What is the best treatment of Gonorrhoea
Written by Prince Assandoh-Mensah in 2016
Gonorrhoea is one the oldest diseases in Ghana and the world at large. It is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is communicable; that is, can spread from one person to another. It is a sexually transmitted disease that mostly spread through genital-to-genital contact; however, it can also be spread by oral-to-genital or anal-to-genital contact.
Gonorrhoea can present with no symptoms, but when it presents with symptoms, they may be greenish-yellow purulent discharge from genitals, lower abdominal pain, swollen reddened genitals including the scrotum in males and genital ulcer.
Treatment of Gonorrhoea is straightforward and simple; even diagnosis can be reliably done by clinical signs and symptoms. Usually a single dose efficacy of an appropriate antibiotic such as Cefixime, Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone is used to cure the disease.
However, it must be well emphasized that, aside gonorrhoea several other sexually transmitted diseases also present with similar signs and symptoms, as mentioned above. For instance, for a sign like genital discharge and lower abdominal pain, STIs such as Chlamydia and Mycoplasma also presents with similar signs and symptoms.
Therefore to make a definite diagnosis and treatments of an STI, it is good to see a health professional. You may be experiencing genital discharge which may be indicative of a Gonorrhoea, but it may be some other sexually transmitted infections. It is the duty of the health professional, to consider all the other major and minor signs and symptoms you are experiencing, which may not be of significant to you personally but may be significant to the health professional to make a definite diagnosis and treatments.
Today, treatments of sexually transmitted infections in our health centres and hospitals are not as intimidating as before. Now, with the new symptomatic approach treatment strategy, a patient suffering from uncomplicated STI is made to see only one health professional where both consultation and treatments begins and ends. Treatment is initiated according to signs and symptoms presented; unlike before where patients will be made to see several professionals and run several laboratory tests, putting the patient to public ridicule.
Also, in the treatments of STIs, partners are also treated in order to prevent reinfection. It is therefore good to go with your partners to the health centres, but not share your drugs with them at home.
Gonorrhoea is very easy to treat with an antibiotic but it is good to make a definite diagnosis from a health profession.
