Lymph nodes
February 27, 2011 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Uni-Arzt Freddy Feuerstein
Dear doctors,
I am male, 66 years old, and have been living in Thailand for 18 months.
Over the last 6 months, I have experienced swelling of the lymph nodes in the genital area multiple times, along with intense redness/moisture in the groin. I have been treating the groin with a mild cortisone cream, and after 3-4 days, there has always been an improvement.
I am naturally concerned about the recurrence and suspect that something is not being fully cured.
Can a remote diagnosis determine what the cause might be?
Sincerely,
Dear inquirer,
With remote diagnoses, it is always very difficult, and I can only use the information you have provided. I cannot provide a definitive diagnosis for you.
However, I am happy to address the symptoms you have described.
Swollen lymph nodes are primarily very nonspecific, indicating only that there is an infection of some kind.
Treatment with CORTISONE is NOT a solution for an infectious disease, CORTISONE only locally suppresses the immune system at that site and can therefore reduce redness and inflammation at that site.
There are various sexually transmitted diseases that can cause the symptoms you have described.
Spontaneously, I thought of lymphogranuloma venereum, which is a disease that is sexually transmitted and caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The main symptom here is the swelling of regional lymph nodes, often with inflammation. The pathogens can be detected in the blood or directly at an inflamed site by swabbing, and treatment is indicated with antibiotics (Doxycycline, Tetracycline).
Syphilis (LUES) and soft chancre (Ulcus molle) can also lead to regional lymph node swelling.
Theoretically, it is also possible in the context of an HIV infection.
If you can exclude a sexual transmission of a disease, please ask again and describe if you have any other accompanying diseases or any other peculiarities, such as fever, etc.
Based on your information, I would recommend that you consult a dermatologist or urologist, who can then test for any of the above diseases and initiate the corresponding treatment measures (e.g. antibiotics).
Remember to protect yourself and others from a possible infection and practice only "safer sex," i.e. with a condom until adequate diagnosis/treatment is initiated/completed.
I wish you a speedy recovery and enjoy the beautiful weather.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask me.
Warm regards,
T.C. Müller
This response cannot replace a medical examination or personal consultation, the answer is given solely based on the information provided by the inquirer.
