Gonococcal arthritis: a report of six cases

Six cases of gonococcal arthritis are described. Three presented during the initial "bacteremic stage" with polyarthralgia, fever, skin lesions and sterile synovial fluid. Two presented during the "septic joint stage" with positive synovial culture, and one presented during the "stage of residual deformity". Transient electrocardiographic changes were noted in two of the six cases. All responded to antibiotic therapy. One required additional surgical intervention.The condition is common, coinciding with the rising incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic gonorrhea. Gonococcal infection must be considered in the differential diagnosis of migratory polyarthralgia, tenosynovitis, oligoarthritis, fever or unusual skin lesions. Criteria for diagnosis, lines of treatment and relevant literature are reviewed.