Lymphgranuloma Venereum… Huh? That’s A Big Word…

Lymphgranuloma venereum, also known as LGV. LGV is caused by three strands of the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis. Man, I do not want this.  There are a few visual symptoms, such as genital papule(s) (raised surface or bumps) and or ulcers, and swelling of the lymph glands in the genital area. LGV may also produce rectal ulcers, bleeding, pain, and discharge, especially among those who practice receptive anal intercourse. LGV can be difficult to diagnose. Typically, the primary lesion produced by LGV is a small genital or rectal lesion, which can ulcerate at the site of transmission after an incubation period of 3-30 days. These ulcers may remain undetected within the urethra, vagina, or rectum. Complications of untreated LGV may include enlargement and ulcerations of the external genitalia and lymphatic obstruction, which may lead to elephantiasis of the genitalia.  A pregnant woman with a STD can infect her baby before, during, or after the baby’s birth. She may also have early labor or early rupture of the membranes surrounding the baby in the uterus. Pregnant women should ask their doctors about getting tested for STDs, since some doctors do not routinely perform these tests. There is no vaccine against the bacteria. LGV can be treated with three weeks of antibiotics. CDC STD Treatment Guidelines recommend the use of doxycycline, twice a day for 21 days. An alternative treatment is erythromycin base or azithromycin. The health care provider will determine which is best. If you have been treated for LGV, you should notify any sex partners you had sex with within 60 days of the symptom onset so they can be evaluated and treated. This will reduce the risk that your partners will develop symptoms and/or serious complications of LGV.  It will reduce your risk of becoming re-infected as well as reduce the risk of ongoing transmission in the community. You and all of your sex partners should avoid sex until you have completed treatment for the infection and your symptoms and your partners’ symptoms have disappeared. Note: Doxycycline is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Pregnant and lactating women should be treated with erythromycin. Azithromycin may prove useful for treatment of LGV in pregnancy, but no published data are available regarding its safety and efficacy. A health care provider (like a doctor or nurse) can discuss treatment options with patients. Persons with both LGV and HIV infection should receive the same LGV treatment as those who are HIV-negative. Prolonged therapy may be required, and delay in resolution of symptoms may occur among persons with HIV. The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is asymptomatic and uninfected. Male latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, may reduce the risk of LGV transmission.  Genital ulcer diseases can occur in male or female genital areas that may or may not be covered (protected by the condom). Having had LGV and completing treatment does not prevent re-infection. Effective treatment is available and it is important that persons suspected of having LGV be treated as if they have it. Persons who are treated for LGV treatment should abstain from sexual contact until the infection is cleared.

(CDC) For: cause, symptoms, incubation, untreated, treatment, and prevention.

(CDC, www.cdc.gov) For: pregnancy.

CDC. www.cdc.gov. 23 Febuary 2011. 19 December 2011 <http://www.cdc.gov/std/lgv/stdfact-lgv.htm>.

—. www.cdc.gov. 14 September 2010. 19 December 2011 <http://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/default.htm>.

bacteria from lgv...

Kaitlyn Decker