Treatment:

There are two parts to successfully treating a sexually transmitted disease, especially one as easily spread as gonorrhea. The first is to cure the infected person. The second is to locate, test, and treat all of that person's sexual contacts to prevent further spread of the disease.

Mandatory reporting of gonococcal disease has been instituted and has kept the number of cases of gonorrhea at a low level. However, the number of cases is rising, especially among men who have sex with men in large urban centers.

The bacteria that causes this disease has become resistant to certain drugs. Today, ceftriaxone injected into a muscle is the only antibiotic used to treat gonococcal pharyngitis.

People who are allergic to penicillin and cephalosporin may be prescribed azithromycin, which is taken by mouth.

In addition to treatment for gonorrhea, people are usually treated at the same time for chlamydia. Chlamydia often causes infection at the same time as gonorrhea, but it can be harder to diagnose.

Expectations (prognosis):

Gonorrhea can be completely and quickly cured when diagnosed early and treated promptly before complications develop. Untreated gonorrhea may spread to other parts of the body, causing inflammation of the testes or prostate in men, or pelvic inflammatory disease in women.

Complications:

The following complications may occur in both men and women:

• Disseminated gonococcemia
• Gonococcal arthritis

Complications in men may include:

• Epididymitis
• Orchitis
• Prostatitis
• Urethral scarring and stricture

Complications in women may include:

• Increased chances of ectopic pregnancy
• Infertility
• Perihepatitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Salpingitis
• Sterility

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you know or suspect that your sexual partner may be infected.

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of gonococcal pharyngitis.