Hemorrhagic bullae in gonococcemia.

Abstract

CHARACTERISTIC cutaneous lesions can be the clue to the diagnosis of gonococcal septicemia. Frequently, these sparse, acral lesions occurring in young adults, especially women, who have fever, polyarthralgia, and tenosynovitis, are dismissed as folliculitis or regarded as manifestations of flu, acute rheumatic fever or systemic lupus erythematosus. The skin lesions of gonococcemia are virtually specific.1 Heralded by splinter-like pain, the fully developed lesions have been emphasized as being of two types: purpuric and vesiculopustular on broad erythematous bases.2 , 3 A third variant, hemorrhagic bullae, has not been described since the advent of antibiotics.4 The most prominent skin lesions in two recently . . .