Granuloma Inguinale (Donovanosis)

• Granuloma inguinale is a sexually transmitted infection that affects the skin and mucous membranes of the anal and genital areas.
• Chronic infection with frequent relapses caused by a rod-shaped bacterium
• 20% of male patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in tropical countries have granuloma inguinale
• Most patients are between the ages of 20 and 40 years, with a 2:1 male-to-female ratio.
• Patients with granuloma inguinale are vulnerable to superinfection (infection by other disease agents) with other STDs, especially syphilis.
• Disease causes open genital ulcers that can be easily invaded by the AIDS virus.

• slow and gradual onset, beginning with an inconspicuous pimple or lumpy eruption on the skin
• In some women, the first symptom of granuloma inguinale is bleeding from the genitals.
• In the first stage, the patient develops a mass of pink or dull red granulation tissue in the area around the anus.
  
• In the second stage, the bacteria erode the skin to form shallow, foul-smelling ulcers which spread from the genital and anal areas to the pages and lower abdomen. The edges of the ulcers are marked by granulation tissue.
  
• In the third stage, the ulcerated areas form deep masses of keloid or scar tissue that may spread slowly for many years.
• The most significant distinguishing characteristic of granuloma inguinale is the skin ulcer, which is larger than in most other diseases, painless, irregular in shape, and likely to bleed when touched.

Category: Microbiology Notes