Ureaplasma spp is a type of bacteria under the bacteria family of mycoplasma species. There […]
- Home
- About Us
- General Health
- Men’s Health
- Women’s Health
- STD
- Skin & Allergy
- Blog
- Contact us
Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) is a difficult medical condition for both patients and physicians to spot. First, it is less commonly heard of, and second, it is less commonly seen in clinical practice. Diagnosing Lymphogranuloma Venereum tends to be late, leading to the development of irreversible health complications.
This article aims to create awareness, leading to a higher degree of suspicion if there is an unusual presentation in the genital region.
Lymphogranuloma Venereum is an infectious medical condition that can present with ulcers over the genital region. It is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis, serovars L1, L2, and L3. As its name suggests, it is transmitted through sexual contact, be it- vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse.
Chlamydia trachomatis tends to present mild genital symptoms in an affected person. Common symptoms include mild to vague urinary pain and discomfort, genital itch, or abnormal vaginal discharge. In the case of Lymphogranuloma Venereum, the bacteria invades the mucosal skin tissues and regional lymph nodes, leading to the ulceration and inflammation of the affected lymph nodes.
Lymphogranuloma Venereum is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Contrary to common variants of STD-chlamydia that affect and infect local mucosal surfaces such as the mouth or genital region, causing milder symptoms in the infected host, Lymphogranuloma Venereum is due to an invasive strain of chlamydia serovars L1,L2, and L3 that invades the lymphatic vessels, causing more detrimental effects in an infected person.
Lymphgoranuloma Venereum can appear as painless pimple-like lesions that, over time, turn into ulcer patches. It can be hard and sometimes mistaken for genital herpes or warts, as it can present with pus discharge or appear patchy/warty-like.
Over time,, as the infection spreads deeper from the skin to the lymph nodes, one will experience painful swelling of the lymph nodes over the genital area. Eventually, due to the chronic inflammation of the lymph nodes, the glands can rupture, leading to a swelling that bursts with pus flowing out. By then, one can develop systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, or feeling generally unwell.
Lymphogranuloma Venereum was first reported in 1833. It was considered rare before the year 2003. In 2004, following an outbreak of the disease in the Netherlands, the condition slowly started resurfacing. It has been reported more in industrialised countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, the US, and Canada. There have also been reports in Asia.
It is a condition that can affect both females and males, though reports are more on male patients due to a more clear-cut presentation in men. As the clinical presentation is less distinct in females, female patients tend to present at a later stage of the disease with significant disease complications. There is a major association between Lymphogranuloma Venereum and HIV infection.
There are three stages of lymphogranuloma venereum. Unfortunately, infected people tend to seek medical aid during the later stages of the disease.
During the first phase of the disease, the infected person can present with a short-lived painless pimple, rash, or ulcer following 3-30 days of exposure to the bacteria. Under untrained eyes, this tends to be mistaken as genital herpes or even warts. The rash disappears spontaneously, so the infected person tends not to seek medical aid, with the wrong impression that the disease has recovered on its own.
The secondary phase of the infection tends to occur 2 to 6 weeks following the first stage. One will present with painful swelling over the groin area. This is due to the invasion of the bacteria to the regional lymph nodes around the groin. Eventually, the inflamed and swollen lymph nodes can burst or rupture, draining out pus and blood. There can be associated vague symptoms such as fever, chills, lower back pain, lower pelvic pain, abnormal discharge (vaginal or urethral), anal pain, change of bowel habits, having the unusual urge to pass motion, or even vomiting.
Over time, chronic untreated Lymphogranuloma Venereum infection can lead to complications of the affected anatomy due to chronic inflammation and scarring. One can develop an abscess, obstruction and rupturing lymph nodes, fistulae (abnormal connection or opening that connects organ or vessels), scarring and narrowing (strictures) of the anal and genital anatomy, elephantiasis of the genital region with genital irreversible deformities and infertility.
Lymphogranuloma Venereum is a difficult diagnosis, and unfortunately, it is commonly missed. Laboratory tests can detect it.
In cases where Lymphogranuloma Venereum is suspected, a full sexual health screening should be offered. This is due to the increased risk of multiple concurrent STD infections in the presence of Lymphogranuloma Venereum. Full STD testing should include anti-retroviral (HIV) testing, syphilis, gonorrhoea, Herpes, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C screening.
Lymhogranuloma Venereum is an important medical condition that needs to be picked up. If you have concerns about this condition or unusual symptoms in the genital area, you are encouraged to seek medical assistance with your doctor.
The goal of treatment is to eradicate the bacteria and prevent further tissue damage to the genital region.
As the medical condition is rare and uncommon to both patients and physicians, Lymphogranuloma Venereum can be mistaken for common STD, such as genital warts or herpes. If there is involvement of the infection over the anus or rectal region, one may even have confused the condition with gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis.
If the medical condition is not treated, irreversible complications can set in. This includes the distortion of the affected anatomy. The lymph nodes affected can get obstructed, ruptured, or even die off (necrosis), leading to eventual scarring of the area with fibrous tissues, stricturing, fistulae, and elephantiasis of the genital region. The medical condition left untreated can also result in infertility.
You are advised to seek medical aid early if you have abnormal symptoms over the genitals or are concerned about exposure to STDs. In the case of Lymphogranuloma Venereum, early detection and early proper treatment are keys to avoiding irreversible complications.
Ureaplasma spp is a type of bacteria under the bacteria family of mycoplasma species. There […]
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) remains one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. […]
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common chronic relapsing inflammatory skin condition that […]
Testosterone is an essential sex hormone in men. It is regulated by the brain and […]
Allergies can occur to anyone, anytime. Allergies can affect our daily activities and reduce our quality of lives.