Neisseria gonorrhoeae in asymptomatic prepubertal household contacts of children with gonococcal infection.

This report describes the occurrence of gonococcal infection among prepubertal household contacts of children younger than 12 years of age. The records of 14 index cases (12 females and 2 males) reported during the period January 1979 and June 1983 were reviewed. Among 31 asymptomatic contacts of 10 index cases, nine (29%) had positive cultures (5 females and 4 males). Three were siblings of the index cases, and six were other children in the index households. The predominant site of positive cultures was the throat (7/9). This high recovery rate of gonococci among young asymptomatic household contacts makes clear the need for aggressive surveillance of prepubertal household contacts of children with gonococcal infection, and the importance of culturing all three sites, e.g., vagina/urethra, rectum, and throat.