Locations Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017   |   Locations
314-434-1500 314-434-1500   |   Contact Us

Multimedia Encyclopedia


 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Gonococcal arthritis

Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI); Disseminated gonococcemia

 

Gonococcal arthritis is inflammation of a joint due to a gonorrhea infection.

Causes

 

Gonococcal arthritis is an infection of a joint. It occurs in people who have gonorrhea caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Gonococcal arthritis affects women more often than men. It is most common among sexually active teen girls.

There are two forms of gonococcal arthritis:

  • One form involves skin rashes and many joints, usually large joints such as the knee, wrist, and ankle.
  • The second, less common form involves the spread of the bacteria through the blood (disseminated gonococcemia), which leads to infection of a joint, sometimes more than one joint.

 

Symptoms

 

 

Symptoms may include:

  • Fever
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Joint pain for 1 to 4 days
  • Pain in the hands or wrists due to tendon inflammation
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Single joint pain
  • Skin rash (sores are slightly raised, pink to red, and may later contain pus or appear purple)

 

Exams and Tests

 

The health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask about the symptoms.

Tests will be done to check for a gonorrhea infection. This may involve taking samples of tissue, stool, joint fluids, or other body material and sending them to a lab for examination under a microscope. Examples of such tests include:

  • Cervical gram stain
  • Culture of joint aspirate
  • Joint fluid gram stain
  • Throat culture
  • Urine test for gonorrhea

 

Treatment

 

The gonorrhea infection must be treated.

There are two aspects of treating a sexually transmitted disease, especially one as easily spread as gonorrhea. The first is to cure the infected person. The second is to locate, test, and treat all sexual contacts of the infected person. This is done to prevent further spread of the disease.

Some locations allow you to take counseling information and treatment to your partner(s) yourself. In other locations, the health department will contact your partner(s).

A treatment routine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Your provider will determine the best and most up-to-date treatment. A follow-up visit 7 days after treatment is important, if the infection was complicated, to recheck blood tests, and confirm that the infection was cured.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Symptoms usually improve within 1 to 2 days of starting treatment. Full recovery can be expected.

 

Possible Complications

 

Untreated, this condition may lead to persistent joint pain.

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your provider if you have symptoms of gonorrhea or gonococcal arthritis.

 

Prevention

 

Not having sexual intercourse (abstinence) is the only sure method to prevent gonorrhea. A monogamous sexual relationship with a person who you know does not have any sexually transmitted disease (STD) can reduce your risk. Monogamous means you and your partner do not have sex with any other people.

You can greatly lower your risk of infection with an STD by practicing safer sex. This means using a condom every time you have sex. Condoms are available for both men and women, but they are most commonly worn by the man. A condom must be used properly every time.

Treating all sexual partners is essential to prevent re-infection.

 

 

References

Cook PP, Siraj DS. Bacterial arthritis. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, et al., eds. Kelly's Textbook of Rheumotology . 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 109.

Marrazzo JM, Apicella MA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonnorrhea). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 215.

 
  • Gonoccocal arthritis - illustration

    Gonococcal arthritis is an infection, usually of a single joint, that occurs following infection with gonorrhea. If the strain of bacteria is not antibiotic-resistant, recovery is expected.

    Gonoccocal arthritis

    illustration

    • Gonoccocal arthritis - illustration

      Gonococcal arthritis is an infection, usually of a single joint, that occurs following infection with gonorrhea. If the strain of bacteria is not antibiotic-resistant, recovery is expected.

      Gonoccocal arthritis

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

      Talking to your MD

       

        Self Care

         

          Tests for Gonococcal arthritis

           

             

            Review Date: 5/1/2015

            Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

            The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

             
             
             

             

             

            A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.



            Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.