subject: Gonorrhea Cases that you need to be aware of [print this page] Most illnesses of reproductive systems are transmitted by sexual activity and are called sexually transmitted diseases or STD. Greater than 30 bacterial, viral, or parasitic diseases have been identified as sexually transmitted. In the United States, it is estimated that over 15 million new cases of STDs occur yearly. Several of these conditions can be effectively taken care of with antibiotics and can be generally avoided using condoms. Nevertheless, over 60 million Americans possess STDs, mostly viral, for which there is no efficient cure.
Probably the most reportable, or noticeable, STD in the U.S. is Gonorrhea, which is caused by the gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhaea. An ancient illness was described and given its present name by the Greek physician Gaden in A.D. 150. The incidence of Gonorrhea has tended to decrease lately, but more than 300,000 cases continue to be reported in the United States annually. The true number of cases is probably much larger, probably two or three times those reported. More than 60% of patients with Gonorrhea are aged 15 to 24.
So that you can infect, the gonococcus must attach to the mucosal cells of the epithelial wall by way of fimbrae. The pathogen invades the spaces splitting columnar epithelial cell, which are found in the oropharyngeal area, rectum, urethra, the eyes, opening of cervix, and the outer genitals of the pre-pubertal females. The invasion sets up an inflammation, so when leukocytes move into the inflamed region, the characteristic pus formation results. In men, a single unprotected exposure results in infection with Gonorrhea 20 to 30% of the time. Women become infected in 60 to 90% of the time from a single exposure. Males become aware of a Gonorrheal infection by agonizing urination and a discharge of pus-containing material from the urethra. Around 80% of infected males display these apparent symptoms after an incubation period of only a few days; most others show symptoms in less than a week. In the days before antibiotic therapy, symptoms persisted for weeks. In neglected cases, recovery may ultimately occur without complications, but when complications do take place, they can be serious. In some instances, the urethra is scarred and partially blocked. Sterility can result when the testes become contaminated or when the ductus deferens, the tube carrying the sperm from the testes, becomes blocked by scar tissue.
In females, the condition is more insidious. Only the cervix, which contains columnar epithelial cells, is infected. The vaginal walls are composed of stratified squamous epithelial cells, which are not colonized. Very few women are aware of the infection. Later on in the course of the disease, there may be abdominal ache from complication just like the pelvic inflammatory illness.
In both males and females, untreated gonorrhea can spread and become a grave, systemic infection. Complications of Gonorrhea can involve the joints, heart, meninges, eyes pharynx, or other parts of the body. Gonorrheal arthritis, which is caused by the growth of the Gonococcus in fluids in joints, occurs in about one percent of Gonorrhea cases. Avoid these complications by visiting STD clinics regularly and asking for routine check-ups. This is to diagnose the disease early and prevent it from becoming worse.
