A simple “mouth-to-mouth” (with the tongue). This would be enough to transmit the gonorrhea, more commonly known as “hot-piss”. The Australian study which demonstrates this, published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections on May 9, challenges the notion that this sexually transmitted infection (STI) is transmitted almost exclusively through sexual contact. This research constitutes one more step towards a better understanding of the pathology, as it spreads and becomes increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatments.
Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 78 million people contract it each year in the world. It can be transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex and can infect the genitals, rectum and throat. But prior to this study, it was not considered a “kissing disease” (as mononucleosis can be) even its oral form.
An STI that is increasingly difficult to cure
To reach their conclusions, the researchers studied questionnaires from more than 3,000 gay and bisexual men, 6% of whom recently tested positive for oral gonorrhea. They finally found that men who kissed more partners, with or without sex, were more likely to contract the disease in the throat. “These data call into question the modes of transmission of gonorrhea known for 100 years, where a partner’s penis was considered to be the source of the throat infection”, Explain to Washington post Eric Chow, lead author of the study.
These results are being published as the number of cases of gonorrhea and some other sexually transmitted infections increases. US public health authorities have also expressed concern about growing resistance to antibiotic treatments. In 2018, the British Ministry of Health recorded the “worst case of super-gonorrhea in the world”. The STI, contracted by a Briton in Southeast Asia, could not be cured with the combination of drugs usually used.
The new research will thus help “People understand how the infection was introduced – especially if they have not been sexually active”, says Eric Chow. “We know that people are unlikely to stop kissing and our team is already doing a clinical trial to determine if thedaily use of mouthwashcould prevent gonorrhea. If it works, it could be a simple and inexpensive procedure for everyone. “
Read also :
- Gonorrhea: a sexually transmitted infection that is increasingly difficult to treat
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