Gonorrhea can be cured when the couple undergoes complete treatment as recommended by the gynecologist or urologist, which normally involves the use of antibiotics. It is important that the antibiotic is used according to medical advice and for the prescribed period of time, even if there are no more symptoms, as this ensures the elimination of the bacteria and reduces the risk of reinfection.
Although it is possible to achieve a cure, it is not definitive, that is, if a person is exposed to the bacteria again, they may develop the infection again. Therefore, it is important to use a condom in all sexual relations to avoid not only gonorrhea, but also other sexually transmitted infections.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which affects the urogenital system and normally does not cause symptoms, being identified only during routine examinations. Learn more about gonorrhea.
How to cure gonorrhea
To cure gonorrhea, it is important that the person follows the treatment recommended by the doctor, which involves the use of antibiotics such as:
- Azithromycin;
- Ceftriaxone;
- Ciprofloxacin.
It is important that the treatment is carried out by the couple, even if no symptoms are identified, because even if the infection is asymptomatic, there is a risk of transmission. Furthermore, treatment must be carried out for the period indicated by the gynecologist or urologist to ensure the elimination of the bacteria and avoid resistance to the antibiotic.
Read too: 27 gonorrhea symptoms (female, male and baby) and online test
During treatment, it is recommended not to have sex, not even with a condom. If partners are exposed to the bacteria again, it is possible to develop the disease again and, therefore, the use of condoms is recommended in all relationships. Understand how gonorrhea treatment should be carried out.
Treatment for super gonorrhea
A cure for super gonorrhea is more difficult to achieve precisely because of the bacteria's resistance to existing antibiotics normally used in the treatment.
Therefore, when it is indicated on the antibiogram that the Neisseria gonorrhoeae associated with the infection is resistant, the treatment recommended by the doctor is most often longer and it is necessary for the person to undergo tests periodically to check whether the treatment is being effective or whether the bacteria has developed new resistance.
Furthermore, because the bacteria are resistant, monitoring is important to prevent the bacteria from spreading throughout the body and resulting in complications such as sterility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, meningitis, bone and heart changes and sepsis, which that can put a person's life at risk. See more about super gonorrhea.
Bibliography
- PAPADAKIS, Maxine A.; MCPHEE, Stephen J.; RABOW, Michael W. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2019. 58th. NEW YORK: McGraw-Hill Education, 2019.
- BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. Gonorrhea. 2018. Disponível em: <https://bphc.org/whatwedo/infectious-diseases/Infectious-Diseases-A-to-Z/Documents/Fact%20Sheet%20Languages/Gonorrhea/Portuguese.pdf>. Acesso em 07 jan 2020
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH – HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SECRETARIAT/NATIONAL STD AND AIDS PROGRAM. Pocket Manual of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2005. Available at: <http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/controle_doencas_sexualmente_transmissiveis.pdf>. Accessed on January 7, 2020
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH. Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2015. Available at: <http://conitec.gov.br/images/Consultas/Relatorios/2015/Relatorio_PCDT_IST_CP.pdf>. Accessed on January 7, 2020
- BARRER, Michael R et al. Medical Microbiology: A guide to microbial infections – pathogenesis, immunity, laboratory investigation and control. 19 ed. Elsevier, 2018. 264-266.
- BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF INFECTOLOGY. Gonorrhea. Available at: <https://www.infectologia.org.br/pg/986/gonorreia>. Accessed on January 7, 2020
