Gonorrhea in homosexual men
Canadian Medical Association Journal
|October 7, 1978
Summary
Extragenital gonorrhea, often asymptomatic, occurred in 65% of homosexual men. Persistent infections were frequently extragenital, highlighting the need for targeted screening in this population.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Gonorrhea and syphilis are significant sexually transmitted infections.
- Homosexual men represent a key demographic for monitoring venereal diseases.
- Extragenital infections can be asymptomatic and challenging to treat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of extragenital gonorrhea in homosexual men.
- To assess treatment outcomes for extragenital gonorrhea.
- To examine the co-occurrence of syphilis in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 54 gonorrhea cases in homosexual men.
- Review of clinical data from a venereal diseases clinic (1974-1977).
- Assessment of extragenital infection sites and syphilis co-infection.
Main Results:
- Extragenital gonorrhea was diagnosed in 65% of cases, with 21 infections being solely extragenital.
- Asymptomatic extragenital gonorrhea was common.
- High rates of initial treatment failure were observed, particularly for persistent extragenital infections.
- Concomitant or prior syphilis occurred in 6 of 54 gonorrhea cases.
Conclusions:
- Appropriate testing for extragenital gonorrhea and syphilis is crucial in homosexual men.
- Homosexuality should be considered when evaluating men with recent-onset syphilis.
- Screening protocols may need to be adapted to detect asymptomatic extragenital infections.
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