What is it?
It is an infection that can occur when gonorrhea in the urethra, throat, cervix or rectum is not treated. It is sometimes called the 'arthritis dermatitis syndrome' because the bacteria spreads to other parts of the body causing joint pain and/or skin lesions.
How do you get it?
It occurs in people who have been infected with gonorrhea. It affects women four times more often than men. There is also an increased risk of transmission during pregnancy and menstruation.
What are the symptoms?
- Often the initial symptoms are flu-like (fever, fatigue, aching)
- Migrating joint pain for 1 to 4 days
- Single joint pain (most common joints affected are the knees, ankles and wrists)
- Skin lesions or rash
What is the test like?
Fluid is extracted from the affected joints and tested for the gonorrhea bacteria. The healthcare practitioner also looks for the typical signs and symptoms of this infection.
What is the treatment?
Antibiotic treatment.
Prevention
Test for all sexually transmitted diseases if you have had unprotected sex. Treat STDs as soon as possible and assure that all sexual partners are tested and treated. Reducing the total number of sexual partners, using latex or polyurethane condoms and maintaining a relationship with a single sex partner, all contribute to decreasing the likelihood of STDs. | 
