Microorganism responsible: Neisseira gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) (bacteria). It may co-exist with other microorganisms characteristic of other sexually transmitted diseases.
Means of transmission: genital, anal, oral. Likelihood of transmission: 20% in men having sexual contact with an infected woman and 30-50% in women with an infected man.
Incubation period: 2-5 days. Clinical manifestations may appear up to 2 weeks after transmission.
Symptoms: secretion of whitish or yellowish fluid, clear or thick, from the urethral meatus. Pain or burning when urinating. Urgency to urinate or increase in urination frequency. Redness and stinging of the area surrounding the urinary meatus. Inflammation of the testicles. If the infection is anal, there may be proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) and pharyngitis (sore throat) when it is buccal. The absence of symptoms is also possible.
Prevention: Sexual abstinence. Monogamous practice with uninfected person. Use of condoms during entire sexual activity with people who may be infected.
Diagnosis: Physical examination and culture of urethral secretion. Depending on the sexual practice, material may also be obtained for culture from the anus or the throat. The results are obtained within 72 hours.
Treatment: The person infected must be treated, along with any others with whom sexual relations were maintained, with antibiotics, generally of one sole administration.