What is the main symptom of disseminated gonococcal infection?

The main symptom of disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) typically includes pustules with a hemorrhagic base, which are often located on the extremities and sometimes on the trunk. These lesions develop as a result of the hematogenous spread of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, leading to a systemic infection. The presence of pustules that resemble small, raised blisters filled with pus, while also having an underlying hemorrhagic component, is characteristic of DGI.

Additionally, DGI can manifest with systemic symptoms like fever and chills; however, these symptoms are more generalized and not specific to the condition itself. The vesicular rash is not typically associated with this infection, and perihepatitis, though it can occur in cases of pelvic inflammatory disease related to gonorrhea, is not regarded as the primary symptom of DGI. Thus, pustules with a hemorrhagic base serve as a definitive and distinctive clinical finding of disseminated gonococcal infection.