AEDV Expert Document on the Management of Ulcerative Venereal Infections

Currently, ulcerative sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), chancroid, donovanosis and, more recently, monkeypox (MPOX), represent a growing challenge for health care professionals. The incidence of syphilis and LGV has increased in recent years in Spain. Additionally, HSV, syphilis and chancroid can also increase the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission. The population groups most vulnerable to these infections are young people, men who have sex with men (MSM) and commercial sex workers. It is important to make a timely differential diagnosis since genital, anal, perianal, and oral ulcerative lesions may pose differential diagnosis with other infectious and non-infectious conditions such as candidiasis vulvovaginitis, traumatic lesions, carcinoma, aphthous ulcers, Behçet's disease, fixed drug eruption, or psoriasis. For this reason, the dermatologist plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections. This chapter presents the main epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features associated with these infections.