Symptoms of genital ulcers

There is oral mucosa in the human mouth, and if the oral mucosa is broken, it is easy to cause oral ulcers. Since the mouth is in a humid environment for a long time, oral ulcers can cause great pain and even affect daily eating. However, ulcers are also prone to form on human genitals, which are also caused by rupture of the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs. However, genital ulcers are much more serious than common oral ulcers, so what are the symptoms of genital ulcers?

Genital ulcer refers to the defect formed by necrosis and shedding of the skin or mucous membrane of the perineum and external genital organs (penis, scrotum), that is, ulcer.

Causes

Genital ulcers can be caused by local infection, trauma, blood circulation disorders, autoimmunity, nutritional dysfunction or reflex nutritional disorders of the nervous system. There are also some ulcers of unknown cause.

Common diseases

The most common causes of genital ulcers in my country are syphilis and genital herpes, which can occasionally occur together. A less common cause is chancroid. Secondary syphilis usually occurs 7 to 10 weeks after infection or 6 to 8 weeks after the appearance of chancre. Genital ulcers may also be seen in Behçet's disease.

1. Secondary syphilis

The rash is characterized by a centripetal distribution along the chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks; there may also be red maculopapular rashes, papular or scaly lesions, and flat warts.

2. Genital herpes

It is mainly caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is mainly transmitted through sexual contact. A few cases can also be transmitted through contaminated daily necessities. Pregnant women can infect their newborns during delivery.

3. Chancroid

It is caused by Haemophilus ducreyi and is mostly prevalent in tropical or subtropical regions, and is less common in my country. The characteristics of typical chancroid ulcers are: the initial onset is one or several ulcers with a diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 cm, surrounded by bright red erythema, pustules form after 24 to 48 hours, and the pustules rupture to form erosions or ulcers after 3 to 5 days. The ulcer is usually one in the middle with multiple ulcers around it, like satellites, which may be caused by autoinoculation infection. Adjacent ulcers may communicate with each other or fuse into a large ulcer. It is mainly transmitted through sexual contact.

4. Behcet's disease

Also known as eye-mouth-genital syndrome, it is a systemic disease with recurrent iridocyclitis, follicular stomatitis, recurrent oral ulcers, and acute external genital ulcers as its main manifestations. Genital ulcers are caused by autoimmunity. According to clinical statistics, genital damage accounts for 64% to 88%. The onset is generally later than oral ulcers. In addition to being seen on the glans penis, vagina, labia majora or minora, and urethra, ulcers can also occur on the cervix, involving small arteries and causing vaginal bleeding. Occasionally, scrotal veins may become necrotic and ruptured, and may also cause orchitis or epididymitis, with local lymph node enlargement.

5. Acute vulvar ulcer

It mainly occurs in young women, with a sudden onset, starting with vulvar ulcers, which are prone to occur on the inner side of the labia majora and minora and the mucosa of the vestibule. Ulcers may also occur in some oral cavity. In mild cases, the lesions are superficial, small in area, few in number, and the course of the disease is relatively short. In severe cases, the ulcer area is large, the lesions are deep, and they develop rapidly.