A 27-year-old male had burning micturition and urethral discharge. After 4 weeks he developed joint pains involving the knees and ankles, redness of the eye and skin lesion. The most probable clinical diagnosis is:
**Core Concept**
The question describes a patient with a combination of genitourinary and systemic symptoms, suggesting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) with extragenital manifestations. This scenario highlights the importance of considering the systemic effects of STIs, particularly those caused by *Neisseria gonorrhoeae* or *Chlamydia trachomatis*.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The patient's initial symptoms of burning micturition and urethral discharge are consistent with gonorrhea, an STI caused by *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*. The subsequent development of joint pains, redness of the eye (conjunctivitis), and skin lesions suggests disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), a rare but serious complication of gonorrhea. DGI occurs when the bacteria spread through the bloodstream, causing arthritis, dermatitis, and other systemic symptoms.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** This option is likely incorrect because it does not account for the systemic symptoms described in the scenario.
* **Option B:** This option may be a distractor, but it does not specifically address the combination of genitourinary and systemic symptoms presented in the case.
* **Option D:** This option is incorrect because it does not consider the specific constellation of symptoms and the patient's age.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) is a rare but serious complication of gonorrhea, occurring when *Neisseria gonorrhoeae* spreads through the bloodstream, causing arthritis, dermatitis, and other systemic symptoms. This diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, particularly in patients with concurrent genitourinary and systemic symptoms.
**Correct Answer:** C.