Lymphogranuloma venereum is a rare sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, with symptoms including ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, and fistulas. Diagnosis is made through serological tests and treatment involves antibiotics. Complications can occur if left untreated.
Lymphogranuloma venereum is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease goes by many other names, including Durand-Nicolas-Favre disease, tropical bubo, strumous bubo, climatic bubo, lymphogranuloma venereum, and inguinal poradenitis. Lymphogranuloma venereum is rare in the United States and Europe, but is most common in South America and tropical locations.
In general, women are more vulnerable to STDs than men. Conversely, men are more likely than women to have lymphogranuloma venerea. As with other STDs, people who have had multiple sexual partners are at a higher risk of being exposed to the bacteria that cause the disease.
Most people begin experiencing symptoms of lymphogranuloma venereum within a month of coming in contact with an infected person. The most common symptoms include the formation of ulcers in the vagina or on the penis, swollen lymph nodes in the groin and pain in the lower abdomen. If the infection is contracted through anal intercourse, additional symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes in the rectum, blood and pus in the stool, and pain during bowel movements.
Women may experience additional symptoms, one of which is swollen lips. In women, the disease can also cause a fistula to develop between the anus and the vagina. A fistula is an abnormal connection, and in this case it means that a hole has developed between the vagina and the anus and connects the two tracts. Developing a fistula can cause the infection to worsen or spread due to drainage of stool through the vagina. Fistulas can also develop in the penis in men, or in the rectum or urethra in both genders.
Diagnosis of the disease is made on the basis of symptoms and results or serological tests. These types of tests use a patient’s blood sample to check for antibodies that recognize the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. The presence of these antibodies indicates that the patient has come into contact with the bacteria. Sometimes serological tests are not conclusive; in these cases samples are taken from patients to try to grow the bacteria in the laboratory so they can be identified.
Treatment of lymphogranuloma venereum involves a course of antibiotics such as doxycycline, erythromycin, or tetracycline. Provided the full course of antibiotics is taken and all other doctor’s recommendations are followed, this treatment will resolve most cases of the disease. If complications such as a fistula or widespread infection are involved, additional treatment is often required.
If treatment is not given or is ineffective, complications such as infection of the joints or organs can occur. In very rare cases, the infection can spread to the blood or brain, causing sepsis or meningitis, respectively. These complications require hospital care and intravenous antibiotics.
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