a. Etiology. The cause of the infection is calymmatobacterium (Donovania)
granulomatis. This is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacillus which maybe related to
Klebsiella. Granuloma inguinale is a progressive disease of the skin and the mucous
membranes.
b. Signs and Symptoms. The incubation period ranges from 8 days to 12
weeks. Most papules, however, appear within 30 days. First, a papule forms which
ulcerates and develops into a relatively painless, elevated zone of clean beefy red
friable granulation tissue. The edges are irregular, and the disease spreads by
autoinoculation. On the male, lesions are located on the penis and the perianal area.
On the female, lesions are located on the vulva, vagina, and perineum.
c. Treatment. The most important treatment other than antibiotic therapy is
good hygiene. Antibiotic therapy includes TCN tetracycline (Tetracyn)) in the dosage
of 500 mg four times a day for 15 days by mouth or streptomycin, 1 gram IM every six
hours for five days.
2-12. COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Humans have been afflicted with sexually transmitted diseases since the
beginning of time. Passages in the Bible and in ancient religious books refer to sexually
transmitted disease. With greater sexual freedom and activity in the last thirty years,
new types of sexually transmitted diseases have been identified. Everyone needs to be
informed about previously known STDs such as syphilis and gonorrhea as well as newly
identified diseases such as chlamydia and trichomoniasis. As people endeavor to learn
about the diseases, some incorrect information is exchanged. Look at the following
myths about sexually transmitted diseases; then, examine the facts.
a. MYTH:
Sexually transmitted diseases can be spread by an individual
touching a toilet seat, door knobs, or sitting in a hot tub.
FACT:
No. Sexually transmitted diseases are almost always spread
through direct sexual contact.
b. MYTH:
Gonorrhea can turn into syphilis.
FACT:
Syphilis and gonorrhea are two kinds of sexually transmitted
disease. One of these diseases does NOT turn into the other
disease.
c. MYTH:
A person always knows when he has a sexually transmitted
disease.
FACT:
The truth is that the signs/symptoms of some STDs do not become
evident until the disease is very serious. So it is possible to have
an STD and not know that you have the disease.
MD0580
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