Diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted genital lesions

A variety of genital lesions can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases. These lesions present in sexually active clients of all ages and socioeconomic groups with varying degrees of pain, lymphadenopathy and constitutional symptoms. If lesions are misdiagnosed or improperly treated, sexually transmitted diseases spread and clients may suffer complications. Differential diagnosis of genital lesions caused by sexually transmitted diseases includes herpes genitalis, syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, chancroid, condyloma acuminatum, granuloma inguinale, and molluscum contagiosum. Health care providers must be skilled at differential diagnosis, institution of appropriate treatment, and sexual counseling of clients and their partners.