What is a Gonorrhoea rash?

No one likes getting rashes – they’re irritating and unpleasant.

Most rashes are completely harmless – the result of chafing, dry skin, or a benign allergic reaction. However, other rashes can indicate something far more serious.

One of the more serious causes of a rash is Gonorrhoea.

In this post, we will discuss Gonorrhoea, what a Gonorrhoea rash can look like, and provide a list of other STIs that can cause rashes.

What is a rash?

A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin that can be red, itchy, and painful. Rashes can occur anywhere on the body and are usually caused either by contact with something irritating, such as plant life, an allergen (e.g., to food or medication), an infection (e.g., bacterial or viral), or even stress.

In some cases, rashes may also indicate a more serious health condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or lupus. It is important to seek medical advice if you have any concerns about your rash, as different types of rashes require different treatments in order to heal properly and reduce discomfort for the patient.

What is Gonorrhoea?

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. In infants born to infected mothers, their eyes may become infected.

Gonorrhoea is spread through sexual contact with an infected person and often doesn’t show any symptoms, making it difficult to detect. However, if symptoms do appear, they can include pain during urination, unusual vaginal discharge, and discharge from the penis. In rectal infections, there may be mucus, pus, and a feeling of fullness. Infections in the throat almost never produce symptoms.

What is a Gonorrhoea rash?

If left untreated, Gonorrhoea can lead to a body-wide infection known as disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), which can cause a rash as one of its symptoms. DGI is very uncommon. Data reports that 1 in 200 cases of Gonorrhoea will develop DGI, rising to around 3% of cases of Gonorrhoea in developing countries.

When a Gonorrhoea rash does occur, it can present with several different kinds of lesions or spots, typically from the neck down, and may include:

• Petechiae: Tiny red spots that appear when bleeding occurs under the skin.
• Macules: Flat spots on the skin that differ in colour from the surrounding area.
• Papules: Raised, firm spots that can appear in various sizes and colours.
• Pustules: Small, inflamed bumps filled with pus resembling a pimple.
• Vesicles: Small blisters filled with fluid that are often itchy.
• Bullae: Larger blisters filled with fluid that can extend deeper into the skin.

These Gonorrhoea rashes occur mostly in people with “full-blown” symptoms of the infection (urethral pus, rectal pus, or pus in vaginal secretions) and so these symptoms warrant a swift investigation by getting tested as soon as possible.

The Gonorrhoea rash is evidence that the infection has spread, and the infected person will be extremely unwell with fever, tiredness, and unwellness.

What other STIs cause a rash?

It is important to note that Gonorrhoea is an unusual cause of skin rashes and there are other STIs that cause rashes more commonly.

HIV

At some stage, individuals with an untreated HIV infection commonly experience a rash, either during the acute or chronic stages. A rash may be the sole symptom of the first stage of a recent infection for some individuals. HIV can cause various types of rashes to appear: the HIV infection weakens your immune system by attacking your CD4 lymphocyte cells, which are vital in the fight against infections. This increases your vulnerability to other infections that could potentially result in a rash. Even the medication that treats HIV can cause skin rashes.

Syphilis

The initial stage of Syphilis can lead to the development of sores (known as chancres), mainly around the genitals, vagina, anus, or rectum. In the secondary stage, a rash may appear on the body, typically on the chest, abdomen, and back but occasionally present on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. The rash is usually mottled and red or reddish-brown.

The rash may manifest in different ways, such as small blotches or scales all over the body resembling a prickly heat rash, severe cold acne, moist warts in the groin area, white patches in the mouth, or pustules.

Syphilis is, without a doubt, the STI that is the most common cause of a skin rash.

Herpes

If you have Herpes, you may develop fluid-filled blisters around your genitals (Genital Herpes) or mouth (Oral Herpes) that appear wet. These blisters can burst and leave a sore, but the skin will eventually heal. You might feel itching or burning at the site of infection shortly before an outbreak.

Scabies

Scabies is a skin infestation caused by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. The main signs of the infection are severe itching (especially at night) and a rash that resembles acne or pimples, with small pink bumps, blisters, or scales. The rash can be limited to one area or spread over the entire body.

Scabies is a type of infection that can spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact such as sleeping together, cohabitating, hugging, or holding hands. Sexual contact is not required to contract Scabies.

Zika virus

The Zika virus is mainly spread by mosquitoes in certain areas around the world, including the Americas, Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. However, it can also be transmitted through sexual contact.

Some people with the virus may not experience any symptoms, but those who do may develop a rash. The rash is generally itchy and consists of a mottled appearance, flat blotches, or reddish bumps. It usually appears between 3 to 12 days after the initial infection and may spread to various parts of the body, including the face, arms, legs, palms of the hand, and soles of the feet.

Final thoughts

If you suspect that you may have an STI, it’s important to get tested.

At Better2Know, we offer a wide range of STI tests for anyone who thinks they may have an STI. Call the number above to speak to one of our Sexual Health Advisors, who can help you find the right test and clinic for you.

This blog has been medically reviewed by Dr. Steve Chapman, 02/10/2024.

---