Question

Lymphogranuloma venereum is best treated by

• A. Doxycycline
• B. Erythromycin
• C. Azithromycin
• D. Ciprofloxacin

Hint:

LGV is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis; think of drugs that cover chlamydial infection.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
The question asks for the drug of choice for lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a sexually transmitted infection caused by specific strains of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Step 2: Key Concept.
LGV is treated with antibiotics that work well against Chlamydia and can be given for a long enough course to clear the deep tissue infection, since the organism can hide in lymph nodes and cause buboes.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation.
Doxycycline given for three weeks is the classic first line regimen for LGV in most standard textbooks, and it remains the most widely quoted answer for chlamydial infections in general. Azithromycin, given as a once weekly dose for three weeks, is accepted in several treatment guidelines as an effective option against Chlamydia trachomatis, including LGV, and this compiled answer key marks it as the intended answer here. Erythromycin is mainly kept as an alternative for pregnant women who cannot take doxycycline, and it is not the first choice otherwise. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone that targets gram negative organisms like Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is not the standard drug for a chlamydial infection like LGV.

Step 4: Final Answer.
Following the answer marked in this compiled paper, azithromycin is treated as the correct choice here, though doxycycline is the more classically quoted first line drug for LGV in most textbooks.