What is trichomoniasis? What are the causes of this disease and how to treat it? We will answer these and other questions a little further.
basic information
What is trichomoniasis?This is a genital infection that causes inflammation of the genitourinary system. It manifests signs of proctitis, urethritis, colpitis, cystitis, and is often combined with such genital infections as gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, candidiasis, and so on.
In the acute stage, this disease is accompanied bycopious vaginal discharge, itching and burning. These symptoms are characteristic of women. As for men, then they have pain when urinating.
In the absence of proper and adequate treatmenttrichomoniasis becomes chronic. In the future, this may be the cause of infertility, prostatitis, complicated birth and pregnancy, as well as infant mortality and fetal pathology.
Causative agent of infection
We study further the question of what is trichomoniasis. The causative agent of this disease is Trichomonas (vaginal), which is transmitted mainly through sexual contact.
With the development of this disease in men is affectedthe urethra, the seminal vesicles, the prostate, and the testicles and their appendages suffer. The representatives of the weaker sex Trichomonas multiplies in the vagina, the vaginal part of the cervical canal and in the urinary tract.
Features of the disease
Трихомониаз у женщин обнаруживается чаще, нежели in men. At the same time, it affects representatives of the weaker sex of the reproductive age (17-35 years old), and during childbirth it is able to infect a newborn baby (approximately in 5% of cases). Due to the structural features of the epithelial layer in young children, this disease is mild.
Trichomoniasis in men (photo of the pathogenpresented in this article) does not cause overt symptomatology. In this case, they may be carriers of Trichomonas and not experience pronounced ailment. This disease can cause the development of non-gonococcal urethritis, chronic epididymitis and prostatitis, as well as contribute to the occurrence of male infertility.
Trichomoniasis: causes
Most often infection with trichomoniasis occurs during sexual intercourse, or rather, with the reluctance to use a condom.
Also, the infection can be transmitted by household, or rather, through contaminated linen, towels, swimsuits, washcloths and more.
How do doctors diagnose a disease liketrichomoniasis? Infection with this disease is not a rarity. Very often, trichomoniasis is detected with other STI pathogens. In addition, many experts believe that Trichomonas can contribute to the development of mastopathy, diabetes, allergies, and even some oncological diseases.
How does the disease develop?
So, what is trichomoniasis? As mentioned above, the causative agents of this disease are Trichomonas. These are anaerobic single-celled organisms that are widely distributed in nature.
In the patient's body can be parasitic three types of Trichomonas: intestinal, oral and vaginal. The latter is the largest, most active and pathogenic.
Due to the presence of flagella Trichomonas very mobile and active. They are omnivorous and asexual, multiply rapidly, including in the absence of oxygen.
After getting into the human body Trichomonas are fixed in the urogenital system and cause inflammation. Their decay products poison the body of the patient and significantly reduce his immunity.
Such parasites can live not only in the genitalorgans, but also in the systemic flow of the patient, where they penetrate through the intercellular spaces and lymphatic pathways through the enzyme - hyaluronidase.
Трихомонады хорошо приспособлены к существованию in the human body. According to experts, they can change shape. They also tend to disguise themselves as blood cells, which makes it difficult to diagnose the disease.
We can not say that suchmicroorganisms like ureaplasmas, gonococci, candida, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus and herpes viruses, getting inside Trichomonas, are able to easily find protection from the effects of drugs and the patient’s immune system.
Motile Trichomonas often spread other bacteria through the patient's urogenital system and his vessels.
Is it possible to get rid of a disease liketrichomoniasis? Treatment in women (the drugs will be listed below) and men should be comprehensive. It should be noted that getting rid of this disease is completely extremely difficult. This is due to the fact that the non-protein shell of parasites practically does not respond to the action of antibiotic agents. It can be destroyed only by special anti-cancer drugs.
Trichomoniasis: symptoms in women and men
The incubation period of the causative agent of this infectionusually lasts from 2 days to 2 months. If the disease occurs in a latent form, then its first signs can appear only a few weeks after infection. As a rule, this happens when a person’s immune system is not working properly or other chronic diseases are exacerbated.
As manifested trichomoniasis in men (photopathogen presented in this article) and women? The clinical manifestations of this disease are different in both sexes. The representatives of the weaker sex talk about severe symptoms, while “male” trichomoniasis exists only in the form of carriage.
Depending on the severity of symptoms and the duration of the disease, trichomoniasis can occur in subacute, acute and chronic forms. The acute stage of trichomoniasis can have symptoms such as:
- erosion or sores on the mucous membranes of the genitals;
- frothy discharge green or yellow with an unpleasant odor;
- irritation and redness of the genital mucosa;
- dermatitis on the inside of the thighs;
- itching and burning of the genital mucosa;
- dysuria, discomfort when urinating;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Now you know how trichomoniasis is manifested. Symptoms in women (discharge is the main symptom of infection), listed above, are aggravated before the onset of menstruation.
In childhood this disease is observed infrequently. In girls, trichomoniasis is transmitted in a non-sexual way from a sick mother through household items.
As for men, the disease under consideration occurs in the form of urethritis and is accompanied by slight itching, mucopurulent discharge, burning sensation after urination or sexual intercourse.
Diagnostics
How should the disease be treatedtrichomoniasis? Treatment in women (photos on this topic can be found in this article) and men should be selected by an experienced doctor. The diagnosis of this disease lies in the detection of the pathogen through various methods.
On examination of women, doctors identify such signs.inflammations like hyperemia and swelling of the vagina and vulva. Also during colposcopy, they may have a sign of “strawberry cervix”. It is characterized by redness of the mucous with focal and point hemorrhages located on the cervix. Also, the patient has epithelial dysplasia and the appearance of atypical cells.
More precisely, trichomoniasis is detected using the following laboratory methods:
- microbiological or cultural method using artificial nutrient media;
- microscopy of the material taken;
- PCR diagnostics;
- immunological method.
Trichomoniasis in men is more difficult to diagnose. This is due to the absence of severe symptoms.
Treatment of the disease in women
How to cure trichomoniasis?Treatment in women (drugs, reviews will be presented below) is usually carried out by a gynecologist. The treatment regimen for any form of this disease is the same (that is, it does not depend on the absence and presence of manifestations). It should be noted that the treatment of trichomoniasis is carried out simultaneously in both sexual partners, including with negative tests in one of them. Therapy of this disease only in a man or only in a woman is ineffective, since re-infection can occur even after undergoing a full course of treatment.
According to experts, the production of antibodies against Trichomonas does not form a stable immunity. Therefore, after therapy, a person can again become infected with this disease.
Treatment of the disease should be necessarily combined with treatment of other STIs. Therapy for trichomoniasis in pregnant women is determined by the doctor. As a rule, it is carried out only in the second trimester.
Due to the lack of sensitivity in Trichomonasantibiotics are treated with antiparasitic drugs, and more specifically, with drugs of the 5-nitroimidazole group. The following are commonly used as them: "Ternidazole", "Tinidazole", "Ornidazole", "Metronidazole", "Nimorazole".
The method of treatment in men
How do men with trichomoniasis are treated? Treatment in women (the drugs were listed above) and men is no different. Both partners are prescribed drugs of the 5-nitroimidazole group.
It should also be noted that in the treatment of the disease under consideration it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol, since all of the listed drugs cause antabus-like syndrome.
Features of therapy and expert opinion
According to reviews of doctors, if trichomoniasisproceeds in subacute form, antiprotozoal drugs are used for its treatment. As for the complicated and chronic course of this disease, in this case, stimulating therapy is carried out.
Local and symptomatic treatment is applied strictly according to indications.
Also, experts say that when observingmixed infections (for example, ureaplasma, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus, gonococcus, candida) together with antiparasitic agents, patients are prescribed an antibiotic.
Complete cure
Trichomoniasis is considered to be completely cured if the pathogen is not detected during the diagnosis and no clinical symptoms are observed.
Sexual contact should be avoided during therapy. You must also inform your partner about the presence of trichomoniasis and other similar illnesses.
Результат лечения рассматриваемой болезни зависит from normalization of microflora in the urogenital system. To this end, women are prescribed the vaccine "Solko-Trichovac". It is also possible to use immunomodulatory drugs.
Very rarely Trichomonas show resistance tospecific drug group 5-nitroimidazole. But the change in dosage, replacement of the drug or the duration of its reception gives a positive result in therapy.
