Gonococcal infection in female, complications, treatment.
The most common site of gonococcal infection in women is the endocervix (80%-90%), followed by the urethra (80%), rectum (40%), and pharynx (10%-20%).
Gonorrhea is often asymptomatic in women meaning that people often do not experience any discomfort or notice any changes once infected. Without any symptoms, people may not suspect that they have an STI. Some may have very mild or vague symptoms, which can be confused with a urinary tract infection or vaginal infection. If symptoms develop, they often manifest within 10 days of infection.
- Signs and symptoms:
- Urethritis
- Muco-purulent vaginal discharge
- Vaginal pruritus
- Dysania
- Pelvis inflammatory disease if the the upper genital tract is infected – fever, lower abdominal pain, back pain, vomiting, vaginal bleeding
- Frequent painful urination
- Spotting/bleeding between periods
- Pain, bleeding or discharge in the rectum
- Cervical friability – tendency to bleed upon manipulation
- Cervical motion tenderness & Adnexal tenderness
- Complications:
- Acute perihepatitis – extension of the bacterium from the fallopian tube to the liver capsule and overlying peritoneum
- Tubovarian abscesses
- Ectopic pregnancy & Chronic pelvic pain
- Infertility - PID can result in scarring of the tubes, greater risk of pregnancy complications and infertility
- Infect their babies
- Increased risk of HIV/AIDS.
- Arthritis – when infection spreads to the bloodstream; Fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling and stiffness are possible results
- Heart valve damage & Inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord
- Diagnosis: include vaginal swabs, urine test etc.
- Treatment:
- Gonococcal arthritis - Ceftriaxone
- Gonococcal conjunctivitis - Ceftriaxone
- Gonorrhea contributing to PID - Cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, metronidazole, cefotetan, clindamycin, gentamicin
- Gonococcal epididymitis - Ceftriaxone, doxycycline
- DGI - Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime
- Gonococcal meningitis and endocarditis - Ceftriaxone