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Medical condition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lipschütz ulcer, ulcus vulvae acutum or reactive non-sexually related acute genital ulcers (English: acute ulceration of the vulva) is a rare disease characterized by painful genital ulcers, fever, and lymphadenopathy, occurring most commonly, but not exclusively, in adolescents and young women.[2] Previously, it was described as being more common in virgins.[3] It is not a sexually transmitted infection, and is often misdiagnosed,[4][5] sometimes as a symptom of Behçet's disease.[6]
| Lipschütz ulcer | |
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| One of the first published cases of Lipschütz ulcer[1] |
Lipschütz ulcer is named after Benjamin Lipschütz, who first described it in 1912.[1][5] The cause is still unknown, although it has been associated with several infectious causes, including paratyphoid fever, cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Epstein–Barr virus infection[7][8][9][10]
The most common presentation is a single large, deep ulcer (although several smaller ulcers may occur) in the internal surface of one or both labia minora.[11] The labia majora may be affected, as may the vagina and urethra. The ulcer develops very quickly, and is usually preceded by sudden onset of fever and malaise.[11]
The diagnosis is mainly clinical and centred in eliminating other more common causes for vulvar ulcers. Nevertheless, it has been proposed that Epstein-Barr detection using polymerase chain reaction for virus genome can help to reach sooner a diagnosis.[7]
Treatment is symptomatic, and usually of little value; in most cases, the ulcer heals spontaneously within four to six weeks, sometimes leaving scars. Topical analgesics and anesthetics, as well as topical application of disinfectants/astringents such as potassium permanganate (in sitz baths), is commonly used.[11] In severe cases, a combination of systemic glucocorticoids and broad-spectrum antibiotics has been recommended.[citation needed]
The disorder typically appears among young girls and adolescents but cases in children as young as 17 months have been reported.[7]
The disease was first described in October 1912 by Galician-born Austrian dermatologist and microbiologist Benjamin Lipschütz, who published a series of four cases in girls aged 14 to 17.[1] He initially ascribed the ulcer to infection with "Bacillus crassus" (Lactobacillus acidophilus).[1][5]
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