23 Gonorrhea
23.1 Epidemiologic Review
23.1.1 Disease Information
Overview: Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Symptoms: Symptoms can include unusual genital or rectal discharge, painful urination, frequent urination and pain during intercourse. Serious complications can include disseminated infection (an infection that spreads to other organs), pelvic inflammatory disease or prostatis (inflammation of the prostate).
Transmission: Transmission occurs during vaginal, oral or rectal sex with an infected partner through contact with infected body fluids.
Treatment: Antibiotics are the recommended form of treatment.
Prevention Use of condoms, reducing the number of sexual partners and increased routine screening can help prevent the spread of disease.
23.1.2 Demographics
Individuals between 18-29 years of age comprise the largest age group with infection, representing almost 50% of all cases in Salt Lake County.
Rates for <1, and 1-4 years of age are not displayed due to low case counts.
| Race | Rate per 100k |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native, Non Hispanic | 326.5 |
| Asian, Non Hispanic | 97.5 |
| Black or African American, Non Hispanic | 511.6 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 206.8 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Non Hispanic | 159.5 |
| Other Race, Non Hispanic | 395.2 |
| Two or More Races, Non Hispanic | 9.9 |
| Unknown Race and Ethnicity | <5 cases |
| Unknown, Non Hispanic | <5 cases |
| White, Non Hispanic | 108.6 |
Rates for Unknown Race and Ethnicity, and Unknown, Non Hispanic are not displayed due to low case counts.
23.1.4 Monthly and Historical Comparisons
Gonorrhea rates in the United States have been increasing for nearly 10 years, which raises concerns about antibiotic resistance for current and past treatment regimens.
Data for Utah and the CDC were retrieved from the CDC’s Notifiable Infectious Disease Data Tables.