CHANCROID, LYMPHOGRANULOMA-VENEREUM AND GRANULOMA INGUINALE

Genital ulcers are common presentations in sexually transmitted diseas e clinic settings and, in some developing countries, account for as ma ny as 1% of primary care visits. Clinical differentiation as to etiolo gy is fraught with error, As a result, syndromic therapy is absolutely necessary and can effectively treat most patients who present with ge nital ulcer disease. The interactions of genital ulcer disease with HI V continue to be problematic, In many societies, Hemophilus ducreyi is the most important cause of genital ulcers. The biology of this organ ism is now under intensive investigation and it has proven to be a mos t intriguing, complex pathogen. Much less progress is occurring with e ither Calymmatobacterium granulomatis or Chlamydia trachomatis types a ssociated with LGV. Prevention has to be the primary objective and som e studies, particularly those from Thailand, suggest that this can be achieved within resource-limited societies.