gonorrhoea

• Infectious disease affecting the mucous membranes of excretory and reproductive system, rectum and occasionally the eyes and throat
• Caused by a bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae 

  Transmitted during sexual intercourse 

  • In male, bacterium enters urethra during intercourse 
  • In female, bacteria enter vagina during intercourse 
  • Urethra or cervix is infected 

  Discharge from affected mucous membranes is source of infection 
• Symptoms appear 2-10 days after infection (incubation period) 
• In females, no early symptoms / symptoms may not be recognised

  • Usually no pain 
  • Pus produced usually taken to be normal vagina discharge 

  If untreated, infection can spread to uterine tube and abdominal membranes 

  • Permanent blockage - infertility 
• In males, inflammation in urethra

  • Burning feeling in penis 
  • Extreme pain when passing urine
  • Later, yellow discharge of pus from penis 

  If untreated, urethra may become permanently constricted

  • Difficulting urinating 

  If untreated, infection can spread to other organs

  • Testes → sterility
  • Joints → arthritis 
  • Hears or eyes
• Oral sex → infection of throat 
• Baby born from women with disease may be infected during birth 

  • Bacteria enter through baby’s eye → acute infection → blindness 
• Treated with antibiotics 

  Resistant strains have evolved