Cases Of Rare STD Growing Among UK Gay Men

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Cases Of Rare STD Growing Among UK Gay Men

(London) The number of cases of a rare sexually transmitted disease that began showing up among gay men last year is growing rapidly British health authorities said Thursday.

Lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV, began showing up a year ago in Europe. Cases were reported in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Sweden and the UK. It quickly spread to San Francisco and last week two cases were reported in New York City. (story)

Over the past month the number of new cases among gay men in the UK has risen 50 percent.

In February it was revealed there were 24 cases confirmed in England all in gay men, although both men and women can contract LGV through unprotected sex. (story) On Thursday health authorities said that has now risen to 34 cases and they raised the alarm for doctors to be more vigilant in looking for signs of the disease.

More than half the reported cases are in men who are HIV-+

LGV is usually associated with chlamydia but the new strain, showing up in men who have sex with men, is marked by gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammation of the rectum and colon, genital ulcers, swollen lymph glands, and flu-like symptoms. Other symptoms include itching anus, blood or mucus in the stool, straining and cramping when having a bowel movement.

It can cause a serious infection which travels through the body’s lymphatic system. If left untreated, the inflammation that results can cause scarring of the genitals or rectum and colon. These scars may interfere with normal functions of the urinary or gastrointestinal system and lead to severe illnesses or rarely, death.

LGV is diagnosed by a clinical examination plus several laboratory tests and is effectively treated with common antibiotics such as doxycycline.