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• DEFINATION
  
• CAUSES
  
• INCUBATION PERIOD
  
• SYMPTOMS
  
• SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
  
• TREATMENT

 

DEFINATION:

Granuloma inguinale is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the bacteria Calymmatobacterium granulomatis

CAUSES:

• The causative organism is Calymmatobacterium granulomatis which is gram negative bacillus.
• The disease spreads mostly through vaginal or anal intercourse. Very rarely, it spreads during oral sex.
• Men are affected more than twice as often as women, with most infections occurring in people aged 20-40 years.
  
• The disease is seldom seen in children or the elderly.

INCUBATION PERIOD:

About 8 days to 100 days
SYMPTOMS

Onset is gradual.

• After sexual contact small painless nodules develop on the skin and mucous membranes of the genitalia or perineal area.
• Gradually ulcers breakup with a beefy red granulomatous base.
• The infection spreads by auto inoculation and gradually may spread to the lower abdomen and thigh.
• The advancing border has a characteristic rolled edge of granulation tissue.
• Simultaneously scarification takes place from the plder lesions.
• Lymphnodes may be enlarged and tender (pseudo bubo).

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS:

• Scrapings or punch biopsy of lesion
• Culture of tissue sample (difficult to do and not routinely available) 

TREATMENT:

Antibiotics are used to treat granuloma inguinale. A complete cure requires fairly long treatment. Most treatment courses run 3 weeks or until the lesions have completely healed.

A follow-up examination is essential because the disease can reappear after an apparently successful cure.