Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Gonococcemia (disseminated)

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Gonococcal bacteremia


Symptoms
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • General ill feeling (malaise)
  • Joint pain
  • Joint swelling
  • Painful tendons of wrists or heels
  • Skin rash -- flat, pink-to-red spots turn into raised, pus-filled bumps

The combination of skin rash and aching, swollen tendons is sometimes known as tenosynovitis-dermatitis syndrome.


Signs and tests

Gonorrhea is often associated with the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. About half of women with gonorrhea are also infected with chlamydia, another very common STD that can result in sterility. If you have gonorrhea, you should request testing for other sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

Cultures (cells that grow in a lab dish) provide absolute proof of a gonorrhea infection. Generally, samples for a culture are taken from the cervix, vagina, urethra, anus, or throat. Cultures can provide a preliminary diagnosis often within 24 hours and a confirmed diagnosis within 72 hours.

See also:

  • Blood culture
  • Culture from endocervix
  • Urethral discharge culture

Review Date: 08/29/2008
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Cyrus Badshah, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (6/22/2007).

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)