Gonococcal arthritis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Gonoccocal arthritis

Chondromalacia of the patella

Gonococcal arthritis

Definition:

Gonococcal arthritis is an infection, usually of a single joint (in 90-95% of cases) that occurs with gonorrhea.

Alternative Names:
Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

This infection occurs in people who have been infected with gonorrhea. It affects women four timesmoreoften than men, and is most commonamong sexually active adolescent girls. There is also increased risk during menstruation and pregnancy.

text continues below

Two forms of arthritis exist -- one with skin rashes and multiple joint involvement, and a second, less common, form in which disseminated gonococcemia leads to infection of a single joint (monoarticular) and joint fluid cultures are positive.

Single joint arthritis follows generalized spread (dissemination) of the gonococcal infection. Dissemination is associated with symptoms of fever, chills, multiple joint aches (arthralgia), and rashes (1-mm to 2-cm red macules). This episode may end as a single joint becomes infected. The most commonly involved joints are the large joints such as the knee, wrist, and ankle.