Gonococcal Infection

Gonococcal Infection – General Information

Gonococcal Infection is nowadays considered to be a public health problem which affects more and more people. These types of infections are usually the result of unprotected sexual contacts but it can also be transmitted from the mother to the child, while the newborn is in the genital tract. In the case of women who are affected by this disease, the area which is usually infected is the cervix; this can lead to the appearance of urethritis, endocervicitis and even some severe inflammatory diseases of the pelvis. On the other hand, in the case of men, the complication which can appear is the anterior urethritis.  
Gonococcal Infection is produced by a diplococcus which is called N gonorrhoeae and it is a gram-negative, aerobic and intracellular agent. It is usually located in the cuboidal or the columnar epithelium and the way in which it manifests is influenced by a large number of factors. For example, there are some factors which help the attachment of this diplococcus and they protect it from the attack of the neutrophils. The virulence of this agent can be increased if it is also covered by an opaque membrane.  After the gonococcus reaches the mucosal cell, it gets under the sub-epithlial space, where the infection begins. At first, it causes micro-abscesses which then become purulent. In some rare cases, the disease can appear without presenting any signs or symptoms. The reports have shown that nowadays the number of those who suffer from Gonococcal Infection is about 250 in 100, 000 people.

Gonococcal Infection – Symptoms

Most of those who suffer from Gonococcal Infection present a complex medical history; most of them have already suffered form another infection, such as hepatitis; in the case of women, however, this disease can also be associated with the menstrual period, its latest abnormalities and even with a previous pregnancy. If the infection is located in the female genitourinary tract, it will almost certainly affect the urethra, the endocervix, the pharynx and the rectum. The signs and symptoms which characterize this type of infection are abdominal pain and vaginal discharge. However, the infection can be asymptomatic which means that it evolves without showing any signs. This is usually valid until the sufferer’s next period, when she will experience severe abdominal pain, dysuria, purulent vaginal secretions, excessive tenderness and bleeding. If the infection affects the male genitourinary tract, in most of the cases it is characterized by urethritis. The most common signs and symptoms which have been reported consist of frequent urination, a feeling of burning and serous secretions. In most severe cases, the patient can experience even acute epididymitis. Gonococcal Infection can also affect the rectum, the eye and the pharynx and this is common for both men and women. If the infection is located in the eye, the most common signs which appears is a purulent conjunctivitis which progresses fast. Other signs which have been reported are redness, a purulent discharge and eye pain. The bad part is the fact that this infection is not diagnosed in due time and treated correctly, it can cause other serious complications and it can even lead to blindness.

Gonococcal Infection – Treatment

If you notice any of the signs and symptoms presented above or if you have had an unprotected sexual contact, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order to perform some tests and obtain a sure diagnosis. As the Gonococcal Infection is caused, in most of the cases, by the N gonorrhoeae agent, the doctor will recommend you some tests in order to identify the presence or the absence of this diplococcus. The most common test consists of a culture of the urethral specimens; however, it is better if the doctor chooses to take culture samples also from the eye, the pharynx and the rectum. Other possible tests which can be recommended in order to identify Gonococcal Infection are an ultrasound, a scan of the pelvis, a vaginal ultra-sonography or other vaginal examinations, which are though quite expensive and painful.

After the diagnosis is settled, the doctor has to choose the best way of treatment considering the stage of the infection and its gravity. The most common and quick method is the implementation of a microbial therapy; however, this should be done only after a precise examination and taking into consideration the clinical condition of the patient. In most of the cases, the doctor will recommend a few days of hospitalization in order to start the treatment and supervising the appearance of possible meningitis, endocarditis or other purulent infections. Hospitalization is definitely necessary in the case of pregnant women and those who present severe signs and symptoms, such as high fever, vomiting, nausea, excessive pain, abdominal peritonitis, cervicitis or rectal infection.The most common drugs which are used for treating Gonococcal Infection are ceftriaxone, fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines.If the patient is in a dangerous condition, the doctor can choose to perform a surgery, especially in the case of women. The intervention consists in the aspiration of the septic joints; however, an open drainage is not indicated.

In order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to benefit from the best way of treating Gonococcal Infection, one should consult not only his personal doctor, but also one or more of the following specialists: a gynecologist, an ophthalmologist and a pediatrician, if the disease affects a newborn. After the patient benefits from the treatment and the infection is eliminated, he should be aware of the future complications which can appear; he should also consult a physician or a public doctor in order to obtain all the information needed in order to reduce the possibility of another infection. In what concerns the changes which a sufferer has to make after he has suffered form this infection, they will be settled by his doctor after he examines his general health condition and the progress after the administration of the treatment. However, the patient usually does not have to renounce at his physical activities. The most important thing about Gonococcal Infection is the way in which local authorities should interfere and try to inform people about the risks of an unprotected sexual contact and especially about this infection.