Lymphogranuloma venereum
Background
- Cased by L1, L2, L3 serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis[1]
- Sexually transmitted
- Often co-infected with HIV
Clinical Features[1]
- Incubation period 3-30 days
- Stage 1 (Primary): Self-limited painless genital papule/ulcer (lasts ~1 week)
- Seen on coronal sulcus in men, posterior vaginal fourchette in women
- Can also occur in rectum (hemorrhagic proctitis), urethra, vagina
- Stage 2 (Secondary): Painful inguinal and/or femoral lymphadenopathy (2-6 weeks after primary lesion)
- Lymph nodes become necrotic → suppurative → formation of buboes
- Systemic symptoms: fever, myalgia, malaise
- Occasionally - arthritis, ocular, cardiac, pulmonary, aseptic meningitis, hepatitis
- Stage 3 (Tertiary): Proctocolitis, anorectal syndrome
- Usually manifests in women or homosexual men
- Rectal pain, discharge, bleeding
- Can also → fistula, abscess, strictures, megacolon
Differential Diagnosis
Diagnostic Evaluation
- Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) or immunofluorescence
- Culture (Needle aspiration at bubo)
- Seology
- HIV testing
- May warrant anoscopy
Management
- Doxycycline 100mg PO BID x 21 days (first choice) OR
- Erythromycin 500mg PO QID x 21 days OR
- Preferred for pregnant and lactating females
- Azithromycin 1g PO weekly for 3 weeks OR
- Alternative for pregnant women - poor evidence for this treatment currently
- Tetracycline, Minocycline, or Moxifloxacin (x21 days) are also acceptable alternatives to Doxycycline
- Treat sexual partner
- Doxycycline 100mg PO BID x 7 days OR
- Azithromycin 1gm PO x1
Disposition
- Discharge
- Instruct patient to abstain from sexual activities until completion of treatment