Gonorrhea (also gonorrhoea), caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a common sexually transmitted infection. In the US, its incidence is second only to Chlamydia.
Non-genital sites in which it thrives are in the rectum, the throat (oropharynx), and the eyes (conjunctiva). The vulva and vagina in women are usually spared because they are lined by stratified epithelial cells in women the cervix is the usual first site of infection. Gonorrhea typically spreads during sexual intercourse. It can also be vertically transmitted, where infected mothers can pass gonorrhea to their newborn infants during delivery. This causes conjunctivitis (eye infections) which, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. As prophylaxis against this, many countries routinely treat infants with eyedrops of erythromycin at birth.
Complications of Gonorrhea
In men, inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis), prostate gland (prostatitis) and urethral structure (urethritis) can result from untreated gonorrhea.
In women, the most common result of untreated gonorrhea is pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the uterus that can lead to infertility. Other complications include : perihepatitis, a rare complication associated with Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome ; septic arthritis in the fingers, wrists, toes, and ankles ; septic abortion ; chorioamnionitis during pregnancy ; neonatal or adult blindness from conjunctivitis ; and infertility.
The underlying gonorrhea should be treated; if this is done then usually a good prognosis will follow.
The above information thankfully comes from the en.wikipedia.orgat the following link.
