Gonorrhea (Tripper, Kapavac)

What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is the second most common bacterial STI after chlamydia.

Symptoms

• In women: Yellow-green vaginal discharge, burning urination, lower abdominal pain, intermenstrual bleeding
• In men: Purulent urethral discharge, painful urination, testicular pain
• Pharyngeal gonorrhea: Sore throat, difficulty swallowing (often asymptomatic)
• Rectal gonorrhea: Pain, discharge, anal itching

Complications

• PID — inflammation of uterus, tubes, and ovaries
• Infertility — tubal damage from adhesions
• Disseminated gonococcal infection — sepsis, arthritis, endocarditis
• Ophthalmia neonatorum — gonococcal conjunctivitis in newborns

Diagnostics

• PCR/NAAT test — gold standard for detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Culture — enables antibiogram (antibiotic sensitivity testing)
• Gram stain — rapid microscopic diagnosis

Treatment

Gonorrhea is treated with dual antibiotic therapy (ceftriaxone + azithromycin) due to increasing resistance. Partner treatment and follow-up test are mandatory.