• | AKA Lymphogranuloma inguinale (vs. granuloma inguinale makes it easy to remember) |
• | mainly a disease of lymphatic tissue that spreads to tissue surrounding lymphatics |
• | Chlamydia trachomatis: 15 serotypes, only 3 cause LGV L1, L2, L3 |
• | primary lesion: small painless erosion that heals without scarring (patient will often not notice or remember it; and resolves before nodes enlarge) |
secondary lesion: lymphadenopathy (= main clinical presentation)
• | 1-4 weeks after primary lesion heals |
• | unilateral 2/3 of time; painful; 1/3 rupture |
• | buboes = inflammatory swelling of lymph nodes |
• | groove sign: enlargement of inguinal nodes above, and femoral nodes below, Poupart’s ligament; 1/5 of patients; pathognomonic |
diagnosis:
• | culture available but recovery rate <50% |
• | serologic tests non-specific |
• | therefore, treat with doxycycline |
summary:
• | rarely see primary genital ulcer |
• | presents as lymphadenopathy |
• | females get rectal strictures (because disease affects internal lymphatic drainage) |
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