Clinical Course of an Acute Gonorrhea.
The first signs of Gonorrhea usually appear not before two and not later than five days after unclean intercourse. This is the so-called incubation period—a period that differs in length in various diseases. The first thing that attracts the patient’s attention is a slight itching or tickling feeling and a sense of heat in the end of the penis. From twelve to twenty-four hours later a swelling is noticed at the opening of the urethral canal, and a whitish discharge begins to ooze from the canal. This discharge begins to increase rapidly in thickness and amount, and soon a greenish yellow thick pus begins to flow profusely. Correspondingly, the swelling and inflammation increase more and more, and urination becomes more difficult and painful, very often so agonizing that the patient holds the urine as long as he possibly can. Usually it takes from one to two weeks until the sickness reaches its climax, then for a week or two it stands at the same height, and from the third or fourth week it begins to go down, the discharge diminishes in amount, turns to creamy white, then becomes thinner, slimy, the urine becomes clearer and clearer, and in five to six weeks from the beginning of the disease the patient recovers completely. This is the course of a somewhat normal case of Gonorrhea, with smooth, regular development and without any complications. A man must consider himself very lucky if he recovers from Gonorrhea in five to six weeks completely. Only a small minority of all Gonorrhea cases run so smoothly, probably not more than 25 to 30 per cent. The majority of the cases, sometimes in spite of the best treatment and the best care, develop different complications, which increase the duration of the disease for a much longer period.