Lymphogranuloma Venereum

Lymphogranuloma Venereum General Information

Lymphogranuloma Venereum is a sexually transmitted disease with a low incidence rate; it is caused by three strains of the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria and it mainly affects the infected person’s lymph nodes. The infection is spread from an infected person (carrier) to a healthy one through breaks in the skin, or more easily through the epithelial surface of mucous membranes. Once inside the body, the invasive agent travels through the lymphatic channels until it arrives at the lymph nodes where it begins its reproductive cycle.

This affection can be encountered throughout the world, but tends to be more common in subtropical and tropical regions. Although it is normally rare in the US and in Europe, several outbreaks have been noted in these parts of the world as well, commonly in white males practicing homosexuality and which in most cases are also infected with HIV. Lymphogranuloma Venereum can affect people of any race and any age, although studies have shown a peak of the incidence rate in 15 to 40 years old patients. Its rate of occurrence in males is considered to be the same as in females, however due to the anatomy of the reproductive system the affection is easier to observe and diagnose in male patients than in females. Health care professionals typically discover this disease in women only in later stages, when complications may also be present.

As the disease is a constant risk for people having unprotected sex, it is highly advised that proper preventive measures are taken regarding the sexual hygiene and habits. In order to obtain more information regarding such safety measures, you should consult with a specialized health care professional.

Lymphogranuloma Venereum Symptoms

There are three stages of evolution in the case of Lymphogranuloma Venereum. The first stage of the disease begins immediately after the bacteria enter the organism, with an incubation period of 3 to 30 days. The end of the incubation period is marked by the apparition of a small painless ulcer in the genital area which heals without scarring within a few days. It is very common that this primary stage often goes unnoticed. This is especially common in females, where the ulcer may appear inside the vagina and thus out of view.

The secondary stage of the Lymphogranuloma Venereum typically sets in after 2 to 6 weeks from the time the first lesion appeared. In this stage of the disease the patient may experience a painful swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin which may also be accompanied by chills, fever and fatigue. In roughly 30% of the cases the groin lymph nodes may join to form the so called “buboes” that typically split open and drain. In some cases the buboes may heal spontaneously. In women it is possible to not have any visible lymph nodes, and they may only experience mild belly or back pain. In cases of patients suffering from anal infection, mucus or blood may be eliminated through the rectum.

The third stage of the Lymphogranuloma Venereum (also referred to as the genitoanorectal syndrome) is accompanied by a variety of symptoms that may vary from one patient to another. Rectal infection may cause painful defecation, abscesses and scarring. In the case of infection of the genitalia, the patient may suffer severe damage to the lymphatic system, which may cause complications such as elephantiasis or deep tissue infections, typically accompanied by draining from scarred skin tissue.

Lymphogranuloma Venereum Treatment

Like in the case of most other medical conditions, early diagnosis and early therapy of the Lymphogranuloma Venereum are very important. If the patient is diagnosed during the initial stages and receives the proper treatment trial the chances for complications to occur are greatly reduced. Also, the scarring resulting from this affection may be greatly limited by an early diagnosis and therapy; as most of the time the scars can only be removed through corrective surgery, this is a much more attractive alternative.

Generally, the treatment of choice for patients affected by Lymphogranuloma Venereum consists of administration of antibiotics. Doxycycline is the main drug used to cure this affection, but other tetracyclines may be employed as well if for some reason therapy with this drug is not possible. However, as this type of medicine may cause severe side effects in unborn children in the case the patient is a pregnant mother, as well as for a number of other possible causes, alternative treatments have also been researched. Positive results have been obtained by administering macrolides, such as Erythromycin, or sulfa drugs (Trimethoprim or Sulfamethoxazole). Some drugs used in treatment of other affections caused by strains of the same bacteria (affections grouped in the chlamydial disease family) such as Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin or Azithromycin may also be employed, and in most cases they will effectively fight the infection.

There are several other drugs that can also be employed to treat cases of Lymphogranuloma Venereum but are not covered in this article. If you would like to obtain additional information regarding the treatment options, a specialized health care professional may be able to provide you with a complete list of the drugs that may be employed to cure this disease. Also, he or she may be able to provide you with further information regarding the risks for side effects or complications that may be associated with each individual medicine, and may assist you in determining the best treatment for your case, based on several factors such as age, general health condition and medical history, but also on your personal preference. Also, the examining physician may require further testing, such as allergy tests, to determine if your organism will tolerate a certain drug or class of drugs before prescribing the treatment.

As with any sexually transmitted disease, it is much easier to protect yourself from Lymphogranuloma Venereum than it is to undergo treatment for it. Health care advisors recommend may provide you with further information regarding the preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of acquiring such a disease. It is known that the only 100% safe method of avoiding such affections is sexual abstinence; however, as people rarely consider this as an option, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases continues to remain alarmingly high.