A 19-year-old woman comes to the office due to a persistent

sore throat, fever, and mild

lower abdominal discomfort for the past few days. She has no
chills, dysphagia,

in a young, sexually active patient Is

suggestive of gonococcal pharyngitis with pelvic
inflammatory disease (PIC).
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Is a common sexually transmitted
infection that can cause
cervicitis (eg. mucopurulent discharge, irregular bleeding)
and lead to PID (eg, fever.
lower abdominal pain). Gonococcal pharyngitis occurs due
to inoculation of the pharynx
during orogenltal contact. Although pharyngeal
involvement is typically asymptomatic, It
may present with pharyngeal edema and nontender
cervical lymphadenopathy, as seen
in this patient. Diagnosis Is confirmed by nucleic acid
amplification testing for gonorrhea.
Treatment is with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline.