gonorrhea (gon-or-re'ah)

Syn.: clap. A contagious inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra and surrounding structures caused by the gonococcus. The disease is generally transmitted by coitus, and is characterized by a mucopurulent discharge and by painful and difficult micturition. Complications in the male are chordee, prostatitis, epididymitis, salpingitis, orchitis, and cystitis. In the female, vaginitis, inflammation of the glands of Skene and of Bartholin, endocervicitis, cystitis, mastitis, and salpingitis. Arthritis and endocarditis may occur as complications in either sex. [Gr., gonorroia, from gonos, semen, -frein, to flow, because it was formerly supposed that the discharge characteristic of the disease was semen.]