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Donovanosis - Symptoms & Treatment
Donovanosis ( also known as Granuloma inguinale), is a bacterial disease that has reached endemic proportions in many underdeveloped regions. It usually manifests as genital lesions, which are indolent, progressive, ulcerative, and granulomatous. It is is caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, a gram-negative pleomorphic bacillus. Because of the scarcity of medical treatment, the disease is often neglected and allowed to reach morbid stages of development. Men are affected more than twice as often as women. The disease is commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas such as Southeast India, Guyana, and New Guinea, but it occurs on occasion in the United States, typically in the Southeast. There are approximately 100 cases reported per year in the United States.
Causes of Donovanosis
The common causes and risk factor's of Donovanosis include the following:
- C granulomatis, a gram-negative pleomorphic bacillus.
- Viruses.
Symptoms of Donovanosis
Some sign and symptoms related to Donovanosis are as follows:
- Small, painless nodules appear after about 10-40 days of the contact with the bacteria.
- Gradual spreading, with erosion and destruction of genital tissue.
- Leakage of mucous and blood.
- Depigmentation (loss of skin color) of the genitals and surrounding skin.
- Mutilation and destruction of internal and external tissue.
Treatment of Donovanosis
Here is list of the methods for treating Donovanosis:
- Antibiotics (such as tetracycline or doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin) are prescribed for at least 3 weeks or until lesions heal, which may take months.
- Erythromycin base 500 mg qid at least 3 weeks.
- Once healed, disfiguring genital swellings may need to be surgically corrected.
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