The most common symptom of oral gonorrhea is a sore throat that develops suddenly and is not accompanied by symptoms of a cold or the flu. In addition to a sore throat, a person with oral gonorrhea may also experience vomiting, pain when swallowing, and fever. It is important to note, however, that a person with oral gonorrhea may not have any symptoms at all or may have oral gonorrhea symptoms that are easily ignored or overlooked. When these symptoms do develop, they are usually noticed within 10 days of exposure.
A person who has been exposed to gonorrhea via his mouth may develop symptoms of oral gonorrhea. The symptom he is most likely to develop is a sore throat that develops suddenly. His throat may also appear reddened and inflamed. Sometimes a person with this condition may also find swallowing painful. Vomiting or fever may develop as well, but these symptoms are less common.
While a person may develop oral gonorrhea and not have any obvious symptoms, some people do develop signs that they have been infected with the sexually transmitted disease (STD). When a person does have symptoms, he is likely to notice them within about a week to 10 days after infection. An individual who thinks he may have a case of oral gonorrhea is typically advised to see his doctor right away for treatment with antibiotics. Prompt treatment may help a patient to not only enjoy relief from oral gonorrhea symptoms, but also avoid potential complications of the disease.
Often, people who develop oral gonorrhea symptoms do not even suspect an STD when symptoms develop. They may not be aware that the STD can affect a person’s throat. Gonorrhea infections are not limited to those that affect the genitals, however. A person may contract oral gonorrhea through oral-to-genital contact. An individual may even develop a gonorrhea infection of the rectum after anal sex.
Most people are more familiar with genital gonorrhea. This is probably due to the fact that the genital version of this STD is more likely to cause symptoms than the oral version. Regardless of whether or not it causes symptoms, however it should not be left untreated. In some cases, oral gonorrhea may cause tonsillitis or throat ulcers if left untreated. In others, especially in patients with weakened immune systems, it may also contribute to the development of serious infections that can threaten a patient’s overall health.
