|
Back
| Title: |
Common Gonorrhea |
| Common Gonorrhea
Dr Ardavan Shahrdar - 2007
Gonorrhea was a common term in old medical terminology. The term referred to the catarrhal, suppurative affection of venereal mucous membranes. 'Gono-' refers to genital and '-rrhea' means flow. As mentioned in my previous article 'Syphilis – A Fresh Look', it was believed that all venereal diseases are the result of infection of a single pathogen. The reason for the different manifestations of venereal diseases was believed to be the location affected by the pathogen (termed virus in old literature).
'Parts of the body destitute of epidermis designed for the secretion of natural fluids, when the virus is brought in contact with them, become subject, as Hunter demonstrated, to abnormal fluxes of mucus and pus without loss of substance this phenomenon is called gonorrhea. On the other hand when applied to, or rather rubbed into, surfaces of the body provided with epidermis, it excites specific ulcers, which on account of their corroding character are termed chancres (ulcera cancrosa). In agglomerated glands it gives rise to buboes.' (Hahnemann's Instruction for Surgeons respecting Venereal Diseases – 8th paragraph).
Hahnemann, later, following extraction of the picture of Sycosis from what was believed to be a kind of Syphilis, mentioned 2 types of gonorrhea. One which is associated in some cases with Sycosis (Figwart's disease) and the other 'Common gonorrheas' which are not penetrating miasms. In my article 'Sycosis & Gonorrhea' I have mentioned that the gonorrhea which Hahnemann speaks of in Sycosis is actually a herpetic urethritis. Association of painful tubercles on penis is a confirmatory evidence.
'Usually in gonorrhœa of this kind, the discharge is from the beginning thickish, like pus micturition is less difficult, but the body of the penis swollen somewhat hard the penis is also in some cases covered on the back with glandular tubercles, and very painful to the touch.' (First footnote in Sycosis section of Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases).
The benign gonorrhea or as was termed, common gonorrhea, was not considered as a penetrating miasm. In the second footnote of Sycosis section, Hahnemann wrote:
'The miasm of the other common gonorrheas seems not to penetrate the whole organism, but only to locally stimulate the urinary organs. They yield either to a dose of one drop of fresh parsley-juice, when this is indicated by a frequent urgency to urinate, or a small dose of cannabis, of cantharides, or of the copaiva balm, according to their different constitution and the other ailments attending it. These should, however, be always used in the higher and dynamizations (potencies), unless a psora, slumbering in the body of the patient, has been developed by means of a strongly affecting, irritating or weakening treatment by Allopathic physicians. In such a case frequently secondary gonorrheas remain, which can only be cured by an anti-psoric treatment.'
The deep penetrating nature of herpetic gonorrhea resulting from HSV-2 infection is confirmed by recent findings. HSV-2 is a DNA virus capable of penetrating human genetic system and deranging its function. Recent researches show its association with malignant conditions and degenerative diseases. Invasive cervical cancer is a good example which is the result of co-infections of HPV and HSV-2 (Hahnemann's Sycosis). It is worth noting that the only viral infection which can commonly cause urethritis is HSV-2.
But, what is the common gonorrhea which Hahnemann talks about? Is it really a simple local irritation not able to penetrate to the system? What is the miasmatic picture of common gonorrhea?
Non-herpetic causes of urethritis are Neisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma genitalium. The severe dysuria associated with what Hahnemann calls common gonorrhea is a confirmatory evidence that common gonorrhea is most probably Neisseria gonorrhea (GU – Gonococcal Urethritis).
'A combination of dysuria and discharge is seen in 71% of patients with gonococcal urethritis but is only 38% of patients with NGU (Nongonococcal Urethritis). Therefor, the combination of discharge and dysuria is associated with gonorrhea, whereas the appearance of one without the other is more frequently seen with NGU.' (Mandell's Principle and Practice of Infectious Diseases – 2005 – page 1350)
In men, symptomatic Gonococcal urethritis burning during urination and a serous discharge. A few days later, the discharge usually becomes profuse, purulent, and sometimes blood-tinged. Epididymitis is one of the important complications of Gonococcal urethritis (Neisseria gonorrhea).
In women, the primary manifestation is cervicitis with purulent discharge associated with urethritis and in some cases proctitis. Vaginitis is not common except in pre-puberty age and post-menopausal women when the vaginal wall is thin. Women may complain of dyspareunia (painful coition), lower abdominal pain, metrorrhagia and adnezal tenderness. Ovaritis, Salpingitis and Endometritis are complications of Neisseria gonorrhea in women.
Pharyngitis and purulent conjunctivitis and proctitis can also be the results of their local primary infection.
This is not the end of the story. Gonococci responsible for gonorrhea can spread in blood in 0.5 to 3% of patients with untreated gonococcal mucosal infection resulting in Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI). The common manifestation of this generalized infection is arthritis dermatitis syndrome. Polyarthralgia usually includes knees, elbows and distal joints and not the axial skeleton. Arthritis may become suppurative. The skin manifestation is appearance of hemorrhagic papules and pustules with purpuric centers in a centrifugal distribution. DGI is the result of direct invasion of Gonococci to the joints and skin and should be deferentiated with Reiter's syndrome which is a reactive arthritis. It means that DGI is a part of miasmatic manifestation of Neisserian gonorrhea. DGI may also lead to endocarditis and rarely meningitis.
Here you see that this 'common gonorrhea' is not a mere local infection and 'can' penetrate the whole organism. Of course this is a bacterial infection and not able to penetrate the human genome like HSV-2.
If you study old homeopathy literature you see the word 'gleet' as a complication of common gonorrhea. Nowadays gleet is sometimes used as a synonym for gonorrheal discharge but the meaning in old medical terminology was different. Gleet was the name given to the chronic discharge following treatment of gonorrhea. It was considered as a part of the original miasm. Do we now witness 'gleet' in gonorrheal patients? Yes! It is now called Post-Gonococcal Urethritis (PGU). But now we know that it is not related to the original infection of Neisseria Gonorrhea. The organisms responsible for PGU are Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. PGU (the old Gleet) is the result of co-infection of these agents with Neisseria gonorrhea. So we should be careful not to include it in our studies of Genus Epidemicus as the miasmatic picture of Neisseria Gonorrhea. Description of gleet following gonorrhea is another confirmatory evidence that Hahnemann was referring to Neisseria gonorrhea (GU) and not NGU.
Another complication of gonorrhea which is mentioned in old books is the stricture of urethra following gonorrhea. Now we know that this is not a direct complication of gonorrhea and it was the result of invasive treatments of gonorrheal patients with Silver nitrate and Potassium permanganate. Chordee or penile deviation which is also mentioned in old medical books and also homeopathic literature is no more known as complication of gonorrhea.
Now, if you analyze the signs and symptoms related to Neisseria gonorrhea, and choose its antimiasmatic remedies, you may be surprised by the results. The remedies in the order of importance are MERC, SULPH, CALC, Lyc, Sabin, Puls, Sep and Kali-s. When I mention 'antimiasmatics in infections, I am referring to the remedies than can cover the whole dynamic nature of the miasm and not suitable just for a localized acute-like condition. If you know the miasmatic picture of HSV-2 and HPV, you see here that GU's dynamism is something between these two. Another point is that Medorrhinum, the related nosode, seems not to be a good simillimum for the entire dynamism.
So…….using old Hahnemannian terminology, 'common gonorrhea' is not the just a local stimulation of urinary organs and also is not related to Sycosis. We need to keep the wonderful scientific concept of Hahnemannian view but the epidemic data needs to be updated. This is a kind of alchemy. Understanding the concept and data separately, updating the data and integrate them again. We should learn to act like Hahnemann and not imitate everything he did the way he himself behaved.
|
|
| Hits: |
1959 |
| Rating: |
Rating: 10 Votes: 1 (Rating Scale: 1 = worst, 10 = best)
|
| Added on: |
February 16 2007 |
| Author/Source: |
Dr Ardavan Shahrdar |
| Author's email/website: |
http://www.minutus.org |
| Posted by: |
Anonymous |
| Comments: |
1 Comment(s) | Rate this Article |
By
April 15 2008
|
"God is in the details"... and this article shows how can a physician could be a tool of God with his acute and unprejudice observation of the details for the best of the patient. Sergio
|
|
|
