Gonorrhea - Possible Medical History - Assignment Example

The patient’s HIV and Hepatitis risk are also discussed

McCutcha (2013)indicates that doctors and nurses should establish the modes of giving results and child protection issues in cases where the patient is below sixteen years. The history of drug use, commercial sex work, new or multiple partners, and recent sexual activities outside a patient’s area of residence also need to be assessed carefully. Sexual abuse is also known to put people at risk of getting sexually transmitted infections; hence, it should also be included in the medical history assessment by the doctor.
Key Signs and Symptoms

After the infection, the key symptoms of gonorrhea take about two to five days to appear. In some cases, however, it may take up to a month for the signs to appear in men. Some people do not show the signs and when this is the case, they are not aware that they have contracted the infection and will not, therefore, seek medical treatment. Such cases multiply the risk of complications and chances of passing the STI to other people without knowing. In men, the symptoms include pain when urinating, need to urinate frequently, yellow, white, or green discharge from the penis, swollen urethra, sore throat, and tender testicles.

In women, virginal discharge, burning pain when urinating, fever, pains in the lower abdomen and when having sexual intercourse, and overall body weakness are the major indicators of the infection. Manda (2012) says that in cases where the disease has spread to the bloodstream of a patient, rashes, fever, and other arthritis-like symptoms are also likely to be noted. All the signs may not be present in every person. Those having the disease display varying pointers to the condition as a result of the difference in body immunity capabilities.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the infection can be carried out in two ways, which include the gram staining and culture and nucleic acid-based test. The diagnosis takes place when gonococci are seen through a microscopic examination that uses gram strains, acid-based tests on bold and body fluids, and culture. All of these are obtained through needle aspiration (Bissessor et al. 2011). Gram staining test is very sensitive and is mostly used when testing the disease in men. When used, negative diplococci are normally seen. The use of culture involves the rapid plating of samples on the appropriate testing medium. Currently, nucleic acid amplification testing has become very common and has made it hard to find laboratories providing culture and sensitivity testing.

After the results are out, the next stage is getting the patient to know about his or her condition. This requires honesty and providing the needed support. The patient should, with a lot of sincerity, be enlightened on the results of the diagnosis and the implications that they have. When presenting the results, it is anticipated that the patient will be shocked if they reveal that he or she is suffering from the STI. Patients who are already symptomatic are usually fearful. This makes it imperative for the healthcare giver to help him or her understand that the disease is treatable.
Impact of the Diagnosis on the Patient’s Life
The findings from either the culture or the nucleic acid-based tests have both short-term and long-term effects on the patients. The impacts that may be seen within the initial stages include shock, denial, and regret. In the long term, however, the person can accept the condition especially after they have been assured that the infection is manageable. Moreover, they are expected to be more careful in the future to minimize the risks of re-contracting the STI. In cases where the individual being tested is aware of where they may have contracted the disease, they may end up avoiding such people out of fear of getting it again.

DrugTherapy and Treatments
The treatment plan that is used for this STI is the same for both men and women. A lot of STI experts have recommended that one-time antibiotics be used. This includes pills and a shot. Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM is preferred in this instance (Choudhury et al. 2006). The person being treated should ensure that he takes the pills for the entire duration that the physician has prescribed. If this happens, he may not need to be retested for the condition after completion. However, if the symptoms continue to be evident, retesting is needed three months after the diagnosis.

It is vital for the sexual partner of the patient and anyone who they may have had a sexual encounter with to be treated. The person being treated is advised to tell their spouses to go and be tested and treated. If this is not the case, a prescription can be given for both the person who had come for treatment and the other party in question (Bissessoret al. 2011). Since it is possible to be infected more than once with an STI, the patient is advised not to have any sexual intercourse until they clear their medications. Enlightening medical care seekers on ways of preventing gonorrhea is paramount. Several things can help in doing this. Some of the known ways of ensuring this are the use of latex condoms, avoiding having sex with partners who have abnormal discharge and genital rashes, seeing a doctor if symptoms of the STI are seen, and discussing the infection with one’s doctor or nurse. Read More