This STD is also known as inguinal granuloma. It is caused by a bacterium and it is quite frequent in underdeveloped countries. In general, these countries face poor medical assistance; therefore, sometimes this disease just disappears without any treatment. Its main symptoms are ulcers in the genital area, which sometimes can be considered signs of syphilis, by mistake. Nevertheless, final stages of the disease are associated with blood and mucus leakage, triggered by external and internal tissue destruction. As it is an open lesion, it can attract other microbes, which can cause additional infections.
You can think of Donovanosis as of an inflammatory reaction located in the inguinal area, where the person suffering from this disease can as well find some nodules. A researcher called Donovan has discovered some intracellular inclusions created by cells engulfing bacteria. The presence of such Donovan bodies can be a sign of this sexually transmitted disease.
The organism, which causes this illness, is a bacterium having the shape of a veil or hood and it is contained by the lesions caused.
The symptoms of this disease do not emerge immediately after a person is exposed to the bacterium. They can develop since the tenth to the fortieth day, through painless nodules. After a few days, the nodules can burst leading to open lesions. The lesions are fleshy and oozing. The infection does not cover an isolated area, but it can spread, destroying the tissue, which is infected. The regions, which can be affected, are the perenial one, the labia, or the penis shaft. Sometimes, the lesions can be located on the cervix or the vaginal wall.
The bacterium can be transmitted through direct contact between the open lesions and any type of intercourse can be risky if one of the partners is infected.
When you suspect a STD and go to the doctor's, you must be ready to present him your sexual history. If you go to a professional doctor, he is able to detect Donovanosis only by the ulcers type. Nevertheless, a tissue sample may be necessary for correct diagnose. A special substance can help the laboratory worker view the cells better. Besides, the sample should include Donovan bodies.
This disease can be treated with antibiotics and in general, it can be cured in about 12 weeks. If you notice that after one week the infection starts to subside, you must not interrupt treatment, because it can as well relapse.
Donovanosis is a quite rare disease in developed countries. However, if a sex partner comes from an endemic area the risk of catching this disease may increase.Even if it does not have anything romantic, when it happens to fall in love with a person coming from a country where people are more frequently exposed to Donovanosis, the best solution is to go to the doctor's and have STD tests done, in order to be sure that there is no risk of spreading this disease. Actually, it can be sort of moral duty to do it if you are responsible for other people's health.
