Incubation period: 1 to 10 days or more
Clinical findings:
(1) dysuria, often described as burning
(2) urethral discharge that may be mucoid and/or purulent
A small percent of men may be asymptomatic and may go unrecognized.
Left untreated the symptoms resolve after several weeks.
Complications may include:
(1) acute epididymitis
(2) noninflammatory penile edema
(3) penile lymphangitis
(4) periurethral abscess
(5) acute prostatitis
(6) infection of the seminal vesicles (vesiculitis)
(7) infection of Tyson's glands
(8) infection of Cowper's glands
(9) rarely urethral stricture
A negative culture does not exclude gonococcal urethritis, especially if
(1) the patient has been partially treated
(2) an inadequate sample was taken
(3) culture conditions were inadequate
Any male with gonococcal urethritis should also be evaluated for Chlamydia trachomatis.
