Pharyngeal gonorrhea.

Cultures of genital sites and pharynx were obtained from 903 prostitutes and 102 active-duty men at Clark AFB, Republic of the Philippines, during the first quarter of 1981. Slightly more than 2.2% positive pharyngeal cultures in the women and 6% in the men were noted. Both penicillin-sensitive and penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) were recovered. Treatment and follow-up of the pharyngeal infections were available only for the men seen at the Clark Public Health Clinic. These men responded to penicillin G procaine for penicillin-sensitive N gonorrhoeae and to spectinomycin hydrochloride for PPNG. A retrospective review of cases of male gonococcal urethritis seen in 1980 in the Clark Public Health Clinic revealed 46 cases of probable oral-to-genital transfer of N gonorrhoeae among more than 2,600 cases of gonococcal urethritis. Of these 46, fifteen were PPNG. The importance of the pharynx as a source of infection is thus substantiated.

Gonorrhoea of the throat at a venereological clinic. Incidence and Results of Treatment.

Among 3,271 consecutive cases of gonorrhoea seen during the years 1971 to 1974, the incidence of tonsillar gonorrhoea was 3-6% in men and 5-8% in women. Oro-genital intercourse was admitted by 34% of men and 33% of women. Among these patients the incidence of tonsillar gonorrhoea was 7% in men and 16% in women. Only two cases of gonococcal septicaemia were seen, and there were no other complications. Few patients experienced symptoms from the throat. Tonsillar cultures was positive on the first examination in only 74%, it was negative until after single-dose treatment had been given in 18%.