Health chiefs have warned the disease has become powerless to three of the key drugs used to treat the infection as cases continue to grow
SUPER-gonorrhoea has seen a shocking rise in Britain as the STI puts up a fight against antibiotics.
Health chiefs have warned treatment for the disease has become less effective amid cases soaring.
A report by Public Health England (PHE) has revealed resistance to three of the key drugs used to treat the infection - ciprofloxacin, cefixime and azithromycin - has grown.
It comes after officials warned Britain had contracted the “world’s worst ever” case of super-gonorrhoea after a man romped with a woman in South East Asia.
He told medics he had a regular partner in the UK, but did have "sexual contact" with a woman while he was away.
The man has since been cured after three days of intravenous treatment with antibiotic ertapenem.
Figures from 2017 show ciprofloxacin is now powerless in 36.4 per cent of cases of gonorrhoea - a rise from 33.7 per cent in 2016.
While azithromycin was resistant in 9.2 per cent of cases compared to 4.7 per cent the year before.
About 78 million people are infected with gonorrhoea each year, according to WHO.
It is the second most common form of STI in England.
It affects the genitals, rectum and throat, producing a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis.
One in ten men and almost half of infected women will not experience any symptoms.
GONORRHOEA is a sexually transmitted infection that in many cases shows very few signs.
Symptoms usually develop within two weeks of a person becoming infected, but around one in 10 men and half of women who are infected will not experience any obvious signs of the infection.
As a result, it is common for gonorrhoea to go untreated for some time.
In women, the symptoms include:
In men, the signs include:
It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and an increased risk of HIV.
Millions of new infections have been recorded over the last four years alone in the US, health chiefs have said.
It comes after it emerged cases of syphilis reported in England have reached the highest level since 1949 — up almost 150 per cent in 10 years.
Dr Helen Fifer, PHE consultant microbiologist, said: “Gonorrhoea can be serious if untreated, with possible long term health problems including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.
"The best way to protect yourself is to always use condoms with new and casual partners.
“Last year new cases of gonorrhoea increased by 22 per cent in England with many cases becoming more resistant to antibiotics. We expect to see further cases of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea in the future, which will be challenging for healthcare professionals to manage."
