Gonorrhea

淋病

Evidence-backed information EN 6/7 applicable sections · ZH 6/7 applicable sections Updated Oct 23, 2026

Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection identified in the source payload as ICD-10 A54 and ICD-11 1A72 [disease]. In recent U.S.-focused reviews, reported gonorrhea rates increased from 2015 to 2019, and the condition remains part of a broader STI burden that exceeded 2.5 million reported cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis in 2022 ^[1]^[2]. Source-backed details on the full clinical spectrum and transmission ecology are limited in the provided snippets, so this profile remains conservative ^[1]^[2].

Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile 7

Definition

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection [disease]. The supplied metadata classifies it as bacterial and assigns ICD-10 code A54 and ICD-11 code 1A72 [disease]. The provided literature snippets focus on its role within STI surveillance and do not supply organism-level characterization beyond the disease name and category ^[1]^[2].

Clinical features

The source material does not provide a detailed symptom description for gonorrhea itself, but it indicates that extragenital gonorrhea infections may be asymptomatic or associated with few symptoms ^[1]. A review of conjunctivitis notes that conjunctivitis secondary to sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea requires systemic treatment in addition to topical antibiotic therapy, which implies that gonococcal infection can present with ocular involvement in some settings ^[3]. The 2024 review also states that untreated STIs in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and pregnancy complications including ectopic pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and neonatal transmission; however, these complications are described for STIs broadly rather than gonorrhea specifically in the snippet ^[2].

Epidemiology

In the United States, gonorrhea rates increased from 2015 to 2019 according to a review summarized in the source payload ^[1]. Another 2024 review reports that more than 2.5 million cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2022, underscoring the continuing surveillance burden of STIs including gonorrhea ^[2]. Populations reported to have higher STI rates include people younger than 25 years, sexual and gender minorities such as men and transgender women who have sex with men, and racial and ethnic minorities such as Black and Latinx people ^[1]. The snippets also discuss consideration of extragenital screening for gonorrhea in women at sites such as the anus and pharynx, indicating that surveillance and case finding extend beyond urogenital disease ^[2].

Transmission

The provided sources identify gonorrhea as a sexually transmitted infection, but they do not give a detailed route-by-route transmission description [disease]^[1]. One review notes guidance for extragenital screening at the anus and pharynx, which is consistent with infection being detected at multiple anatomic sites of sexual exposure ^[2]. Source-backed detail on persistence, household spread, or nonsexual transmission is not yet available in the supplied material ^[1]^[2].

Risk groups

The sources identify higher STI rates among people younger than 25 years, sexual and gender minorities such as men and transgender women who have sex with men, and racial and ethnic minorities such as Black and Latinx people ^[1]. The 2024 review also highlights reproductive-aged persons living in counties with high community rates of syphilis as a screening priority for syphilis, but this threshold is not presented as a gonorrhea-specific risk group in the snippet ^[2]. Source-backed detail on additional gonorrhea-specific risk groups is not yet available in the provided material ^[1]^[2].

Prevention

The source snippets support screening-oriented prevention and case finding, including consideration of extragenital screening for gonorrhea in women at the anus and pharynx ^[2]. More generally, STI guidance is described as frequently updated, and the reviews emphasize monitoring populations at higher risk and maintaining surveillance awareness ^[1]^[2]. Source-backed details on specific behavioral prevention measures, partner management, or vaccination are not yet available in the provided material ^[1]^[2].

References

1 Tuddenham S et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Review. JAMA. 2022 Jan 11. PMID: 35015033. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.23487. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35015033/
2 Hufstetler K et al. Clinical Updates in Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2024. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2024 Jun. PMID: 38770770. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2024.0367. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38770770/
3 Azari AA et al. Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. JAMA. 2013 Oct 23. PMID: 24150468. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150468/
4 Gonorrhea. Atlas of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS. 2010. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-4060-3.00002-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-7020-4060-3.00002-8
5 Gonorrhea. Adult-Gerontology Practice Guidelines. 2019. doi: 10.1891/9780826195197.0098. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826195197.0098
6 Gonorrhea. Clinics in Laboratory Medicine. 1989. doi: 10.1016/s0272-2712(18)30613-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0272-2712(18)30613-9