Nowadays, when new diseases are mentioned, many people wince - especially in pandemic times. Donovanosis is a disease that can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. So far, it has not been too common in European latitudes. Now, however, there are reports that the disease is spreading here as well.
Once it has broken out in an organism, it can increase the risk of contracting HIV. As with AIDS, in the vast majority of cases it is possible to protect oneself from infection by using condoms.
Donovanosis - numbers are still manageable in Europe so far
Donovanosis is not yet too widespread in Europe. The statistics speak of 30 cases for the continent in 2019, while in 2020 the figure was 18 - probably also because people were less sexually active anyway during the contact restrictions that were introduced in many European countries this year.
It is not yet known what the current situation is. Accordingly, it could well be that with the relaxation of the corona rules in many countries, the number of donovanosis cases has also gone up again.
The disease is also known as "flesh-eating venereal disease"
Even though donovanosis is still a rare disease in Europe, people in India have been confronted with it for a longer time. Here, the numbers are also higher.
Donovanosis is commonly referred to as a "flesh-eating venereal disease"... And that's because it causes inflammation - especially in the intimate area. In the worst case, the skin in the affected areas even dies.
How to notice a disease?
It is particularly insidious that inflammation caused by infection with donovanosis does not cause pain in the first step. Instead, small nodules of red color form in the intimate area (sometimes in other places as well, but much less frequently here).
These nodules do not appear for long and usually disappear after a few days. Many patients lull themselves into a sense of security here and assume that it is a simple rash or similar. After a short break, growths develop which become larger and larger.
If you do not act now, you risk attacking and destroying the tissue in the affected area.
Since the disease also attacks the immune system, the risk of HIV infection is also higher. Accordingly, the effects can be seen at different levels and should be taken seriously, even if the number of cases in Europe is still low.
How are patients treated?
In the first step, it is particularly important to be alert to red nodules in the intimate area and - even if they disappear - to get to the bottom of the cause. The good news is that if you start treatment in time, you can largely prevent worse things from happening. With antibiotics, the aforementioned "flesh-eating effect" can be well prevented in most cases.
Of course, it is also possible to do something before an infection and to protect yourself as best as possible. The means of choice (as so often with sexually transmitted diseases): Condoms. (Please note: The protection that comes with the rubbers is high, but is still not 100 percent!)
Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that even those who have been infected with donovanosis once are not immune to a second, third, etc. infection. Infection are immune. According to current research, it is possible to become infected again after only about 1.5 years.
By the way, Tatort actor Vladimir Burlakov is also gay.
You should definitely wear a condom during sexual intercourse. I would never want to have sexual intercourse without a condom and would also advise against doing it without one.