Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted sexually transmitted infection. Gonococci are its causative agent, parasitizing, as a rule, on the mucous membranes. Unfortunately, the disease is not rare. What are his symptoms? What are the main signs? What could be the consequences? What does diagnosis mean, and how is this disease treated? This and much more will now be discussed.
Symptoms in men
Signs of gonorrhea do not appear immediately after infection. They are preceded by an asymptomatic period. Yes, and the infection itself occurs in stages - first, the pathogen is fixed at the mouth of the urethra, then it enters the cells of the mucous membrane, then multiplies. Only then do the first signs and symptoms of gonorrhea appear in men.
The incubation period is usually 3-5 days. However, in some cases it reaches two weeks.
Common symptoms include:
- Unpleasant sensations along the urethra, which are quickly replaced by burning and itching.
- Mucous or purulent discharge of white-yellow color.
- Redness and swelling of the lips of the urethra on the glans penis.
- An increase in temperature and the appearance of nonspecific signs of general intoxication.
- Painful pollutions at night.
It should be noted that the first signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in men increase very quickly. A week after the first alarms, they become unbearable. And if at first suppuration was inconsistent and appeared only after urination or pressure on the head, then later it simply does not stop.
However, the symptoms then abruptly dull. Or go away due to unsystematic, unauthorized use of antibiotics. This does not mean that recovery has come. Symptoms are simply erased, but the development of the disease continues. It takes on a chronic form, and it becomes extremely difficult to cure it.
Complications in men
If you do not start treatment for the symptoms of gonorrhea in time, then there will be big health problems. In a few weeks, the infection will spread along the walls of the urethra up to the prostate, bladder and vas deferens. As a result, it appears:
- Prostatitis. Inflammation of the prostate gland. Symptoms: temperature 39 ° C, headaches, chills, nausea, body aches and weakness, discomfort in the perineum and lower abdomen, painful urination and ejaculation.
- Cystitis. Infectious urinary tract disease of the lower section. Symptoms: pain in the lower abdomen, frequent urge to the toilet, not passing feeling of a full bladder, the appearance of pus, blood and mucus in urine
- Gonorrheal epididymitis. Inflammation of the epididymis. Symptoms: reddened and swollen scrotal skin, painful on palpation.
- Urethritis. Inflammation of the urethral mucosa. Symptoms: purulent discharge of yellow-green color, constantly elevated to 38 ° C temperature, swelling and itching of the urethra, burning and pain during urination.
In addition to the above, often in men appears sepsis, foci of inflammation in other organs, damage to the heart valves. Also, the disease can lead to narrowing of the urethra, chronic prostatitis and infertility. Therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to the first symptoms of gonorrhea in time and consult a venereologist.
Symptoms in women
Now you can pay attention to them. How does gonorrhea manifest in women? Symptoms, as in the case of men, do not make themselves felt immediately.
The infection spreads first - after getting into the genitals, it attacks the cervix, and then the tubes, ovaries, mucous membrane and sometimes even the peritoneum. In rare cases, gonorrhea affects the rectum and throat. This happens due to anal and oral sex, respectively.
Well, here are the symptoms of gonorrhea in women:
- Highlight yellow or white. They are thick and have an unpleasant odor.
- Itching and burning in the perineum and vagina. On examination, puffiness of the cervix is ​​revealed, which becomes a bright scarlet color.
- Inflammation of the appendages and uterus. At the same time, a woman is bothered by pains in the lower abdomen and purulent discharge with an admixture of blood.
- Fever, accompanied by decreased appetite, nausea, and weakness.
- Urethra infection It manifests itself in painful and frequent urination.
- Pain during bowel movements, itching and burning in the anus.
- Unpleasant sensations in the throat, enlarged tonsils and symptoms resembling a sore throat.
With chronic gonorrhea in a woman, the symptoms and first signs are erased in the same way as in men. But periodically, pains in the lower abdomen, vaginal discharge and pain in the lumbar region make themselves known.
Complications in women
They cannot be ignored. It is important to notice the signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in women in time, because there can be very serious consequences from ignoring the disease. These include:
- Tubo-ovarian abscess. In the fallopian tube, pus accumulates, subsequently penetrating the ovary.
- Inflammation of the labia. Because of this, by the way, sexual intercourse becomes impossible, since the pain is unbearable.
- Persistent pelvic pain.
- Inflammation of the pelvic organs. This leads to infertility.
- Perihepatitis. It manifests itself in inflammation of the capsule of the liver and the parietal peritoneum adjacent to it.
- A high probability of miscarriage in pregnant women or the transmission of gonorrhea to him during childbirth.
- Bartholinitis. It manifests itself in inflammation of the paired glands located on the eve of the vagina.
- Cervical erosion.
- Decreased sexual desire (frigidity).
- Menstrual irregularities.
- Joint damage.
Over time, an ignored infection spreads to the pelvic organs. Because of this, inflammation of the uterine appendages, adnexitis and other concomitant diseases occurs. In the most severe and advanced cases, damage to the brain, heart, as well as peritonitis occurs.
In children
As mentioned above, gonorrhea is a disease that is transmitted sexually. Unfortunately, it is often diagnosed in adolescents who early in life began sex and neglected contraception. But now I would like to consider cases when infection is detected in young children, and not due to sexual contact.
Infection can occur when a baby is born through the birth canal. If his mother has gonorrhea that she has not cured, then there is a huge risk that this will happen. After all, gonococcus is located on the mucous membrane of the genital organs through which the fetus passes.
Also, infection can occur in a domestic way. Mostly girls are affected by it. According to statistics, among them, the disease obtained in this way occurs 10-15 times more often than in boys. This happens due to non-compliance with hygiene rules or the child’s contact with things of adults on whom the infection has remained.
Treatment of children is carried out according to the same principles that are observed when undergoing therapy by older patients. But special attention is paid to dosages. The child’s body is much weaker than that of an adult, and it is important that taking antibiotics and other drugs does not harm him.
Diagnostics
Only a doctor can tell how to treat the symptoms of gonorrhea and the disease itself. But before the appointment of therapy, a diagnosis is necessarily carried out, because an external examination is not a guarantee for the diagnosis.
After a visual examination and an oral medical examination, a person will need to go through several stages. They include bacterioscopic and bacteriological studies, as well as an epidemiological history. Molecular biological tests are also required. These include polymerase chain reaction, blood test and gene test.
In simple terms, the methods listed above imply a laboratory study of the biological material handed over by the patient - blood and smear. This is a long and laborious process. The polymerase chain reaction, for example, takes from 24 to 100 hours. That is why you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, immediately after the onset of the first symptoms of gonorrhea.
In men and women, diagnosis is carried out according to the same principles. The only difference is that in some, a smear is taken from the urethra, and in others - from the vagina.
Treatment regimen
Much has been said above about the signs and symptoms of gonorrhea, as well as the diagnosis. Below are listed the drugs prescribed to eliminate the disease, but for now we can talk about the treatment regimen.
Here's what a therapy program includes:
- Reception of antibacterial drugs. As a rule, these are fluoroquinolones or cephalosporins, which the patient has to drink for several days. The duration of the course is determined by the doctor.
- Taking antibiotics that destroy gonococcus. At the same time, it is mandatory to drink “Trichopol” - an antiprotozoal drug with antibacterial activity. This is an effective treatment for the chronic form of the disease. The course is 10 days.
- If, in addition to gonorrhea, it was possible to detect the presence of chlamydia in the body, tetracyclines and macrolides should be taken. Schemes of admission are always compiled individually.
- The use of antifungal agents on the first, fourth and seventh day after the appointment of treatment. This is necessary for the prevention of candidiasis.
- The use of "Bifiform" or "Enterol" after completing a course of antibiotics. This is necessary for the prevention of intestinal dysbiosis. This course lasts 2 weeks.
- Local treatment. Means irrigation with antiseptics. For women, it is still necessary to use vaginal suppositories and the use of special medications (for example, Epigen Sex), as this helps to restore the vaginal microflora.
It should be understood that only a doctor prescribes treatment. Particular care should be taken in “atypical” patients - pregnant women, for example. They did show gentle treatment, which implies low-dose intramuscular injections of spectinomycin or ceftriaxone.
Preparations
Much has been said above about the symptoms of chronic gonorrhea. Now it is worth listing the medicines prescribed to patients for the treatment of this disease. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following drugs:
- Norfloxacin. It has a bactericidal effect, destroys microorganisms provoking the disease, inhibits DNA gyrase, and also disrupts the process of DNA supercoiling.
- Ciprofloxacin. It has identical effects, but also inhibits synthesis of bacterial DNA.
- Ofloxacin. It blocks the DNA gyrase enzyme in infected cells.
- Lomefloxacin. In addition to the above actions, it also produces a tuberculosis effect.
- Ceftriaxone. Violates the so-called cross-linking, which provides the strength and rigidity of parasitic microorganisms.
- Pefloxacin. It has the previously listed actions, but also affects the synthesis of bacterial proteins and RNA. Destroys parasitic microorganisms that are at the stage of both dormancy and growth.
- "Azithromycin". Broad-spectrum antibiotic. Destroys both intracellular and extracellular pathogens.
The duration of taking these drugs varies from 3 to 7 days.
If symptoms of chronic gonorrhea have been identified in a woman or a man, then more serious medications and procedures are prescribed. A person has to do urethra washing, injections of immunomodulating drugs, drink biogenic stimulants and undergo physiotherapy (ultrasound, electrophoresis, phonophoresis). The following enzymes are prescribed:
- Ribonuclease
- Streptokinase
- Chymotrypsin.
- Lidase
- Avelizin.
- Trypsin.
And this is just a small list of what includes the treatment of gonorrhea symptoms. Tripper is a complex disease. Only a doctor can choose the most suitable and effective drugs for the patient, given its physiological characteristics and the nature of the course of the disease. Self-medication can only do much harm, because all of the listed drugs have contraindications and can cause serious side effects.
Folk remedies
The most faithful and reliable way to get rid of the symptoms of gonorrhea is to use medications and undergo the above procedures. But folk remedies can be a good concomitant therapy. Here are some recipes:
- In equal proportions, mix birch leaves, bare licorice root, bearberry and corn stigmas. 2 tbsp pour the resulting collection into a thermos and pour two glasses of boiling water. Let it brew for 30 minutes, and then strain. Drink three times a day for 1 tbsp.
- Thoroughly mix finely chopped, peeled fresh lemon, 50 grams of grated ginger root and 5 tbsp. honey. Send to the refrigerator. Add 1-2 tsp to warm, not hot tea and drink every day.
- A third cup of crushed leaves of lingonberry pour boiling water (about 0.6 l). Give an hour to insist. Then strain. Drink 2 tbsp. daily.
- In equal proportions, mix dandelion roots, crushed juniper fruits and birch leaves. 1 tbsp collection pour boiling water (250 ml), close the lid and wrap. After half an hour, strain. Drink a dessert spoon 15 minutes before eating.
- Pour half a teaspoon of Chinese magnolia vine with boiling water (250 ml). close the lid and send for 30 minutes in heat. The resulting volume is divided into three portions. Take each of them with an equal time interval, after adding a spoonful of natural honey to it.
- Take 1.5 tbsp. dried burdock and pour boiling water (250 ml). Slow to simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the resulting broth, add the same amount of water, and let it brew for 30 minutes. The resulting volume should be drunk in three doses - in the morning, afternoon and evening.
These are just some of the popular recipes. There are still a lot of folk remedies that help to cope with the symptoms of gonorrhea, but before you cook and use any of them, you need to consult a doctor.
Prevention
About this - in the end. To avoid collision with gonorrhea symptoms, you must:
- Be informed about the pathways of infection, as well as the first signs of STDs and how to prevent them.
- Observe intimate hygiene. Avoid wearing uncomfortable and synthetic underwear, as well as using highly “chemical” shower products.
- Refuse random intimate relationships. Use condoms. They can be abandoned only if sex occurs with only one partner, who is pure and faithful.
- Undergo regular examinations by a venereologist.
- Make an appointment with your doctor right away if unpleasant symptoms appear in the genital area.
Do not take medications for preventive purposes. This is impractical, and drug abuse can harm the body.