GONORRHOEA

GONORRHOEA

…The second most commonly sexually transmitted infection in England

Cause =

Neisseria gonorrhoea, a gram negative diplococcus bacteria

The primary sites of infection which are affected by neisseria gonorrhoea include

• The urethra

• Endocervix

• Rectum

• Pharynx

• Conjunctiva

The transmission occurs through  

direct contact with infected mucosal secretions from one mucous membrane to another.

Gonorrhoea can be symptomatic or asymptomatic as some individuals, particularly

60% of women, can act as silent carriers of the neisseria gonorrhoeae organism.

In men urethral infection is typically symptomatic, the symptoms present as

• Urethral discharge (white,yellow, green) - thin and mixed with pus / mucous

• Dysuria (pain/burning on urination)

• Within 2-5 days of exposure to organism