Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease caused be the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoea. It occasionally causes serious complications.
Incubation period
General 2 - 14 days.
Signs and Symptoms
An infected person may have no symptoms - one in two females and one in ten males may have no symptoms.
Females:
- Burning sensation when passing urine
- Yellowish or blood stained vaginal discharge
- Irritation or discharge from the anus
- May have low abdominal or pelvic tenderness
Males:
- Burning sensation when passing urine
- White, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the penis
- Inflammation of the testicles and prostate gland
- Irritation or discharge from the anus
Mode of Transmission
- Vaginal, oral or anal sex
- Sharing sex toys
- From a mother to her baby at birth
Treatment
Early treatment involves one dose of antibiotics. If complications occur another treatment may be needed. Treatment is generally 10% successful but this does not prevent re-infection.
Control and Prevention
- Early detection and treatment of gonorrhoea.
- Avoid multiple sexual partners - use condoms.
- One should refrain from sexual intercourse while on treatment and should not have sex with previus sexual partners (within 60 days) until they have been tested and treated accordingly.
- Newborns born to infected mothers should receive prophylaxis.
- One should take care when disposing of discharges from lesions and contaminated articles.
- If you would like further information or wish to make an appointment you can contact the GU Clinic on 21227981.