Granuloma Inguinale
Granuloma inguinale is a rare sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Calymmatobacterium granulomatis that leads to chronic inflammation of the genitals.
Granuloma inguinale is rare in developed countries, with only eight cases reported in the United States in 1999. It is more common in people living under primitive conditions in Papua New Guinea, Australia, and South Africa.
Symptoms usually begin 1 to 12 weeks after infection. The first symptom is a painless, red nodule that slowly grows into one or more round, raised lumps that then break down to form a sore. Sites of infection include the penis, scrotum, groin, and thighs in men and the vulva, vagina, and surrounding skin areas in women. Either trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline taken by mouth for at least 3 weeks is effective.
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