The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report. This report warns about the new strain of gonorrhea which currently on the rise and has no treatment at the moment. Every year about seventy eight (78) million people get infected by gonorrhea.
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease that affects the throat, rectum and genitals. The major means of transmission of ‘super gonorrhea’ is unprotected oral sex; where the bacteria is been transmitted from someone’s genitals to your throat.
It has no major symptom. The symptoms that often manifest are very similar to other throat infections. Hence, the infected persons are often unaware at the onset. You also really wouldn’t know even if you were sitting next to an infected person. If left undiscovered or untreated, gonorrhea can escalate to fertility issues and other complications.
The new strain of gonorrhea is also known as ‘super gonorrhea’. It is said to have been developed by a mistreated case of gonorrhea bacteria that remained in the throat after anal sex. The strain has proven resistant to most if not all of the antibiotics used in treatment of gonorrhea. Both of the major antibiotics currently used as treatment for gonorrhea are becoming ineffective against the new strain making treatment almost impossible.
Both antibiotics are: ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Even though the U.S authorities have recorded some success in using these antibiotics to battle the gonorrhea, there isn’t certainty as concerning how long it would deter the super gonorrhea.
Already, new drugs are in being developed to combat the super bacteria. It is still not certain though how long it would take for them to complete the process testing and get it to the hands of the patients.
Till then, it is recommended that people practice abstinence, engage in safe sex (using of condoms) and go for regular testing and checkup.
