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Published On: Fri, Dec 7th, 2012

Maine reports significant increase in gonorrhea cases in 2012

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Image/CDC

Maine health officials report that gonorrhea cases in the state have increased in recent years with the number of cases reported so far this year is 100 more than the entire 2011, according to a Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) press release this week.

According to newly released numbers from the health department, from January 1 through October 31, 2012, there have been a total of 370 cases reported statewide.

This continues a trend in the state where in 2008 there were 96 cases and just last year there were 272 during the entire year.

Infections are predominantly in the 20-29 age group and are clustered in Androscoggin, Cumberland and York counties.

Differences have been noted among cases with respect to race, gender and sexual partnerships and this is being further explored by geographic location.

In addition, health officials are reminding health care providers concerning the growing antibiotic resistance seen with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) treatment guidelines forthe sexually transmitted infection.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused the bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacterium can infect the genital tract, mouth and rectum of both men and women. Ejaculation does not have to occur for the disease to be transmitted. It can also be transmitted from mother to baby during delivery.

Symptoms of gonorrhea usually appear with 2 to 5 days after sexual contact with an infected partner, occasionally symptoms make take longer to appear.

In women, infection may be asymptomatic. If present, the early symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild. The first symptoms in women are frequently; painful or burning sensations when urinating, an increase in discharge (yellow or bloody) and bleeding after intercourse.

Men have symptoms more often than women and they may include; a white, yellow or green discharge from the penis with pain, burning sensations during urination, and painful, swollen testicles.

While infection of the throat and rectum are frequently asymptomatic, rectal infection may have discharge, itching and painful bowel movements.

The complications of untreated gonorrhea are numerous. The most common being pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious infection of the female reproductive tract.

Ectopic pregnancy may occur due to scar tissue that’s formed in the fallopian tubes. This can result in miscarriage or death of the mother.

In men, untreated gonorrhea can cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicles that can lead to infertility.

Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can spread through the blood to the joints, causing permanent joint damage (gonococcal arthritis).

Maine CDC encourages healthcare providers to increase screening for gonorrhea among sexually active patients.  Healthcare providers evaluating a patient with gonorrhea that persists despite treatment should consider gonococcal resistance in addition to the possibility of patient noncompliance and recurrent infection.

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About the Author

- Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the website, Outbreak News Today and hosts the podcast, Outbreak News Interviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify Robert is politically Independent and a born again Christian Follow @bactiman63

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  1. Maine sees a 60 percent increase in gonorrhea in 2012 - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] a follow-up to a story in early December, Maine health officials are reporting a substantial increase in confirmed […]

  2. Maine reports significant increase in gonorrhea cases in 2012 – The Global Dispatch | Health and diseases news says:

    […] the blood to the joints, causing permanent joint damage (gonococcal arthritis). Maine … Go to Source This entry was tagged epididymitis. Bookmark the permalink. […]

  3. Maine reports significant increase in gonorrhea c… – The Global Dispatch | Health and diseases news says:

    […] the blood to the joints, causing permanent joint damage (gonococcal arthritis). Maine … Go to Source This entry was tagged epididymitis. Bookmark the permalink. […]

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