Health Dept. Warns On Rare Sexually Transmitted Disease

Health officials announced last week that two New Yorkers have been diagnosed with a rare form of Chlamydia known as lymphogranuloma veneteum, or LGV. In the past few decades LGV has been uncommon in industrialized nations, although several cases have recently been found in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. To date, the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - which is coordinating a national investigation - has confirmed six recent cases in the United States, and cases in San Francisco (3) and Atlanta (1). CDC is also investigating other potential cases.

The illness appears to have primarily affected gay and bi-sexual men.

Among cases identified thus far, most have also had HIV/AIDS infection. Most people infected reported having multiple sex partners and engaging in unprotected anal intercourse and other high- risk practices.

Symptoms of LGV include painful, bloody rectal infection that may be confused with inflammatory bowel disease. When genital ulcers occur, it can be painful, draining lymph nodes in the groin area. If identified early, LGV can be treated with antibiotics.

Untreated LGV can cause permanent damage to the bowels and disfigurement of the genitals (elephantiasis). LGV can also fuel the spread of HIV/AIDS.