Oral Gonorrhea vs Strep Throat – Symptoms, Causes, Differences

Oral Gonorrhea

It is a sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women. It is actually caused by a bacterial infection that is transmitted by having oral sex with a person who already has the bacterium.

In addition to the throat, it may infect the female genital tract and male reproductive organs as well as the rectum, blood, eyes, joints, and skin.

About 820,000 new cases of gonorrhea occur every year in the US, with more than 60 percent of the patients being young people ages 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Individuals infected with this bacterium are typically co-infected with chlamydia, and frequently patients are routinely treated for both when testing positive for gonorrhea.

The rates among men are on the rise in numerous Western countries, most likely because of the declining condom use, plus, most patients are gay or bisexual men.

Besides being the 2nd-most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease, it has increasingly become resistant to available antibiotics.

Complications

The most common complication of untreated gonorrhea is pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the female reproductive organs. Complications can also lead to perihepatitis (an infection involving the capsule surrounding the liver) or meningitis (inflammation of the brain).

Also, bacterial infection increases the risk of contracting HIV, the virus which causes AIDS.

Symptoms

Similar to chlamydia, gonorrhea of the throat typically doesn’t show any signs or symptoms. However, when symptoms do show, it is generally seven days after exposure and can include a sore throat.

Common symptoms may include:

  • burning or soreness in the throat;
  • swollen glands;
  • white spots in the mouth;
  • lethargy;
  • the appearance of a rash with dark centers;
  • fever.

Causes

It is called by a bacterium called gonococci, which can thrive in warm, moist areas of the human body, including – the reproductive tract, throat, mouth, eyes, and anus.

This bacterium can be passed through oral sex, including from penis-to-mouth and mouth-to-penis contact, and rarely, from anus-to-mouth and vagina-to-mouth contact.

Also, the transmission usually doesn’t happen from mouth-to-anus and mouth-to-vagina contact.

Note – sexually transmitted diseases can be spread to a sex partner even when the infected partner has no symptoms. You can not take it from simple kissing, sharing baths, cups, towels, or toilet seats.

Treatment

This condition used to be cured by many types of antibiotics, however, the bacteria adapt fast.

For instance, some strains have built up considerable resistance to all antibiotics, with the exception of an oral form of azithromycin paired with an injection of an extended-spectrum cephalosporin.

To avoid re-infection, any sexual partners you have should be treated too. Also, it is essential not to have unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex until the infection has cleared up and the treatment is completed.

Prevention

Using a dental dam, condom, or another barrier method every time you have oral sex can lower considerably the risk of getting or giving a sexually transmitted disease.

Strep Throat

It is a bacterial infection that can make the throat feel scratchy and sore. It is more common for children ages 5 to 15, but it also occurs in adults.

There are a few million cases of infection with Group A strep bacteria in the US each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms may include:

  • fever;
  • throat pain which typically comes on quickly;
  • body aches;
  • painful swallowing;
  • rash;
  • swollen and red tonsils, occasionally with streaks of pus or white patches;
  • nausea or vomiting;
  • headaches;
  • tender lymph nodes in the neck;
  • red spots at the back of the roof of the mouth.

Note – if you are exposed to strep throat, it can take 2 to five days before you start having symptoms.

Some individuals will develop a red skin rash that feels rough to the touch. This skin rash is known as scarlet fever. Moreover, having strep throat can cause inflammation in the body, which may lead to:

  • rheumatic fever – an inflammatory disease that usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks after a streptococcal throat infection.
  • kidney inflammation.

PANDAS

Strep can lead to serious neurological and psychological complications known as PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections). PANDAS is a complication that is characterized by sudden and extreme behavior, including outbursts of violence and anger.

Other symptoms of Pandas include:

  • frequent bedwetting and urination;
  • suicidal thoughts;
  • trouble sleeping;
  • hallucinations;
  • joint pain;
  • emotional regression;
  • refusing to eat;
  • incessant screaming;
  • memory problems;
  • poor handwriting;
  • irritability;
  • sensitivities to light;
  • separation anxiety;
  • unusual movements.

Causes

It is caused by an infection of streptococcus bacteria. This bacterium is highly contagious. An infected individual can spread it by sharing its personal items (like drinks and foods) or close contact (like – handshakes and sneezes).

This bacterium is commonly found on the skin or in the throat, and is responsible for other conditions as well, like impetigo (a bacterial infection which involves the superficial skin).

Note – you can’t take this bacterial infection from oral sex.

Treatment

The principal treatment for this condition involves oral antibiotics, typically amoxicillin or penicillin.

Other treatments which may help with the symptoms include:

  • eating frozen desserts, such as – ice cream;
  • sipping warm beverages, such as – honey or lemon tea.

Take the treatment precisely as your doctor tells you. More importantly, don’t stop taking the treatment, even if you feel better, unless your doctor says you to stop taking it.

Prevention

  • don’t touch a sore on the skin of an individual who has this infection;
  • cover the nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze;
  • don’t share personal items, like – a fork, glass, or toothbrush, with a sick individual.

Oral Gonorrhea vs Strep Throat – Differences

Both are bacterial infections and are treated with antibiotics. However, gonorrhea of the throat is a sexually transmitted disease that is usually unsuspected and symptomless.

On the other hand, strep throat is more common in children and is usually taken from an infected individual.

Symptoms include – trouble swallowing, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, a loss of appetite, chills, a headache, a red throat with white patches, and a sudden fever that is 101˚F or higher.

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References

https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/43/10/1284/515690
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5176237/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14510985
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763755/

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