Can gonorrhea and AIDS occur at the same time?

Written by Zhai Yu Juan
Dermatology Department
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Gonorrhea and AIDS are both sexually transmitted diseases, and their transmission routes can be through sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission, and close living contact. The pathogens are different; gonorrhea is mainly caused by an infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae leading to acute inflammation of the urogenital tract, while AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease caused by an HIV infection, which can affect various organs throughout the body.

When infected with one sexually transmitted disease, other pathogens can also infect simultaneously. Therefore, after diagnosing one sexually transmitted disease, it is important to check for the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, genital warts, syphilis, etc., to see if there is a co-infection.

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Written by Wang Zhi Guo
Dermatology
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Has gonorrhea been cured if there has been no recurrence for 5 years?

Gonorrhea has been cured without relapse for five years, which generally indicates recovery. To confirm recovery from gonorrhea after treatment, clinical practice typically requires follow-up examinations, involving the collection of urethral secretions from men and cervical secretions from women, to test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Men can have a smear test; whereas women generally have a culture of cervical secretions for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, as vaginal secretions contain many other bacteria and cannot be used for definitive diagnosis through smear testing alone. If Neisseria gonorrhoeae tests negative twice, it indicates that the gonorrhea has been cured.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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Painful urination without discharge, is it gonorrhea?

Pain during urination without discharge is generally not gonorrhea; clinically, it is more commonly a urinary tract infection, such as cystitis. Patients with cystitis, due to the inflammation irritating the bladder mucosa, generally exhibit signs of bladder irritation, characterized by frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination. The pain during urination is usually felt as a stabbing or burning sensation in the urethra, but those with cystitis generally do not have any discharge. Clinically, to confirm whether it is gonorrhea, one must first consider the patient's medical history, since gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. Typically, there is a history of unprotected sexual activity before the onset of symptoms, which primarily include redness and swelling of the urethral mucosa, discomfort and itching in the urethra, and painful urination. There would also be a significant amount of white discharge from the urethral opening, consisting of pus. Therefore, the absence of discharge generally rules out gonorrhea. A urine culture can also be done to determine the type of bacterial infection.

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Written by Zhai Yu Juan
Dermatology Department
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Can gonorrhea and AIDS occur at the same time?

Gonorrhea and AIDS are both sexually transmitted diseases, and their transmission routes can be through sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission, and close living contact. The pathogens are different; gonorrhea is mainly caused by an infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae leading to acute inflammation of the urogenital tract, while AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease caused by an HIV infection, which can affect various organs throughout the body. When infected with one sexually transmitted disease, other pathogens can also infect simultaneously. Therefore, after diagnosing one sexually transmitted disease, it is important to check for the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, genital warts, syphilis, etc., to see if there is a co-infection.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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What will happen if gonorrhea is not treated?

In general, gonorrhea will not heal on its own if left untreated, and symptoms may gradually worsen. In men, it can cause gonococcal infection of the scrotum, while in women, it may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease or adnexitis and other gynecological diseases. Once diagnosed, it is advisable to seek treatment in the dermatology or urology department of a standard hospital. With proper treatment, the disease can be completely cured. Avoid delays in seeking treatment. During treatment, avoid sexual contact, alcohol consumption, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and avoid bathing or swimming in public pools. Undergarments should be sun-dried and sterilized, and avoid sharing bath towels or washbasins for washing clothes with family members.

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Written by Zhai Yu Juan
Dermatology Department
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Is gonorrhea serious?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Its primary mode of transmission is through sexual contact, though some patients can also be infected through direct contact, mother-to-child transmission, or close living contact. Early symptoms of gonorrhea in males can include acute urethritis, painful urination, and frequent urination, with pus from the urethral opening in the morning. In females, the symptoms of gonorrhea are generally atypical, possibly presenting only as mild vaginitis or cervicitis. After a diagnosis of gonorrhea, comprehensive formal treatment is necessary. Without proper treatment, gonorrhea can recur and become chronic.