1. Body:

A 12th-grade student in Hanoi was taken to a urology and infertility hospital by her mother with symptoms of frequent urination and urinary pain. The girl's mother initially thought it was just a common infection, but in fact, the girl had an online relationship with a stranger, without using any protection. That short-lived fun ended with a valuable lesson about gonorrhea. Gonorrhea, discovered in 1879 by the physician Albert Neisser, is a common and dangerous infectious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Inside the body, this bacterium can thrive vigorously, but outside the body, they only survive for a few minutes. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80 million cases of gonorrhea occur worldwide each year, with 8 million cases leading to death. East and Southeast Asia account for 30 million cases, with Vietnam among the top 20 countries with the highest number of gonorrhea cases and deaths.

So how do we get infected with gonorrhea? Certainly, this disease is mainly due to unsafe sexual intercourse, or oral and anal sex. Anyone engaging in unsafe sex is at risk of contracting the disease, according to a report from the National Dermatology Institute. In the age group from 15 to 49, the rate of gonorrhea infection ranges from 93 to 98 percent.

In Vietnam, according to annual reports, there are about more than 3000 cases of gonorrhea, but in reality, the estimated number is tens of thousands, as it is impossible to control the number of people infected. When infected with this disease, it not only causes pain and discomfort when urinating but also creates embarrassment and shame, leading patients to keep this issue secret from others.

Having relationships with strangers, especially in the sex worker industry, is considered a high risk for infection. A study on the rate of gonorrhea infection in some groups in Hanoi in 2003 showed that 3 percent of sex workers had gonorrhea, and 2 percent of young men undergoing military conscription examinations also had gonorrhea.

2. Common:

Some other cases also demonstrate the prevalence of gonorrhea. For example, a 28-year-old man met his ex-girlfriend after a class reunion at the beginning of the year, and then experienced symptoms such as frequent urination, discharge, and pain in the genitals. Or another 20-year-old boy, after the Lunar New Year holiday, met a girl online, did not use protection, and later found out he had gonorrhea.

Spring, the season of new life, is also the time of highest risk of gonorrhea infection. There have been cases reported to the Central Dermatology Hospital related to sexual intercourse, especially increasing significantly after the Lunar New Year holiday. Compared to before the Lunar New Year, the majority of patients coming for medical examination are men.

Every day, hospitals receive about 400 cases of gonorrhea, double the normal number after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to doctors from Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital. There are many reasons why the number of people seeking sexual health examinations increases after the Lunar New Year. This is a long holiday, many people seek entertainment and relaxation after stressful work or study days, including loneliness and pressure, making many people feel the need to connect with others and turn to sexual relationships to relieve stress.

In addition, gonorrhea bacteria can also be transmitted through personal items such as blankets, clothes, or hygiene items like towels. For example, a young man contracted gonorrhea after using the toothpaste of a previous patient, even though he had washed his hands clean. This is because gonorrhea bacteria can survive and reproduce in normal environments, and they can be transmitted from mother to child, especially when the mother is pregnant and not medically intervened.

Gonorrhea can be transmitted through blood when sharing needle syringes or coming into contact with open wounds. Therefore, the risk of gonorrhea infection is very high in many different situations. However, it is often due to lack of understanding and inability to control oneself when seeking novelty and excitement in sexual relationships, but not adhering to preventive measures.

Symptoms of gonorrhea usually appear within 1 to 14 days after exposure to gonorrhea bacteria. Men often have symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination, and discharge from the urethra, while women often have symptoms such as painful intercourse, lower abdominal pain, and vaginal discharge.

3. Women:

Although gonorrhea is often considered a common disease in men, in fact, the infection rate when having unsafe sex with someone with gonorrhea is from 20 to 30 percent in men and from 60 to 80 percent in women. This shows that gonorrhea is not only a problem for men but also affects women.

Although gonorrhea does not discriminate by gender, even the moist environment of women provides favorable conditions for gonorrhea bacteria to thrive. Most cases of gonorrhea in women do not cause immediate symptoms. Even when there are symptoms, they can easily be mistaken for vaginal infections or bladder infections, which can be dangerous because they cannot be recognized and treated in time, as well as increasing the risk of infection for partners when not using protection during sexual intercourse.

Another issue with gonorrhea is the potential for spreading or infecting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Gonorrhea bacteria can spread to the blood and other parts of the body, causing swelling, pain, affecting vision, or causing symptoms such as joint inflammation.

In today's society, young people often get lost in a comfortable life. Although the world is becoming more developed and civilized, it cannot completely eliminate sexually transmitted diseases. Recently, there have been many cases of gonorrhea in children and adolescents, causing many parents to worry and take their children for health check-ups. However, the fact that many children and adolescents engage in sexual relationships online or through dating apps is a concern because they are often not fully educated about sex or do not care about the risk of infection.

In addition, the increase in the LGBT community also means an increase in the number of people infected with sexually transmitted diseases. This emphasizes the importance of using protection during sexual intercourse and implementing preventive measures. Treating gonorrhea is often quite effective and can be cured in a few days with the use of antibiotics. However, prevention is still the most important thing, by always using protection during sexual intercourse and undergoing regular testing.

4. Testing:

Gonorrhea, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world, has caused and is causing horrifying periods that have forced millions of people to face serious consequences. From rapid spread, painful symptoms to psychological and social issues, gonorrhea has demonstrated its terrifying power through different stages.

Phase 1: Uncontrolled Spread

The first phase of the nightmare of gonorrhea usually begins with uncontrolled spread. Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, the two most common agents of gonorrhea, easily spread through unsafe sexual intercourse. Especially when not using protection, these bacteria can be transmitted from one person to another in just one sexual encounter.

The uncontrolled spread of gonorrhea is often fueled by many factors, including lack of knowledge about sex, unsafe sexual relationships, and the increase of random relationships. Especially in communities with high exposure rates and insufficient knowledge about gonorrhea, the spread can become particularly serious.

Phase 2: Painful Symptoms and Discomfort

When gonorrhea has invaded the body, the second phase of the nightmare begins with the appearance of painful symptoms and discomfort. In men, common symptoms include frequent urination, painful urination, and discharge from the urethra. Meanwhile, in women, symptoms are often less clear, including vaginal pain, irregular bleeding, or pain during intercourse.

These symptoms not only cause physical discomfort but also affect the mental and emotional well-being of patients. The pain and discomfort not only make them uncomfortable but also reduce their confidence and cause worry about their health and future.

Phase 3: Serious Consequences and Treatment Challenges

The final horrifying phase of gonorrhea is not only about clinical symptoms but also about serious consequences and treatment challenges. If not diagnosed and treated in time, gonorrhea can cause many serious complications, including cervical inflammation, urethritis, kidney inflammation, and even infertility.

Treating gonorrhea is also not easy. Although effective antibiotics are available, gonorrhea bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant, making treatment more difficult. This also raises concerns about the spread of the disease and the potential for creating new antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

Conclusion

Going through the three horrifying stages of gonorrhea, we can see the incredible power of this disease and the serious impacts it brings. From uncontrolled spread to painful symptoms and serious treatment consequences, gonorrhea is a major challenge for the global healthcare system and community. To prevent the spread of this disease, enhancing knowledge, support, and vaccination is essential.