Gonococcal infections in newborns and in adolescents.

Gonococcal infections are now an uncommon problem in newborns in industrialized countries but remain a serious problem in developing countries due to ongoing high infection rates in pregnant women. Prompt diagnosis in the newborn with appropriate treatment can minimize sequelae. The mother and her partner(s) also require investigation and treatment. Adolescents are a core group fuelling the ongoing gonococcal epidemic in industrialized countries. This is unlikely going to change unless sexual behaviour changes substantially. Education is a critical step along with access to more youth friendly STI care. As noted in the 2001 Institute of Medicine Report, learning about sex, sexuality and prevention of STI is a basic human right of adolescents (DiClemente and Crosby 2006).