefore very important.

Without gonorrhea treatment, it can very rarely lead to a spread of gonorrhea via the bloodstream throughout the body. Physicians speak of a disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). The consequences are joint and tendonitis, characteristic rashes with red pustules or small bleeding (petechiae), fever and chills.

In severe cases, disseminated gonococcal infection is followed by meningitis and endocarditis. Only through the consistent use of condoms, can begonorrhea Prevent (gonorrhea).