Clinical Forms of Gonococcal Arthritis

Abstract

Of 30 patients with gonococcal arthritis seen between 1963 and 1967 the characteristic skin lesions of gonococcemia were noted in 15 and often served as an early clue to the diagnosis. Two clinical forms were observed. Patients with the septic form characteristically had, early in the course of their illness, chills and fever, polyarthritis, skin lesions of gonococcemia and relatively little joint effusion. Patients with the nonseptic form reported to a physician relatively late, generally did not have chills and fever and had monoarticular disease and joint effusions bacteriologically positive for gonococci. The response to antibiotic therapy was striking, and all patients recovered completely.