A CUTANEOUS REACTION IN GONOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Abstract

In 1908, while studying the effects of gonococcal vaccines in gonococcal arthritis, I noted that the subcutaneous inoculation of dead gonococci in persons suffering from gonococcal infections frequently was followed in from twelve to twenty-four hours by local and general reaction.1This reaction consists of an area of redness, swelling and tenderness at the site of the inoculation, often an increase in pain and tenderness in the affected joints and other localizations, together with symptoms of general malaise, and sometimes increase in fever and leukocytosis. These phenomena resemble those seen in the tuberculin reaction, and are of value in the diagnosis of obscure cases, in which gonococcal infection is suspected. This reaction has been observed by Bruck2in epididymitis, by Reiter3in pelvic infections in women, and also by others. Bruck has described a cutireaction in gonorrhea on injection of gonococcal vaccine. In recent experiments with glycerin