Gonorrhea is the most common sexually transmitted disease, the disease is also referred to as triper. Because of its widespread prevalence among women and men of sexual maturity, the prevention and treatment of the disease is extremely important. Transmission of the disease can take place from mother to child already during intrauterine development or during birth, which can lead to complications in the newborn. The causative agent of the disease and modes of transmission The causative agent of the disease is a bacterium of the genus Neisseria, the species is Neissrria gonorrheae. This is an aerobic agent that invades the cylindrical and cuboidal epithelium located on the surface of the genitals and urethra. For this reason, gonorrhea is a urogenital infection. During the acute form of the disease, the causative agent is located intracellularly – in the cells that make up the mucous membrane. Contagion occurs mainly sexually – during sexual contact. Due to the affinity of bacteria to epithelial cells, the disease is transmitted both during vaginal, anal and oral sexual contact. Another way of transmission of the disease is vertical – it is transmitted from an infected mother to a child during pregnancy and childbirth. Manifestation of the disease and most common symptoms in patients with gonorrhea The incubation period – the time between infection with the causative agent of the disease and the appearance of the first symptoms is between 2 – 10 days. The appearance of complaints can also appear relatively slowly, after about 1 month. The most common symptoms are the appearance of purulent vaginal discharge. Its color is yellow-green, which is how it differs from normal vaginal discharge in women. Some women may have complaints of pain in the lower abdomen or the presence of bleeding outside the days of menstruation. NEWS_MORE_BOX The symptoms may be related not only to the genital system but also to the excretory system, as very often the causative agent of the disease – Neisseria gonorrhoeae – also affects the urethra. Often the complaints are related to the occurrence of dysuria – pain and discomfort during urination. The disease can affect the eyes, manifesting itself in the form of conjunctivitis. Due to the invasive nature of the disease, it can very quickly affect all sexual organs – external genital organs, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes. In rare cases, with untimely treatment, pelvic inflammatory disease can develop – inflammation of the organs belonging to the upper tract of the reproductive system. Diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhea One of the ways of diagnosis of gonorrhea is by taking vaginal and urethral secretions for microbiological examination. After diagnosis, treatment usually involves taking antibiotic medication. Simultaneous treatment of the partners is very important, because very often men are carriers of the disease without visible symptoms. Gonorrhea is extremely risky for women during pregnancy. The possibility of the occurrence of premature birth of the fetus increases,which is associated with the birth of a fetus with low body weight. One of the most common complications in newborns is the appearance of conjunctivitis, which requires treatment to avoid serious vision-related disorders.