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Symptoms of Gonorrhea



As it is such a virulent infection, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of gonorrhea. You can catch the infection within two to three days of getting infected. Gonorrhea usually affects men and women of a reproductive age. The symptoms tend to show up on different timelines for men and women. Sometimes it can take as many as thirty days before the symptoms show up.

If these symptoms show up in children, it could be an indication of sexual abuse or child abuse. The symptoms can show up as anal, rectal, vaginal or oral. If you notice a child with such symptoms, the child needs immediate medical care as well as counseling.

For women, the symptoms are often mild as compared to the symptoms in men. This could sometimes lead to gonorrhea being mistaken for another infection. In more than 30 per cent of the cases, women do not show any symptoms and only tests can determine whether the patient is infected. The main symptoms include:

  • Burning and pain while urinating
  • Excess vaginal discharge
  • Infection and irritation in and around the vagina
  • Continual bleeding
  • Sore throat
  • Painful sex
  • Severe pain and fever if the infection has to spread to internal organs like the uterus, cervix or the fallopian tubes
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease is an acute symptom and may cause irreversible damage.
In men, the symptoms can be different. The signs and symptoms can appear up to a month later. Some important symptoms include:
  • Increased frequency of urination
  • Burn and pain during urination
  • Discharge from the penis, especially yellow or green
  • Swollen or painful testicles
  • Swollen red penis
  • Inflammation of the prostate
In case the infection is not near the reproductive organs, there can be different symptoms. In case the infection is in the eyes, there might be a visible discharge of mucus from the eyes. If this infection is left untreated, it could lead to blindness.

A bad throat or swollen glands can be a symptom of oral gonorrhea. Throat infections from gonorrhea are caused when the infection is passed on through oral sex. A correct diagnosis can make all the difference. Symptoms of the infection through or in the anus can be diagnosed if you see symptoms like irritation and bleeding. Soreness or recurring painful bowel movements can also be a symptom.

If the infection is not correctly diagnosed, it can even lead to arthritis like symptoms. The infection can spread into the blood and to the joints. 
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