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DEFINITION Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and it can pass on during any kind of sexual contact. When a doctor diagnoses the issue early, they can usually treat it effectively. But if a person does not receive treatment, gonorrhea can result in long-term complications. Gonorrhea is a notifiable disease, which means that a doctor must report all diagnoses to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. This information enables health authorities to plan treatment and prevention strategies. Gonorrhea is usually easy to treat, but delaying treatment can result in serious, and sometimes permanent, complications. For example, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurs in females when gonorrhea affects the uterus or fallopian tubes. It can lead to infertility. Possible complicationsTrusted Source in males with gonorrhea include epididymitis, which is inflammation of the tube that carries sperm. This, too, can result in infertility OCCURRENCE OF GONORRHEA The Gonorrhea mostly occur at: Male Female Adult Child 1 GONORRHEA SIGN AND SYMPTOMS Gonorrhea symptoms in women Women may not have any gonorrhea symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may include: Unusual vaginal discharge (white or yellow). Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis. Pain or burning when peeing. Bleeding between periods. Throat infection and pain (when infected due to oral sex). Symptoms of gonorrhea in men In men, symptoms include: White or yellow discharge from the penis. Pain or burning (possibly severe) when peeing. Throat infection and pain. CONTROL AND PREVENTION Ways of avoiding gonorrhea include: avoiding sexual activity if there is the possibility of infection using a barrier method of protection, such as condoms, during vaginal or anal intercourse using condoms or dental dams during oral intercourse 2 only having sexual activity with a mutually monogamous partner who does not have the infection TREATMENT Anyone with gonorrhea needs treatmentTrusted Source to stop the infection from progressing. The treatment typically involves antibiotics. It cannot repair any problems that the infection has already caused, so it is important to receive treatment as soon as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source recommend a single dose of 250 milligrams of intramuscular ceftriaxone (Rocephin) and 1 gram of oral azithromycin (Zithromax). These are different types of antibiotics. The CDC urge people to take all the medication that a doctor prescribes and to avoid sharing it with anyone else. However, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, have developed resistance to nearly all the antibiotics that doctors have traditionally used to treat it. This resistance is making gonorrhea increasingly difficult to treat. If a person does not notice any improvement in their symptoms after several days, they should return to their healthcare provider. They may need further testing to determine whether the treatment is working. 3 A person should also attend any follow-up appointments and avoid having sex until a healthcare provider says that it is safe to do so. If gonorrhea occurs during pregnancy, it is essential to let the healthcare team know. The infection can pass on to the baby during delivery, so the newborn will usually need antibiotics right away. Some newborns develop conjunctivitis, and gonorrhea is one possible cause. The symptoms usually appear 2–4 days Trusted Source after birth and include red eyes, thick pus in the eyes, and swollen eyelids. If any of these symptoms arise, seek medical attention immediately. They can also result from a more serious condition, such as meningitis or bacteremia. COMPLICATIONS There are a number of severe complications of gonorrhea. For this reason, it is important to receive treatment as soon as possible. In females, gonorrhea can lead to: PID chronic pelvic pain infertility ectopic pregnancy, which can be a medical emergency Further complications of the infection can occur during pregnancy and delivery. Without treatment, it causes an increased risk of preterm labor or stillbirth. 4 Gonorrhea can also pass to the newborn, who can develop a joint infection, loss of vision, or bacteremia — a life threatening blood infection — as a result. In males, gonorrhea can lead to epididymitis, which can cause problems with fertility. CAUSES GONORRHEA The cause of gonorrhea, the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, can infect the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract in men and women, as well as those of the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. Being a sexually active female under 25 Being a man who has sex with men Having a new sex partner Having multiple sex partners or having sex with someone who has multiple sex partners Not using condoms consistently or correctly Having a history of gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted disease PEPTIC ULCERS Definition Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, lower esophagus, or small intestine. They’re usually formed as a result of inflammation caused by the bacteria H. pylori, as well as from erosion from stomach acids. Peptic ulcers are a fairly common health problem. There are three types of peptic ulcers: gastric ulcers: ulcers that develop inside the stomach esophageal ulcers: ulcers that develop inside the esophagus 5 duodenal ulcers: ulcers that develop in the upper section of the small intestines, called the duodenum CAUSES OF PEPTIC ULCERS Different factors can cause the lining of the stomach, the esophagus, and the small intestine to break down. These include: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that can cause a stomach infection and inflammation frequent use of aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), and other antiinflammatory drugs (risk associated with this behavior increases in women and people over the age of 60) smoking drinking too much alcohol radiation therapy stomach cancer SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PEPTIC ULCERS The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is burning abdominal pain that extends from the navel to the chest, which can range from mild to severe. In some cases, the pain may wake you up at night. Small peptic ulcers may not produce any symptoms in the early phases. Other common signs of a peptic ulcer include: changes in appetite nausea bloody or dark stools 6 unexplained weight loss indigestion vomiting chest pain TREATMENT A PEPTIC ULCER Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your ulcer. If tests show that you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe a combination of medication. You’ll have to take the medications for up to two weeks. The medications include antibiotics to help kill infections and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to help reduce stomach acid. You may experience minor side effects like diarrhea or an upset stomach from antibiotic regimens. If these side effects cause significant discomfort or don’t get better over time, talk to your doctor. If your doctor determines that you don’t have an H. pylori infection, they may recommend a prescription or over-the-counter PPI (such as Prilosec or Prevacid) for up to eight weeks to reduce stomach acid and help your ulcer heal. Acid blockers like famotidine (Pepcid) can also reduce stomach acid and ulcer pain. These medications are available as a prescription and also over the counter in lower doses. Your doctor may also prescribe sucralfate (Carafate) which will coat your stomach and reduce symptoms of peptic ulcers. COMPLICATIONS OF A PEPTIC ULCER Untreated ulcers can become worse over time. They can lead to other more serious health complications such as: 7 Perforation: A hole develops in the lining of the stomach or small intestine and causes an infection. A sign of a perforated ulcer is sudden, severe abdominal pain. Internal bleeding: Bleeding ulcers can result in significant blood loss and thus require hospitalization. Signs of a bleeding ulcer include lightheadedness, dizziness, and black stools. Scar tissue: This is thick tissue that develops after an injury. This tissue makes it difficult for food to pass through your digestive tract. Signs of scar tissue include vomiting and weight loss. All three complications are serious and may require surgery. Seek urgent medical attention if you experience the following symptoms: sudden, sharp abdominal pain fainting, excessive sweating, or confusion, as these may be signs of shock blood in vomit or stool abdomen that’s hard to the touch abdominal pain that worsens with movement but improves with lying completely still PREVENTION PEPTIC ULCERS Certain lifestyle choices and habits can reduce your risk of developing peptic ulcers. These include: not drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day not mixing alcohol with medication washing your hands frequently to avoid infections limiting your use of ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen (Aleve) 8 Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking cigarettes and other tobacco use and eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help you prevent developing a peptic ulcer. SOURCES https://www.healthline.com/health/peptic-ulcer#overview https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/peptic-ulcer-overview 9