Among the known STDs, a special place is occupied by gonorrhea, the development of which is provoked by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae - gonococci. Usually, the disease is sexually transmitted, but there are other options for transmission of the infection, for example, through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, eyes, etc. Throat gonorrhea (oropharyngeal gonorrhea) often develops when pathogenic microorganisms enter the oral cavity. This pathology is most often found in women, which is associated with the frequency of oral sexual contact. In 30% of cases, the disease masquerades as symptoms of other diseases, such as purulent tonsillitis or pharyngitis.
Description and description of the problem
Gonorrhea of the throat is a specific infectious disease characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the pharynx, larynx and tonsils as a result of the ingestion of gonococcus bacteria. Usually the throat is a rare location of the pathology, but it is difficult to diagnose, since the disease disguises itself as a sore throat caused by other pathogens. But in 70% of cases, the disease proceeds in a latent form.
In other cases, the first signs of the disease can appear two hours after infection. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane of the oral cavity cannot counteract gonococcal infection. Pathology in a short period of time becomes chronic, which poses a health hazard, since the inflammatory process can spread to the meninges. In the event that the infection has spread to the brain, a person always dies.
Disease classification
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish several types of gonorrhea of the throat:
- Fresh pathology that develops several hours after infection. Symptoms are either acute, or not pronounced enough.
- Chronic gonorrhea, which is characterized by frequent relapses. Also, this type of disease can occur with mild symptoms that will manifest as a result of exposure to negative factors.
- Latent gonorrhea, characterized by the absence of an inflammatory reaction on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and throat.
Reasons for the development of pathology
As a rule, throat gonorrhea, the photo of which is given in the article, develops as a result of contact with the mucous membrane of the oral cavity of the gonococcal bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Infection is usually transmitted from an infected partner to another during oral-genital contact. Pathogenic microorganisms enter the oral cavity from the urethra and begin to multiply there. Cases of transmission through kisses are also known.
Children usually become infected through contaminated hands, as well as by transferring pathogenic bacteria from the eyes in case of infectious conjunctivitis. Newborn babies become infected during passage through the birth canal.
Thus, the main causes of the development of pathology are:
- oral-genital contact;
- kisses
- infection during labor of an infected woman (vertical method);
- domestic infection.
The household method of infection accounts for only 2% of cases, since gonococci are not able to adapt to environmental conditions. In this case, infection occurs when an object is transmitted instantly, for example, ice cream or cutlery, from mouth to mouth.
With the flow of blood or lymph, the pathogen can spread from the throat throughout the body, causing the development of gonococcal sepsis.
Risk group
The risk group includes:
- Persons engaging in promiscuous sexual intercourse without contraception.
- Children, including newborns whose mother is infected. Often, when diagnosing a pathology in a pregnant woman, a cesarean section is performed to reduce the risk of transmission of the infection to the child.
- HIV-infected and AIDS patients.
- People who underwent transplantation of donor organs or bone marrow.
Symptoms and signs of the disease
In 70% of cases when a person is a carrier of infection, symptoms of throat gonorrhea do not occur. In other cases, the signs of the disease are similar to those that appear with infectious tonsillitis, tonsillitis or pharyngitis. The incubation period is from two hours to fourteen days, depending on the individual characteristics of the human body. Then a person begins to appear dry mouth, pain when swallowing, hoarseness, hyperemia and swelling of the throat, tonsils. Thick films of dirty yellow appear on the surface of the sky, tongue, tonsils and cheeks.
Symptoms of throat gonorrhea are also manifested in the following ways:
- increased salivation;
- increase in body temperature;
- bad breath from the oral cavity;
- weakness and fatigue;
- enlarged regional lymph nodes;
- enlargement of the tonsils;
- the formation of small ulcers in the palate, tongue and cheeks with a purulent core;
- rapid progression of the disease.
Signs of gonorrhea of the throat are such that it is not possible to distinguish it from a sore throat. You can suspect the presence of the disease in the case when the causative agent of the infection is found on the genitals or at a sexual partner. Diagnosis of pathology involves only special studies.
Diagnostic measures
To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to identify the pathogen of infection in the studied biological material. But with what analyzes is throat gonorrhea visible? In this case, the following is carried out:
- Fence and examination of a smear taken from the surface of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity or throat at the location of the purulent overlay.
- Cultural research, that is, sowing a smear from the oral cavity to a specific nutrient medium.
- Serological examination - RSK or RIGA.
Also, the doctor must identify the route of transmission of the infection. In this case, data on all sexual contacts of a person over the past three months are often established. An additional examination of the patient is also carried out in order to detect gonococcal infection in other organs and tissues, the possibility of infection of sexual partners is determined.
Diagnosis of pathology is carried out by a venereologist or ENT. It is necessary to warn the doctor in advance about sexual contact with a possible carrier of infection. In addition to the above diagnostic measures, it is also necessary to conduct a study of a smear from the urethra and cervix.
It is important to take a test for gonococci before treatment, as otherwise the disease can be "drowned out" by antibacterial drugs, which will provoke its transition into a chronic form, characterized by frequent relapses.
Differential diagnosis
The defeat of the throat can be triggered not only by gonococci, but also by chlamydia. In the latter case, the disease proceeds latently or with mild signs. It is important to distinguish gonococcal infection from chlamydial. The doctor should have a good examination of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and throat, identify specific symptoms of the pathology and confirm the diagnosis with the results of the examination.
Disease therapy
Treatment of gonorrhea of the throat should be comprehensive. It is very important to conduct simultaneous treatment of the sexual partner in order to prevent the development of relapse. The choice of method of therapy depends on the manifestation of symptoms. If the disease is accompanied by damage to the genital organs, then the therapy is carried out in a hospital setting.
Typically, the cure for gonorrhea of the throat occurs after treatment with antibacterial drugs of the penicillin or cephalosporin group, aminoglycosides, as well as sulfonamides. An antibacterial agent is prescribed based on the results of analyzes in which the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics was determined. Many patients wonder how long they have a sore throat with gonorrhea. Doctors say that everything depends on the stage of development of the disease. But usually the pain subsides a few days after taking the medication.
To treat the throat, the doctor prescribes antiseptic solutions, such as Lugol or Chlorhexidine. In case of deep throat damage, an erythromycin or tetracycline ointment is used. Be sure the doctor prescribes vitamin and mineral complexes, as well as drugs that prevent the development of candidiasis. To eliminate inflammation and swelling of the throat, Orasept or its analogues is prescribed.
Detoxification therapy must be used, as well as drugs that strengthen blood vessels, antihistamines, hepatoprotectors.
The disease can become difficult to cure when the pathogen becomes resistant to antibiotics. This phenomenon is usually observed in the case when the pathology was not detected in time, and its symptoms were mistaken for ordinary sore throat. In this situation, further therapy will be long, requiring the use of a combination of potent antibacterial agents.
Pregnancy treatment
Treatment of gonorrhea of the throat, the symptoms and photos of which are discussed in this article, should be immediate. The choice of treatment method is carried out by the attending physician based on the gestational age, patient age and form of the disease. Treatment of pregnant women occurs in a hospital under the constant supervision of doctors. Such drugs are selected that will not pose a threat to the development of the fetus.
Diet
With gonococcal infection in the throat, nutrition should be adjusted. In this case, the doctor recommends:
- Eat warm, soft foods to reduce pain and facilitate swallowing.
- Use dishes that will not irritate the throat.
- Exclude salted, smoked, sweet and spicy dishes, as well as alcohol from the diet.
- Drink up to two liters of clean water daily.
After the course of treatment, the patient should undergo a second examination. According to its results, it will be seen whether he was cured or not. If the disease is not excluded, the doctor prescribes a second course of therapy using other drugs.
Forecast
Antibacterial drugs throat gonorrhea is usually treated quickly. With a mild degree of the disease, the symptoms disappear after several doses of medication. In severe cases, gonococcal sepsis may develop, which can lead to death for the patient.
Prevention
The main preventive measure is the presence of one sexual partner, the use of contraception and the absence of promiscuous sexual relationships.
Of great importance is the educational work in medical institutions. Doctors should conduct lectures and discussions among the population on the topic of sexually transmitted diseases and their transmission. Such measures are aimed at preventing the development of the disease.
To prevent the spread of pathology, it is necessary to identify sources of infection in a timely manner, periodic examinations and examinations of patients should be carried out in skin venereologic dispensaries.