The bizarre name "French runny nose", oddly enough, does not refer to diseases of the respiratory tract, but to venereal infections. This is a metaphorical name for gonorrhea, a very common sexually transmitted disease. If with a common cold (rhinitis) mucus flows from the nose, then with gonorrhea, a substance that looks like pus is released from the more intimate parts of the body. Knowing the predisposition of the French to love, inventive people called this venereal disease "French cold".
What is gonorrhea?
This is an infection caused by the harmful bacteria gonococci. It affects warm and moist areas of the body, including:
- urethra (tube that receives urine from the bladder);
- eyes;
- throat;
- vagina;
- anus;
- female reproductive organs (fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix).
The disease is spread from person to person during unprotected traditional, oral or anal sex. Those most at risk are those whochanges partners or does not use condoms. Accordingly, abstinence from intimate relationships, monogamy (intimacy with a single partner) and the constant use of reliable means of protection are considered the best preventive measures. It is noteworthy that the abuse of alcoholic beverages or narcotic substances, including substances that require intravenous administration, as a rule, leads to promiscuity, and therefore an increased risk of infection.
Signs
"Rhinitis French" is actually not always characterized by purulent discharge. Some patients discover they have contracted the infection as early as 2-14 days after having unprotected sex, while others can live for years without even knowing they have the disease. It is important to remember, however, that even in the absence of typical symptoms, an infected person remains contagious to others.
Symptoms in men
The absence of signs of the disease is most characteristic of men. However, in some cases, the following symptoms occur:
- burning or pain during urination;
- purulent discharge from the penis (white, yellow, beige or greenish);
- swelling or redness in the urethra;
- swollen or painful testicles;
- chronic sore throat.
Symptoms in women
Gonorrhea, gonorrhea and some other sexually transmitted diseases in women may have similar symptoms, so differentiate yourselfdisease, relying only on their own feelings, is not possible. What's more, gonorrhea can successfully "masquerade" as a common vaginal yeast infection. In order not to confuse diseases and not to take unnecessary medicines on your own initiative, you should consult a doctor after experiencing the following symptoms:
- unusual vaginal discharge;
- pain or burning during urination;
- increased urination;
- sore throat;
- pain during intercourse;
- sharp pain in the lower abdomen;
- increased body temperature.
Diagnosis
Doctors use different methods to clarify the preliminary diagnosis of gonorrhea. This is the study of a sample of vaginal or penile discharge under a microscope, or the cultivation of a colony of bacteria in special (ideal) conditions. To obtain a sample of discharge, a standard swab is taken from the throat, anus, vagina, or the tip of the penis. Blood or synovial fluid may also be taken for analysis if the infection has spread to the ligaments.
Complications
If left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases can lead to serious complications. "Rhinitis French" is no exception to the general rule.
When the disease is neglected, scarring of the fallopian tubes begins in women, which subsequently leads to infertility. No less often observed inflammatory disease of the pelvic organs, causing painsyndrome in the lower body, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. If an infected woman is already pregnant, gonorrhea can pass to the baby during childbirth.
In men, "French cold" leads to scarring of the urethra and a painful abscess inside the penis. If bacteria enter the bloodstream, patients of both sexes can suffer from arthritis, damage to the heart valves, inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord. This happens quite rarely, but you should not risk your own he alth - if you find symptoms of an illness, you should consult a doctor.
Treatment
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Recently, however, new strains of bacteria resistant to classical medicines have appeared; if conventional drugs are ineffective, doctors prescribe stronger (and, unfortunately, more expensive) drugs or prescribe certain antibiotics in combination. Most often, ceftriaxone is used in combination with azithromycin or doxycycline.
Scientists are working to develop a gonorrhea vaccine.
