Gonorrhea (gonorrhea, “hot piss”) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a gonococcus. On the increase in France, in particular due to the overuse of antibiotics against Covid-19, it can lead to sterility in women. Transmission, symptoms, treatments.
[Mis à jour le mercredi 6 janvier à 10h47] Sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhea (and in particular “super-gonorrhea”) would spread more and more quickly due tooveruse of antibiotics in people infected with the Covid-19, worries the World Health Organization (WHO). According to information relayed at the end of December 2020 by the British newspaper The Sun, the concerns are particularly focused onAzithromycin – an antibiotic very often given to treat a respiratory infection – the prescriptions of which have increased by +217% worldwide between the months of March and June 2020. “Excessive use of antibiotics [pour traiter une infection au coronavirus] can promote the emergence of resistance in gonorrhea“to treatments, warns WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The bacteria responsible for gonorrhea would therefore be capable of spinning, in other words of adapt and resist antibiotics. In addition, the STI screening services being disrupted by the health crisis, a large number of cases could not be diagnosed in time. Remember that the only way to protect yourself against STIs is condom use.
“In France, we talk more about gonococcie. The term of gonorrhea is an Anglo-Saxon term“immediately wishes to clarify Dr Jean-Marc Bohbot, gynecologist, infectious disease specialist, Medical Director of the Fournier Institute in Paris. Gonococcal disease or gonorrhea, also called warm pee, is a sexually transmitted disease. The infection affects the sexual organs, the anus but can also reach the throat and, in babies infected during childbirth, the eyes. “It is a rapidly resurgent disease. The latest INVS report published in 2018 with data from 2016 reports a 300% increase in the number of gonorrhea in France, as for Chlamydia“warns Dr Jean-Marc Bohbot.
Unprotected sex with risky partners increases the risk of gonococcal contamination Neisseria gonorrhoeae. “This sexually transmitted disease mainly affects people from 15 to 24 years old, men and women, but you can have gonorrhea at all ages” specifies the gynecologist. There are very high rates of gonorrhea in Île-de-France and in the overseas territories.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the microbe Neisseria gonorrhoeae. “This is caught regardless of the type of sexual intercourse: vaginal, anal, buccal. It’s a highly contagious bacteria“Says the gynecologist. On the other hand, newborn gonorrhea is transmitted during childbirth if the mother is infected.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in women
“In women, the infection in the throat or anus is completely asymptomatic. At the genital level, infection can be signaled by itching, unusual losses, pain during sexual reminders, of burning while urinating“, informs Dr Jean-Marc Bohbot.”But often it is when the partner has gonorrhea that we discover gonorrhea in a woman “ he specifies.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in men
“In humans, gonorrhea is revealed in the majority of cases by acute urethritis: discharge of pus from the penis, violent urinary burns“Says the gynecologist. The clinical forms of the disease involving the throat or anus are often more difficult to diagnose because of their particular symptoms.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in pregnant women
A pregnant woman infected with gonococcus can in turn infect her child when she gives birth. Gonorrhea in a newborn is characterized by an infection of the eyes, which can lead to serious complications (blindness) if left untreated.
To make the diagnosis of gonorrhea in women, we no longer carry out a urinalysis which is done, but a vaginal sample. “Today, it is a vestibular self-sampling test that is offered in all screening centers: the woman takes the sample herself with a swab“, informs De Jean-Marc Bohbot. The results of the test are known in 24-48 hours.
In humans, the diagnosis of gonorrhea is made from the first jet of urine. “A diagnosis of gonorrhea involves a complete screening for all sexually transmitted infections including HIV” warns the gynecologist.
Antibiotics
Treatment consists of a antibiotic treatment. “A bite of a cephalosporin allows a cure in a few days ” indicates the gynecologist. “As the gonococcus is associated in 25-30% of cases with sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, a probabilistic treatment can be carried out while awaiting the results of the analysis: a penicillin injection is combined with an anti-chlamydia antibiotic taken by mouth. for a few days“, he describes. Namely: at the global level, there is more and more resistance of antibiotics to gonococcus.
Healing
If a man or woman has gonorrhea, their partner (s) should be treated as well. A follow-up visit is necessary after three days if symptoms persist. Another follow-up consultation after 7 days is systematically organized in order to carry out a microbiological control of the cure (elimination of the bacteria).
“Prevention goes through wearing a condom for all types of sex, including blowjobs that carry the risk of transmitting STIs either way“inform the gynecologist.”People who have unprotected sex should get tested for gonococcus at least once a year“he advises.
It is essential not to self-treat in the presence of genital signs (especially for a yeast infection) because the later the diagnosis of gonorrhea, the greater the risk of complications.
In men: risk of urethritis, prostatitis or inflammation of a testicle
In men, if gonorrhea is not treated, or treated too late, it can cause several complications: the most common are urethritis, prostatitis and orchi-epididymitis, which corresponds to the inflammation of a testis and an epididymis. Left untreated, prostatitis can progress to abscess formation, and epididymitis can be responsible for infertility and testicular atrophy. Untreated gonorrhea is also a risk factor for urethritis, infection of the sebaceous glands of the foreskin, balanitis, and formation of perianal abscesses and anal fistulas.
In women: risk of salpingitis, bartholonitis or sterility …
The risk of untreated gonorrhea in women is that of infertility. “The infection can affect the tubes. Salpingitis can cause infertility but it has become a rare complication“says Dr. Jean-Marc Bohbot. Salpingitis is signaled by pelvic pain, fever, sometimes blood loss.”Gonorrhea can also lead to bartholinitis, a vulvar gland responsible for lubricating the vulva during sex.“Informs the gynecologist. This infection causes extremely painful swelling of one lip of the vulva, very severe heat and redness. It is treated with prolonged antibiotic treatment. Gonorrhea is also associated with an increased risk of sexual transmission of the disease. HIV.
During pregnancy: risk of premature birth, ophthalmia …
Left untreated, gonococcal infection can affect the course of pregnancy during the first three trimesters and increases the risk of preterm birth. The newborn baby can be infected during childbirth if the pregnant woman is infected with gonococcus. It is the eyes that are affected by the infection. “Purulent ophthalmia in newborns has become exceptional in France”, specifies Dr Jean-Marc Bohbot.
Thanks to Dr Jean-Marc Bohbot, gynecologist, infectious disease specialist, Medical Director of the Fournier Institute in Paris.
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