Introduction
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causal agent of this venereal disease (CDC para. 1). Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a bacterium that thrives well in the urethra, uterus, oviduct, throat, and rectum due to the warm and moist environment characteristic of these areas. Other places where this bacterium can grow include the mouth, anus, and even the eyes. This is a very popular disease and everyone can contract it. A report by CDC indicates that over 700,000 people in the United States of America alone contract gonorrhea every year (CDC para. 2). This is alarming given the effects and complications of this disease. There is a dire need to deal with this disease effectively to reduce its prevalence in a quest to come up with a healthy nation. However, there are underlying issues that need clear understanding before stepping up campaigns to arrest this situation. What are these issues?
Prevalence
To deal with an issue successfully, it is important to establish its root cause and tackle it from the roots otherwise, it will keep on sprouting every other time. What are the predisposing factors of gonorrhea? According to Mayo Clinic staff, the common predisposing factors also known as risk factors of gonorrhea are; multiple sex partners, a new sex mate, younger age, and previous gonorrhea infection (para. 1). Gonorrhea predominantly spreads through sexual intercourse regardless of the type of sex. As long as there is contact with the penis, mouth, vagina, or anus without protection, infection is likely to occur. Regrettably, gonorrhea can pass from mother to child in the process of delivery (CDC, para. 3). Sexually active people are at great risk of contracting gonorrhea due to intense sexual activities, which unfortunately may involve multiple partners. How does someone know that he or she has contracted gonorrhea?
Causes
According to American Social Health Organization, men will develop symptoms within two to five days after infection while women do so ten days after infection (para. 4). However, most women remain asymptomatic with men developing full-blown symptoms. Symptoms differ depending on the part of the body where the bacterium is growing. In urethral infection, there is painful urination, inflammation of one testicle sometimes accompanied by pain, and pus-like discharge from the penis (Mayo Clinic staff para. 1). In women, there is increased discharge from the vagina, painful urination, vaginal hemorrhage between periods, and pelvic and abdominal pain. Gonorrhea also causes eye pain with increased sensitivity to light together with pus-like discharge from eyes (Mayo Clinic Staff para. 4). In throat infection, there are inflamed lymph nodes around the neck and sore throat. Nevertheless, as mentioned above most women are asymptomatic and even in cases where they develop symptoms, they are usually misidentified as bladder or vaginal infections.
Predisposing factors
Numerous complications arise because of gonorrheal infection and some have devastating effects in the end. Women suffer the wrath of this infection most because it is difficult to diagnose the infection. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gonorrhea spreads to the oviduct and uterus causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PDI); a condition reported in over one million women in the United States of America yearly (para. 5). PDI causes internal abscesses that are difficult to cure. Moreover, this condition is a predisposing factor to infertility and ectopic pregnancy due to damaged fallopian tubes.
In men, gonorrhea causes infertility if left untreated for a long time. This results from inflammation of the epididymis causing a condition known as epididymitis. This is a treatable condition but if untreated for a long time it becomes complicated to treat (American Social Health Organization para.6). In other cases, the bacterium causing gonorrhea enters the bloodstream and grows in other places like joints. The possible symptoms here include joint pains and inflammations, fever, rash, stiffness, and skin sores (Mayo Clinic Staff para. 9). Recent research creates a strong link between gonorrhea and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Gonorrhea weakens the immune system thus exposing an individual to possibilities of contracting HIV (CDC para. 7). Gonorrheal infection passed from mother to child causes blindness and severe blood infection coupled with joint pains.
To ascertain whether someone has gonorrhea, different laboratory tests are performed. Testing the urine can give sufficient information on whether someone is infected. The commonly used clinical test is the Gram test. Bacteria are either gram-positive or gram-negative and by carrying a test using a gram stain, the bacterium becomes visible under a microscope (CDC para. 9). Is there a conclusive treatment for gonorrhea?
Treatment
Well, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gonorrhea is a curable disease (para. 1). Several antibiotics are available to treat and cure gonorrhea completely. However, it is advisable for anyone infected to seek medical attention as soon as possible to treat the disease at its early stages before developing complications. Unfortunately, due to the continued use of common antibiotics, a drug-resistant strain of this bacterium has emerged in the recent past. Additionally, people with gonorrhea have other sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and this complicates further the issue of treatment. However, there is hope with current research indicating that a combination of different antibiotics could overcome this impediment.
Prevention
Nevertheless, prevention is better than cure and this adage resonates well with issues about gonorrhea. The indisputable way to avoid gonorrhea infection is to refrain from sexual intercourse or remain faithful to one sexual partner who has tested negative for gonorrhea. The big question here remains whether people can refrain from sexual intercourse with the current glorification of the same across borders. There is hope for those who cannot handle and control sexual desires. A latex condom used correctly prevents infection of most STDs including gonorrhea. It is advisable also to go for a gonorrhea test and pressurize sex mates to do the same. This will aid in cutting down transmission rates (Mayo Clinic Staff para. 12).
Conclusion
People should avoid having sexual intercourse with partners showing unusual symptoms. Even though some symptoms like skin rash may not necessarily signal gonorrhea infection, it is wise to take precautionary measures and visit a doctor for clarification (Mayo Clinic Staff para. 13). Regular gonorrhea screening tests are also mitigation factors because as discussed above women usually remain asymptomatic. These regular tests will identify the concealed cases of infection. Health agencies also play a major role in the fight against gonorrhea. They have to provide adequate and affordable healthcare services in a bid to overcome gonorrhea infections and transmission. There is a need to intensify education on STDs to equip young people with cognition on the dangers of engaging in premarital sex. Publicizing condom use may also help curb the transmission of the same even though this move is likely to face rejection from different quarters. People will always have different opinions but it is important to come up with a strategy to curb the spread of STDs especially gonorrhea.
Works Cited
American Social Health Association. “Gonorrhea”. 2000. Web.
Centers for Disease Control. “Gonorrhea”. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2008.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Gonorrhea”. 2009.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “Gonorrhea”. 2009. Web.