No vaccine.
Sexually transmitted.
Can cause local infections of the genitals, rectum, and pharynx; within the blood, it causes disseminated infection.
Asymptomatic carriers are key reservoirs.
Infections
Localized
In males, the most common site of infection is the
urethra; purulent discharge is common.
Complications include epididymitis, prostatitis, and development of periurethral abscesses.
In females, the
cervix is the primary site of infection.
Many women are asymptomatic; others experience cervical discharge, abdominopelvic pain, and bleeding.
Complications occur when infection ascends to the uterus and uterine tubes, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease.
As a result of scarring,
ectopic pregnancies and infertility can occur.
Opthalmia neonatorum
Mothers can pass gonorrheal infection to offspring during passage through the birth canal. Affected neonates acquire opthalmia neonatorum, a form of conjunctivitis. Prophylactic use of erythromycin ointment shortly after birth can prevent this.
Systemic: Gonococcemia
Produces fever, chills, and skin pustules on the extremities; septic arthritis can also occur.
