Donovanosis – also called “inguinal granuloma” – is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. According to data from Public Health England (PHE), around thirty cases were identified in 2019 against only 19 in 2016. It is nicknamed “flesh-eater” because it causes nodules, or small abnormal sizes of round shape, that give way to oozing and fragrant open wounds once they have erupted. This form of necrosis mainly affects areas of sexual contact: the penis, lips, anus and mouth. It can also reach the walls of the vagina and the cervix. Donovanosis appears 10 to 40 days after infection, and can be easily treated with a three-week antibiotic treatment. In an article in The Sun, Obstetrician and Gynecologist Shree Data insists that the condom is the best protection against this STI.
Since confinement, a decrease in screenings
The upsurge in donovanosis has only affected the United Kingdom for the time being. However, screenings for STIs such as chlamydia, gonococcal infections and syphilis have suffered a sharp drop since the various periods of confinement. They would have decreased by 58% between February and April 2020. The vih.org site notes that this decrease is more marked in men than in women, particularly with regard to screening for syphilis. This decline had never been observed before. The same problem affects HIV testing. A survey conducted by LaboVIH interviewed several laboratories and found a drop in HIV serologies of -14% compared to 2019. This information reminds us that it is important to continue to inform and raise awareness of STIs, especially among young people. and those in their thirties because they are the ones who are least tested.