Essay/Term paper: Gonorrhea

Essay, term paper, research paper:  High School Essays

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!