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Genital Herpes & Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually Transmitted Diseases that Resemble the Herpes Virus

There are other sexually transmitted diseases that an produce lesions similar to genital herpes including the following:

Chancroid - an acute, contagious infection of the genital skin or mucous membranes caused by Haemophilus ducreyi and characterized by painful ulcers and suppuration of the inguinal lymph nodes. After an incubation period of three to seven days, small, painful papules appear and rapidly break down into shallow, nonindurated, painful ulcers with ragged, undermined edges and a red border. Ulcers vary in size and often coalesce. Deeper erosion occasionally leads to marked tissue destruction. The inguinal lymph nodes become tender, enlarged, and matted together by periadenitis, forming a fluctuant abscess (bubo) in the groin. The skin over the abscess may become red and shiny and may break down to form a sinus

Lymphogranuloma venereum - a sexually transmitted chlamydial disease characterized by a transitory primary lesion followed by suppurative lymphadenitis and lymphangitis and serious local complications. After an incubation period of three to twelve days, a small, transient, non-indurated vesicular lesion forms, ulcerates rapidly, heals quickly, and may pass unnoticed. The first symptom usually is unilateral, tender enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes, progressing to form a large, tender, fluctuant mass that adheres to the deep tissues and inflames the overlying skin. Multiple sinuses may develop and discharge purulent or bloodstained material.

Granuloma inguinale - a sexually transmitted, progressive infection of the genital skin caused by intracellular bacterium, Calymmatobacterium granulomatis. The initial lesion is a painless, beefy-red nodule that slowly enlarges as an elevated, velvety, malodorous, granulating ulcerated plaque. Sites of infection are the penis, scrotum, groin, and thighs in men; the vulva, vagina, and perineum in women; the anus and buttocks in homosexual men; and the face in both sexes.

Erythema multiform - an inflammatory eruption characterized by symmetric erythematous, edematous, or bullous lesions of the skin or mucous membranes. Onset is usually sudden, with erythematous macules, papules, wheals, vesicles, and sometimes bullae appearing mainly on the distal portion of the extremities (palms, soles) and on the face; hemorrhagic lesions of the lips and oral mucosa can also occur.

Behçet's syndrome - a multisystem, inflammatory, relapsing, chronic disorder that may include mucocutaneous, ocular, genital, articular, vascular, CNS, and GI involvement. Almost all patients have recurrent painful oral ulcers resembling those of aphthous stomatitis; in most patients, these ulcers are the first manifestations of the disease. Similar ulcers occur on the penis and scrotum, where they are painful, or on the vulva and vagina, where they may be asymptomatic.

Inflammatory bowel disease - is related to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis which are both characterized by chronic inflammation at various sites in the GI tract. Both cause diarrhea, which may be profuse and bloody.

Contact dermatitis - acute or chronic inflammation, often asymmetric or oddly shaped, produced by substances contacting the skin and causing toxic (irritant) or allergic reactions. Contact dermatitis ranges from transient redness to severe swelling with bullae pruritus and vesiculation are common. Any skin surface exposed to an irritant or sensitizing substance (including airborne ones) may be involved. Typically, the dermatitis is limited to the site of contact but may later spread.

Candidiasis - invasive infections caused by Candida sp, most often C. albicans, manifested by fungemia, endocarditis, meningitis, and/or focal lesions in liver, spleen, kidneys, bone, skin, and subcutaneous or other tissues. Esophagitis is most often manifested by dysphagia. Symptoms of respiratory tract infections are nonspecific, such as cough. Vaginal infections cause itching, burning, and discharge.

Syphilis - is a complex sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called "the great imitator" because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases.

Primary Stage - the time between infection with syphilis and the start of the first symptom can range from 10-90 days. The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore, chancre, but there may be multiple sores. The chancre is usually firm, round, small, and painless. The lesion appears at the spot where syphilis entered the body. The chancre lasts three to six weeks, and it usually heals on its own. If adequate treatment is not administered, the infection progresses to the secondary stage.

Secondary Stage - the second stage starts when one or more areas of the skin break into a rash. Rashes can appear as the chancre is fading or can be delayed for weeks. The rash often appears as rough, red or reddish brown spots both on the palms of the hands and on the bottoms of the feet. The rash also may also appear on other parts of the body with different characteristics, some of which resemble other diseases. Sometimes the rashes are so faint that they are not noticed. Even without treatment, rashes clear up on their own. In addition to rashes, second-stage symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and tiredness. A person can easily pass the disease to sex partners when primary or secondary stage signs or symptoms are present.

Late Syphilis - the latent (hidden) stage of syphilis begins when the secondary symptoms disappear. Without treatment, the infected person still has syphilis even though there are no signs or symptoms. It remains in the body, and it may begin to damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. This internal damage may show up many years later in the late or tertiary stage of syphilis. Late stage signs and symptoms include not being able to coordinate muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death.