Review of cases of children with gonorrhoea--source of infection.

This is a retrospective study to determine what effort was put into identifying the source of infection in children with gonorrhoea in Ibadan. The case files of eighty-four children aged 1 to 10 years who had gonococcal genital infections between 1983 and 1998 and presented at the Special Treatment Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan were studied. Clinical manifestations of the 84 children include vaginal discharge (97.6%), urethritis (2.4%) and combined genital and eye infection (8.3%). A total of 103 relatives of 61 index subjects were examined. Of those in whom specimens were collected for microscopy culture and sensitivity, 27 (26.2%) had gonorrhoea. A history of sexual contact in the children studied was recorded in only (10.7%) cases, while four (4.7%) others without history of sexual intercourse had torn hymen. Sexual abuse or child neglect was suspected in this group. None of the named contacts was traceable by the health visitors. The recognition of a child with gonococcal infection identifies a cluster of family members who are at increased risk of having gonorrhoea. This study indicates that more effort will be required to find the source and mode of transmission of gonorrhoea in children.