We chose the bacterial disease gonorrhea. We were not able to find when the
disease was discovered or who discovered it. Gonorrhea is a bacterial disease
that is an infection caused by gonoccocus bacteria. This bacteria is round
shaped and can live only in dark, warm, moist places. These places would
include; inside your body, cervix, penis, throat, and rectum. It usually
involves the urethra in males, and vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes in
females. For 2-9 days there are no symptoms of Gonorrhea. Then some do occur.
There can be frequent burring urination and thick green-yellow discharge from
the penis or vagina. Also, there may be rectal discomfort and discharge, joint
pain, a mild rash, or sore throat and swollen glands. For men, the opening of
the penis may be red and sore. Symptoms of gonorrhea show up more in males than
in females, in fact, about half of the women with gonorrhea have no symptoms.
Effects of this disease could include; gonococcal eye infection, blood
poisoning, infectious arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, epididnmitis,
endocarditis, sexual impotence in men, and infertility in women. Also, pregnant
women can infect unborn babies. Gonorrhea can be diagnosed by tests that include
blood studies. There could be laboratory cultures and microscopic analysis of
the discharge from the reproductive organs, rectum, or throat. Of course, you
will have to obtain some of the symptoms before the doctor will confirm that the
tests be administered. This disease is transmitted by sexual contact. Any form
of sexual penetration, oral, anal, and vaginal can transmit gonorrhea. There are
other means of catching the disease, but they are not common. A person with
gonorrhea can infect another area of their body by touching the infected area
and transferring the excretions. Gonorrhea may also be spread in clothing or
wash clothes if used by an infected person, and then soon after by someone who
isn’t infected. Sometimes infected secretions from the vagina drip down around
the anus causing infection in women. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics.
Common ones include: ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, cefixime, certriaxone,
azithromycin, you can also take non-prescription drugs such as Tylenol or
aspirin to reduce discomfort and inflammatory pain. To prevent getting
gonorrhea, avoid sexual partners whose health practices are uncertain. Also,
always use a latex condom during intercourse. Also, always be responsible and
visit your doctor for regular check-ups. If you do find out you have it, you
should stop sexual activities until cured. Gonorrhea can be transmitted through
any kind of sexual intercourse. The symptoms are all but pleasant, and probably
aren’t fun to experience. The disease will probably go away in 1-2 weeks with
treatment. Gonorrhea will not go away by itself, even if symptoms disappear. A
man’s chance of catching gonorrhea from an infected women is from 30-50%. A
women’s risk with an infected man is much higher, being 60-90%. Remember, you
can get gonorrhea over and over again, use a condom!