What is gonorrhoea?

What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhoea

The disease is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoea.
The infection is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex.
Symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods.
However, of those infected, about one in 10 heterosexual men and more than three-quarters of women, and gay men, have no easily recognisable symptoms.
Untreated infection can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy.

"There are only three drug candidates in the entire drug [development] pipeline and no guarantee any will make it out."
But ultimately, the WHO said vaccines would be needed to stop gonorrhoea.
Prof Richard Stabler, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: "Ever since the introduction of penicillin, hailed as a reliable and quick cure, gonorrhoea has developed resistance to all therapeutic antibiotics.
"In the past 15 years therapy has had to change three times following increasing rates of resistance worldwide.
"We are now at a point where we are using the drugs of last resort, but there are worrying signs as treatment failure due to resistant strains has been documented."


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breast cancer charities: How to make an impact

Breast cancer charities: How to make an impact With thousands of charities competing for donations, it can be difficult to know where a financial gift to a good cause will make the biggest impact. This article outlines the top  breast cancer  charities in the United States and their specific contributions to the cause, plus other factors to keep in mind before donating. The history of the pink ribbon The pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer and is often sold to raise money for breast cancer charities. Breast cancer activist and survivor Charlotte Hayley inspired the design of the pink ribbon, which is still in use today. Hayley initially handed out peach-coloured looped ribbons that she made herself with a card stating: "The National Cancer Institute's annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for  cancer  prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon." In 1991, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundati...
Read more

Lung cancer and cough: What is the connection?

Image
Lung cancer and cough: What is the connection? Everyone has experienced a nagging cough after a cold or needed to cough while in a quiet room. Despite these problems, coughing actually serves a very valuable and useful purpose. Coughing is a protective action, helping the lungs clear out potential germs or harmful objects.  Sometimes, however, that cough is not linked to a cold or infection and can linger for weeks to months at a time. This may lead people to wonder or worry that their cough is a sign of something more serious, such as  lung cancer . This article takes a look at the connection between coughing and lung cancer, including when someone should see a doctor. Coughing and lung cancer A cough associated with lung cancer may be either dry or wet. Not every a cough signifies the presence of lung cancer. However, many people do complain of a chronic cough or a "cough that just won't go away" at the time of their diagnosis. If a cough is associate...
Read more

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management  Research shows a possible link between diabetes and cognitive decline, including increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The scientific reason behind the link between diabetes and brain health is complex. Some scientists believe people with diabetes may also have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency that could damage brain cells enough to cause memory loss. Studies are underway to understand why 80 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease also have some form of diabetes or disturbed glucose metabolism. However, so far, longitudinal research has not produced a consensus view regarding the link between blood glucose levels and cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, in South Florida, medical professionals are working with diabetic patients to minimize the risk of cognitive decline through a variety of methods that include lifestyle, medical and mental-...
Read more