When you think of the word ‘super’, you mind usually conjures something really, really good.
Take ‘superglue’ and ‘super strength drain unblocker’ or even Superman. I think everyone would agree that they can all be filed under ‘very good’.
The term ‘super gonorrhoea’ is definitely very bad news. Unfortunately, it seems to be making a comeback. Experts at the World Health Organization have warned that a highly resistant strain of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) is spreading rapidly around the world, and modern medicine is struggling to keep up.
During a presentation at the STI & HIV 2023 World Congress, the WHO shared that certain STIs are on the rise, and the pandemic has contributed to the problem. Many countries have reported low coverage for prevention, testing, and treatment services for STIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a resurgence of STIs globally. Countries with good STI surveillance, such as the United States and United Kingdom, are also reporting increasing STIs.
According to the WHO, the emergence of new infections and the re-emergence of neglected STIs pose challenges for prevention and control efforts. Gonorrhoea is one of the STIs that experts are particularly concerned about.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea include a green or yellow discharge from the penis or vagina, pain when urinating, and, in women, bleeding between periods. In rare cases, it can cause infertility, and if it enters the bloodstream, it can cause arthritis, endocarditis, and meningitis, which can be fatal. However, not everyone experiences symptoms, so regular testing is the best way to ensure that you don’t have this or any other STI.
The WHO has reported that several countries are increasingly reporting failures of current treatment recommendations for gonorrhoea. Of particular concern is the spread of a highly resistant strain of Neisseria gonorrhoea that is being reported in many countries, including China, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection, is becoming increasingly resistant to current treatment options such as ceftriaxone, cefixime and azithromycin in Cambodia, according to the enhanced gonorrhoea AMR surveillance (EGASP).
This is not the first time that we have seen a surge in cases of this particular malady in our country. In 2020, doctors had warned about the rise of gonorrhoea in the UK, which had the highest rate of the infection in Europe at that time. It is ironic that we take pride in being first in something that is a cause for concern.
