A sexually acquired chlamydial infection characterized by a small, painless, evanescent erosion, papule, nodule or herpetiform lesion on the penis or within the urethra in men, or on the vulva, vaginal wall or cervix in women. The primary lesion may remain unnoticed. The regional lymph nodes may undergo suppuration followed by extension of the inflammatory process to the adjacent tissues. In men, inguinal and/or femoral buboes are seen that may become adherent to the skin, fluctuate, and result in sinus formation. In women, these external nodes are less frequently affected and involvement is mainly of the pelvic nodes with extension to the rectum and rectovaginal septum; the result is proctitis, stricture of the rectum and fistulae. Proctitis may result from rectal intercourse; and proctitis or proctocolitis is the most common acute manifestation of lymphogranuloma venereum among men who have sex with men. Common presentations include rectal discharge, pain, constipation and tenesmus. Elephantiasis of the genitalia may occur in both men and women. Fever, chills, headache, joint pains and anorexia are usually present during the bubo phase, and are due to systemic spread. If left untreated, the course of the disease is often prolonged with scar formation and associated severe disability. The disease is generally not fatal. Generalized sepsis with arthritis and meningitis is a rare occurrence.

Diagnosis is made by demonstration of chlamydial organisms in swabs from lesions or bubo aspirates by IF, EIA, DNA probe, PCR or culture. Additional tests such as genotyping or LGV-specific PCR are required to differentiate LGV from non-LGV chlamydial infections. Complement Fixation (CF) and micro-IF (MIF) serological tests could be used to support the diagnosis. A single titer of equal or more than 1:64 and 1:256, in the CF and MIF tests, respectively, is highly suggestive of LGV.