Venereal lymphogranuloma occurs after a variable incubation period (3-21 days), at the entrance to the bacterium (glans, vulva, vagina and rectum) with a papule that evolves into an asymptomatic ulcer.
Subsequently, the infection spreads along the lymphatic vessels up to the inguinal lymph glands, causing their painful swelling. At the same time, the patient with venereal lymphogranuloma may present with fever, headache and abdominal pain.
In the more advanced stage, there is difficulty in lymphatic drainage with chronic swelling of the genitals, proctitis and stenosis (narrowing) of the urethra and anus.
Without treatment, venereal lymphogranuloma can cause obstruction of lymph flow, chronic pain and swelling of the genital tissues, and skin sores.
The treatment of venereal lymphogranuloma is based on the intake of antibiotics.
or perianal and the increase in the volume of regional lymph nodes. In the advanced stages, the lymphoglandular inflammatory process can cause suppuration with the possibility of fistulas.
Venereal lymphogranuloma can also occur in the anorectal variant and, less often, in the oral-pharyngeal form (the latter mainly involves pharyngitis with lymphadenitis on the sides of the neck).
