Gonorrhoea Still Deadly, Causes Blindness

Medical experts have defined gonorrhea as a bacterial infection transmitted during sexual activity. This disease, they noted, is caused by the bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

According to health reports, any type of sex can spread gonorrhoea. It can be contracted through the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus. It is, however, not transmitted from toilet seats.

The bacteria grow in warm, moist areas of the body. This can include the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra). In women, the bacteria may be found in the reproductive tract which includes the fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix.

Gonorrhoea can be passed even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina or anus. If the vagina, cervix, anus, penis or mouth come in contact with infected secretions or fluids; then transmission is possible.

Some medical experts say that a woman who has not had anal sex can get gonorrhea in the anus or rectum if bacteria are spread from the vaginal area, such as when wiping with toilet paper. Also, eye infections in adults may result when discharge carries the disease into the eye during sex or hand-to-eye contact.

Medical reports on gonorrhea say the disease does not always show any symptoms. But in men, gonorrhea can cause pain when urinating including discharge from the penis. If untreated, it can cause problems with the prostate and testicles.

In women, the early symptoms of gonorrhoea often are mild. Though it can cause bleeding between periods, pain when urinating, and increased discharge from the vagina. If untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease which causes problems with pregnancy and infertility.

A consultant urologist, Dr. Gabriel Ogah, opined that gonorrhea infections in the mouth and throat are usually without symptoms.

Ogah noted that in such a situation, symptoms may include soreness and redness in the mouth or throat. A culture test is used to determine if gonorrhea is causing these symptoms.

He said, “If gonorrhea infects the eye, men and women might experience conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyelid lining). Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itching, and discharge from the eye. The bacterium that causes gonorrhea requires very specific conditions for growth and reproduction.”

The doctor added that the bacteria cannot live outside the body for more than a few seconds or minutes, nor can it live on the skin of the hands, arms, or legs.

Ogah added, “It survives only on moist surfaces within the body and it is found most commonly in the vagina, and, more commonly, the cervix. The disease can even exist in the back of the throat (from oral-genital contact) and in the rectum.”

On its severity, he said the infection can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby.

“If you’re pregnant and likely to have gonorrhoea, it is important to get tested and treated before your baby is born. Without treatment, gonorrhoea can cause permanent blindness in a newborn baby,” he stated.

Commenting further on the symptoms of the disease, Ogah said typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating and (in women) bleeding between periods.

Another consultant urologist, Dr. Ademola Popoola, listed redness and swelling of the genitals, burning or itching of the vaginal area as other symptoms of the disease.

He said, “If untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to a severe pelvic infection with inflammation of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Symptoms usually appear two to five days after infection. However, it may take up to a month for symptoms to appear in men.”

Some people do not have any of the symptoms and may not know that they have contracted the disease.

Popoola said, “This increases the risk of complications and the chances of passing the infection on to another person. If the infection spreads to the bloodstream, symptoms include, fever, rash and arthritis-like symptoms.”

On how gonorrhea can be diagnosed, an Obstetrician, Dr. Kingsley Ekwuazi, said it can be easily diagnosed by testing a sample of discharge picked up using a swab.

He added that testing a sample of urine can also be used to diagnose the condition in men.

“If you have gonorrhea, you should ask to be tested for other sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, syphilis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. If you are a woman aged 21 or older, you should be sure you have had a recent Pap smear,” Ekwuazi stated.

In his explanation on the disease, Akande said gonorrhoea and other STDs can be successfully prevented by using appropriate contraception and taking other precautions.

“It is advisable for sexual partners to use condoms every time they want to have sex. Also, use a condom to cover the penis, or a latex or plastic square (dam) to cover the female genitals if you desire oral sex. Do not share sex toys, washing them and covering them with a new condom before anyone else uses them,” he advised.

Furthermore, Akande noted that avoiding sexual contact is the only sure way to prevent gonorrhea, adding “If you and your partner do not have sex with any other persons, this can greatly reduce your chance also. It’s better to prevent gonorrhea than to treat it, and the only way to completely prevent the infection is to abstain from all types of sexual intercourse.”