What are the symptoms of gonorrhea in men

Many people think that the symptoms of gonorrhea are the same, but in fact, there are differences. If a man gets gonorrhea, the symptoms will be somewhat different from those of a woman. The symptoms manifested in different latent periods are also different. Men should pay attention to the unique symptoms of gonorrhea so that they can detect gonorrhea as early as possible and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

1. Acute gonorrhea: The incubation period is 1 to 14 days, usually 2 to 5 days. The symptoms of acute urethritis are redness, swelling, itching and slight tingling of the urethral opening, followed by thin mucus outflow, causing discomfort during urination. About 2 days later, the secretions become viscous, the urethral opening overflows, the pus is dark yellow or yellow-green, and the redness and swelling develop to the entire glans penis and part of the urethra, with frequent urination, urgency, pain, difficulty urinating, inconvenience in movement, and painful erections of the penis at night. There may be enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, redness, swelling and pain, and they may also become purulent. 50% to 70% of patients are accompanied by gonococcal invasion of the posterior urethra, manifested as urgency to urinate, frequent urination, and acute urinary retention. Systemic symptoms are generally mild, with a few cases experiencing fever up to 38°C, general malaise, and lack of appetite.

2. Chronic gonorrhea: symptoms last for more than 2 months. If the treatment is not thorough, gonococci can hide in the urethral body, paraurethral glands, and urethral crypts, turning the course of the disease into a chronic one. If the patient is physically weak, suffers from anemia or tuberculosis, the disease will be chronic from the beginning, mostly with combined infection of the anterior and posterior urethra, and the bulbar, membranous and prostatic parts of the urethra are prone to invasion. The manifestations are frequent itching in the urethra, burning sensation or mild stinging during urination, thin urine flow, weak urination, and dripping urine. Most patients have a small amount of pulp crust sealing the urethra in the early morning. If the genitals or the root of the penis are squeezed, thin mucus often overflows. The urine is basically clear, and gonorrhea can be seen.

3. Gonococcal pharyngitis: It manifests as acute pharyngitis or acute tonsillitis, occasionally accompanied by fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Symptoms include dry throat, sore throat, and odynophagia. Gonococcal anorectalitis: It manifests as tenesmus, purulent and bloody stools, congestion and purulent secretions of the anal mucosa, and positive gonococcal culture.