Comparison of Genital Ulcers

Vocabulary flashcards comparing the causative agents, incubation periods, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and treatments of major genital ulcer diseases.

Genital herpes

A sexually transmitted infection caused by $HSV-2 > HSV-1$ with an incubation period of $2-7\,\text{days}$, presenting as a cluster of vesicles on an erythematous base with painful and pruritic lymphadenopathy, diagnosed via Tzanck preparation showing multinucleated giant cells or PCR, and treated with acyclovir, famcyclovir, or valacyclovir.

Syphilitic chancre (Hard chancre)

A genital ulcer caused by Treponema pallidum with an incubation period of $10-90\,\text{days}$ (average: $21\,\text{days}$), presenting as a single painless ulcer with a clean base, a firm raised border, and painless lymphadenopathy; diagnosed clinically and treated with Penicillin or Ceftriaxone.

Donovanosis (Granuloma inguinale)

A condition caused by Klebsiella granulomatis with an incubation period of $7-84\,\text{days}$, presenting as a painless papule or nodule that erodes into a beefy red granulomatous ulcer with rolled edges, showing pseudobubos instead of true lymphadenopathy; diagnosed by Donovan bodies on biopsy and treated with Azithromycin or Doxycycline.

Chancroid (Soft chancre)

A sexually transmitted infection caused by Hemophilus ducreyi with an incubation period of $1-14\,\text{days}$, presenting as a painful ulcer with painful inguinal lymphadenopathy, diagnosed clinically, and treated with Azithromycin or ceftriaxone.

LGV (Lymphogranuloma venereum)

An infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L1, L2, and L3 with an incubation period of $3\,\text{days}-6\,\text{weeks}$, presenting as a painless genital ulcer with painful inguinal lymphadenopathy, diagnosed by nucleic acid amplification tests, and treated with Doxycycline or Azithromycin.

Tzanck preparation

A diagnostic method for genital herpes that demonstrates multinucleated giant cells.

Donovan bodies

Diagnostic microscopic structures seen on biopsy in cases of Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale).

Pseudobubos

Lesions seen in Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale), characterized by the absence of true lymphadenopathy.

Klebsiella granulomatis

The causative bacterial organism of Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale).

Hemophilus ducreyi

The causative agent of chancroid (soft chancre), associated with painful ulcers and painful inguinal lymphadenopathy.

Treponema pallidum

The causative pathogen of syphilitic hard chancre, characterized by an incubation period averaging $21\,\text{days}$.

Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L1, L2, L3

The specific serovars that cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).