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WHO Estimates 82.4 Million New Gonorrhoea Cases Globally in 2020
A study on gonorrhoea is published in the July–December 2024 issue of the Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS. The reports WHO estimates of global gonorrhoea burden in 2020 and summarises diagnosis and treatment guidance referenced to India’s National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).
Gonorrhoea (Sexually Transmitted Infection):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Type of disease | Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection. |
| Causative organism | Caused by bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. |
| Sites of infection | Urogenital, pharyngeal, rectal, and conjunctival mucosa. |
| Transmission | Primarily through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex. |
| Sex-wise reporting trend (WHO) | Gonococcal infections are reported as higher in men than in women since 2013. |
| Other listed causes/factors | Chemical irritants; trauma (from intercourse or cervical procedures); yeast infections; allergic reactions (to spermicides, latex condoms, diaphragms, IUDs). |
| Symptoms in men | Burning urination; pus-like discharge; itching/tenderness at the penis tip; sometimes blood in urine. |
| Symptoms in women | Often asymptomatic; when present: abnormal vaginal discharge (yellow/grey/pus-like), pain during intercourse, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, frequent urination. |
| Complications if untreated | Women: fallopian tube scarring leading to infertility or ectopic pregnancy; Newborns: eye infection (ophthalmia neonatorum), risk of blindness, sepsis, arthritis, meningitis. |
| Diagnosis | Detected through urine or swab tests; Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is considered the most accurate method. |
| Treatment | Antibiotic: Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM, single dose. |
| Post-treatment guidance | Abstain from sex for 7 days post-treatment and until symptoms resolve. |
| Additional screening | Additional screening for HIV, chlamydia, and syphilis. |
| Persistent symptoms protocol | If symptoms persist (3–5 days), a culture test is used to check for antimicrobial resistance. |
| Pregnancy-related provision | Prenatal screening is crucial to prevent neonatal transmission. |