Gonorrhea is a common ‘Venereal Disease’ (VD) disease. Gonorrhea is
an infectious ailment. Gonorrhea is a STD (Sexually Transmitted
Disease). Gonorrhea is also popularly termed ‘the clap’. Gonorrheal
complications are many. They are serious and can lead to weakening or
permanent disability of the patient’s immune system.

ALL SEXUALLY ACTIVE PERSONS ARE VULNERABLE TO GONORRHEA

Studies in USA have shown that gonorrhea has been widely reported
mostly among the sexually active African Americans, teenagers and young
adults. In fact, all sexually active people are vulnerable to gonorrhea.

8 LAC AMERICANS FALL PREY TO GONORRHEA ANNUALLY

Research on STD across USA has shown that annually, 800,000
Americans contract gonorrheal infections. However, just 50 % of such
cases are reported to CDC. In 2006, the CDC registered 358,366
gonorrhea cases.

During 1975-’97, there was a decline in the American gonorrhea rate.
This was a result of the national gonorrhea control program set in
action in 1970. It remained stable for the following years.
Nonetheless, the gonorrheal infection cases recorded by CDC in 2006
were 120.9 per 100,000 persons.

WHAT IS CDC?

CDC stands for the ‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’. The
address is ‘1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A’. Public
Inquiries can be made to 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636); 1-888-232-6348
(TTY).

GONORRHEA COMPLICATIONS

Gonorrhea patients are more vulnerable than others to HIV — the
virus that causes AIDS. Moreover, HIV-infected people who also suffer
from gonorrhea turn out to be easy conduits of HIV to others not having
gonorrhea. There are different but equally serious consequences among
people of the either sex.

GONORRHEA COMPLICATIONS AMONG WOMEN

Among women, gonorrheal infection can lead to ‘PID’ and/or increase
the risk of developing ectopic pregnancy. The acronym ‘PID’ refers to
‘Pelvic Inflammatory Disease’. Annually, one million American women
suffer from PID. It refers to a syndrome that can be quite severe or
rather mild. ‘Pelvic Inflammatory Disease’ or PID is characterized by
fever or/and abdominal pain.

In extreme cases, PID can lead to five serious and at times really
dangerous eventualities: Formation of abscesses, recurrent pelvic pain,
damage of the fallopian tubes, infertility, and last but not the least
ectopic pregnancy. The abscesses are pockets filled with pus. They are
formed within the body and are very difficult to be cured. Hence these
are internal pus-filled pockets.

When PID causes damage to the fallopian tubes, the patient turn
sterile or even run the risk of having the life-threatening condition
of ectopic pregnancy. In ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg develops
not in the uterus (where it should be), but in a fallopian tube.

GONORRHEA COMPLICATIONS AMONG MEN

Among men too, gonorrhea can be painful and, long lasting and life
threatening. Gonorrhea can lead to the painful condition of
epididymitis. It affects the ducts connected to the testicles. If
untreated, epididymitis can cause that sterility. When gonorrhea
spreads to the joints or the joints, it turns out to be
life-threatening.