Granuloma Inguinale is an STD caused by the bacteria Klebsiella granulomatis. It was most common in tropical and subtropical regions like Southern Africa, South America and Southern India. With travel, it has been introduced to the rest of the world. However, while cases in Singapore are still rare, it is something we should not be complacent about.
Who is at risk?
There is a risk of contracting this STD in the tropical and subtropical regions as this STD is generally centred around this region. Females are two times less likely to be infected than males. The risk also peaks at ages between 20 and 40 years old.
Symptoms
The disease has a slow growth rate and usually takes at least a week before any symptoms surface. For most people, the first symptom that appears is a pimple or a lump that appears on the skin around the genitals.
The skin lesion peaks through three stages over 12 weeks:
- Stage one: Pink or faint red pimple that forms around the anus and genitals. While painless, it bleeds if injured and will spread around surrounding tissue.
- Stage two: Bacteria continue to erode the skin, forming ulcers that spread from the anus and genitals to the thigh and stomach. It can happen around the face if you engage in oral sex. A foul smell follows the trail of the ulcers.
- Stage three: The ulcers develop into scar tissues.
Other complications might occur that can damage and result in significant scarring in the genitals and reproductive region.
Diagnosis and treatment
Due to the slow nature of the disease, granuloma inguinale can be hard to detect in the initial stage. More often than not, it will not be visually diagnosed by doctors until the second stage, when ulcers start to develop.
However, once it is diagnosed, doctors will identify the disease through a skin biopsy. The doctor will remove a small area of the ulcer through minor surgery. Having this rarer disease also increases the possibility that you have contracted other STDs at the same time. Hence, if your doctor suspects you of having granuloma inguinale, they might also send you for other STD tests.
Once you have been confirmed to be infected with the disease, the doctor will put you under a course of an antibiotic such as tetracycline or macrolide erythromycin. Subsequently, individuals must undergo routine check-ups once every six months to ensure that the disease is gone as there are cases where it recurs even after treatment.
Conclusion
Like any form of STDs, safe-sex practices such as the use of condoms, limiting the number of sexual partners, and routine STD testing are necessary to reduce your risk of infection. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, do seek out any STD clinics as soon as you can.
At Elyon Family Clinic and Surgery, we offer specialised testing, screening, and treatment services for all kinds of STD tests and male hormone deficiency in Singapore. We place a high priority on privacy and confidentiality so our patients can comfortably consult our doctors. If you suspect yourself of contracting an STD, contact us at 6802 7208 and we will help you through a confidential and fuss-free check-up.
