An Ulcer by Any Other Name: Non-herpes and Non-syphilis Ulcerative Sexually Transmitted Infections

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2023 Jun;37(2):369-380. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.02.005. Epub 2023 Mar 31.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 215, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Electronic address: rgravett@uabmc.edu.
² Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 215, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

PMID: 37005160
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.02.005

Abstract

The myriad presentations of ulcerative sexually transmitted infections, other than genital herpes and syphilis, challenge even the most astute clinician given the considerable overlap in clinical presentation and lack of widely available diagnostic resources, such as nucleic acid testing, to confirm the diagnosis. Even so, case prevalence is relatively low, and incidence of chancroid and granuloma inguinale are declining. These diseases still cause substantial morbidity and increased chance for HIV acquisition, and with the recent advent of mpox as a cause, it remains imperative to identify and treat accurately.

Keywords: Chancroid; Donovanosis; Genital ulcer disease; Lymphogranuloma venereum; Mpox virus; Ulcer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chancroid* / diagnosis
Chancroid* / drug therapy
Chancroid* / epidemiology
Herpes Genitalis* / complications
Herpes Genitalis* / diagnosis
Herpes Genitalis* / epidemiology
Humans
Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / diagnosis
Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / epidemiology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / etiology
Syphilis* / diagnosis
Syphilis* / epidemiology
Ulcer / diagnosis
Ulcer / epidemiology
Ulcer / etiology