Since the Covid-19 pandemic the findings of viruses and infectious diseases are very popular. Now, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that ‘eats human flesh’ is spreading across the UK and is causing much concern among the scientific community.
Previously cases of the infection, called donovanosis, had been reported in India, Brazil or New Guinea. Dr Shree Datta from My Health Care Clinic in London says these conditions are relatively rare compared to other sexually transmitted infections and diseases of the sexual transmission, but their increase could represent a risk to public health.
What Causes Donovanosis?
Donovanosis, also called inguinal granuloma, is a bacterial infection that causes bloody sores and ulcers on the genitals, usually more widely spread andn tropical and subtropical climates and the bacterium ‘Klebsiella granulomatis’ is responsible for causing the ailments.
It infects the genital area through sexual contact and, if left unchecked, sores caused by the infection can fuel the spread of HIV. Typical symptoms of donovanosis are:
- Fleshy red bumps around the genitals or anus.
- Ulcers that can become infected, which can lead to pain and an unpleasant foul odor
- Nodules, a sore, or an open lesion in the genital area
- It can slowly destroy genital tissue and spread beyond the genitals to the thighs
The donovanosis is diagnosed with a scraping at the base of your ulcers to obtain a sample of the tissue, later the doctor applies a series of medications on the sample and observes under a microscope to look for the bacteria. Treatment may take a while and consists of taking antibiotics for at least three weeks.
According to data from Public Health England There were 30 reported cases of donovanosis in the UK in 2019, but last year in 2020 the number of cases dropped to 18 but some experts believe this is due to lockdowns from the Covid-19 pandemic, so they are waiting to see if this year, when restrictions were lowered, the cases will increase.
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