A flesh-eating, sexually transmitted infection that causes "beefy" ulcers is increasing in prevalence in the United Kingdom according to a report released Friday.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that donovanosis (STI) is most prevalent in India, Papua New Guinea and central Australia. It also occurs in the Caribbean and southern Africa.
Research in the UK shows that donovanosis cases have been increasing steadily since 2016. Despite the fact that donovanosis is rarer than other STIs, there have been 30 cases in the UK in 2019.
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Dr. Melinda Pettigrew is a Yale School of Public Health professor of Epidemiology. She said that although donovanosis is a "small-scale concern right now," notes spreading in the U.S. are not impossible.
Pettigrew stated that donovanosis was still very rare. "But any increase in numbers is potentially worrying. The true number of sexually transmitted infections is likely to be slightly higher because they are often not diagnosed and missed.
According to the National Library of Medicine donovanosis occurs more often in women than it is in men. Recently, Dr. Karan Raj stated on a TikTok video that donovanosis testing is more common in men than women. This prompted social media users to express concern over the STI.
What are the signs and symptoms of donovanosis
According to Healthline.com data, the STI donovanosis causes thick sores in the genital area and can progressively cause tissue damage. Klebsiellagranulomatis bacteria can cause it.
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Donovanosis doesn't eat flesh, but it is known as "flesh-eating", due to the gory appearance of "beefy" skin ulcers.
"Genital ulcers that appear as bright red, painless symptoms should not be ignored," said Pettigrew. It is important to get treatment and a diagnosis quickly.
Pettigrew stressed that anyone who suspects they have donovanosis should visit a doctor to be diagnosed and immediately begin taking antibiotics as directed by the doctor. They should inform their sex partners if they are diagnosed with the STI so they can be treated.
What is the treatment for STI?
STI is a risk factor for HIV transmission. It can be transmitted via unprotected sex but it can also pass through non-sexual skin to skin contact. Mothers of newborn babies are at risk.
Antibiotics are used to treat donovanosis, including azithromycin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The majority of treatment takes three weeks, or until the sores are completely healed. To cure the disease, a long-term treatment is required.
Protected sex is the best way to prevent the STI. Because they protect against bodily fluids that could contain bacteria, both internal and external condoms are the best preventive measures.
Are doctors concerned about the spread of HIV in the US?
Pettigrew stated that it was all relative when it comes to deciding if there is a risk of donovanosis spreading in the country.
She said that although donovanosis is rare in the United States, there are still sporadic cases. "However, there are other sexually transmitted diseases on the rise in the US.
Pettigrew stated that the probability of bacteria klebsiella granulomatis increasing in the United States is possible because the risk factors for unprotected sex have increased.
"Shaming people is the worst thing we can do. They don't talk to their partners, get diagnosed, and get treated. These conditions are what allow bacterial STIs spread. It is important that health care providers are aware of donovanosis. This is a rare infection and may be difficult for them to recognize.
What are the most common STDs and STIs in America?
According to the CDC, in 2019, there were 2,554,908 cases or sexually transmitted infections or diseases in the United States.
Chlamydia, the most common STD reported, has more than 1.8 million cases reported to date in 2019. The most serious consequences of undiagnosed infections are for young women between 15 and 24 years old.
Gonorrhea was second in prevalence with 616,392 cases reported in '19. This equates to 188 cases per 100,000.
In most cases, a sexually transmitted infection (STD), is distinct from a sexually transmitted illness (STI). Although many diseases start with infections, not all of them do.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY. 'Flesh-eating STI donovanosis becoming increasingly common in the UK
