(4) Follow-up culture. Seven to ten days after the treatment is completed, a
follow-up culture should be taken from the infected site.
(5) Retreatment, if necessary. Most "failures" are due to reinfection.
Penicillin resistant Neisseria gonorrhoea is an increasing problem. A culture must be
taken on all treatment failures to isolate the causitive agent and identify the exact type
of organism. Once identified, treatment can be started again.
e. Complications of Gonorrhea.
(1)
Early complication in the male. Included are the following:
(a) Prostatitis -- prostatic abscess which can be detected by a rectal
examination.
(b)
Cystitis -- fever, chills, suprapubic tenderness.
(c)
Epididymitis -- detectable by a scrotal examination.
(d)
Proctitis -- occurring mostly in homosexuals.
(2)
Local complication in the female. Included are the following:
(a) Infection of the endocervical canal.
(b) Infection of the periurethral (Skene's) gland.
(c) Salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes). Untreated, this
condition may cause peritonitis.
(3)
Late complications for both sexes. Included are the following:
(a) Arthritis. This is a common complication of gonorrhea. Gonorrheal
cause arthritis; involves the knees, ankles, and wrists. The problem is more common in
females, is acute at the onset, and is characterized by severe pain in a joint. Iritis or
conjunctivitis may accompany this type of arthritis.
(b) Bacteremia. Bacteremia is the presence of living bacteria in the
blood. Signs and symptoms include:
1 Fever spikes.
2 Chills.
3 Flitting joint pains.
MD0580
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