Today, medicine has revealed the existence of many types of bacteria whose habitat is the human body. Most of them are the causative agents of a huge number of various diseases with varying degrees of severity.
What is streptococcus?
The common name streptococcus unites a special group of bacteria. If you examine them under a microscope, then outwardly they resemble chains consisting of cells. They can be round or oval. Streptococci are common. They can be contaminated with water and air, soil and food. In addition, some types of streptococci can be found in organisms in animals and humans. Here they spread in the intestines, respiratory tract, skin. Until a certain point, they may not manifest themselves in any way, however, in the case of the slightest violation of the level of immunity, streptococci can begin to actively develop and increase their number. As a result of this, a streptococcal infection occurs, and its treatment is a long and painstaking process.
The causative agent of almost any streptococcal infection is beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The reason for this is its ability to destroy red blood cells (red blood cells).
As a result of its activity, streptococci secrete many poisons and toxins. They have a detrimental effect on the human body.
Types of Streptococcus
Due to the fact that there are many different types of streptococci, there is a need to classify these bacteria. They were divided into several groups according to their biochemical characteristics:
- Streptococcus group A. The most infectious species. It can cause many dangerous diseases: from sore throat to rheumatism. A healthy human body selects the habitat, and is localized most often in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Streptococcus group B. It is also called hemolytic streptococcus. This type of streptococcus has earned this name due to the fact that it is able to destroy red blood cells. Bacteria in this group can cause very serious diseases that affect the heart and joints. They are also the causative agents of sepsis in a newborn baby. If a pregnant woman has streptococcus agalactia in her urine, then she is immediately prescribed a course of treatment, since these bacteria can cause fetal development pathology, and in the worst case, provoke a miscarriage.
- Streptococcus groups C and G. These bacteria most often choose the airways as their habitat (for example, there have been cases when this type of streptococcus was found in the nose), mucous membranes that strengthen the male and female genital organs, as well as the skin. This group of streptococcus can cause severe pneumonia and dangerous inflammation (possibly even purulent) in other organs.
In addition to the above, there are a number of other types of streptococci (from A to U), most of them become the reason that a person develops a dangerous pathological condition. If you start the wrong or untimely treatment, the person may die.
Routes of Streptococcus Intake
A person begins to develop a disease, the causative agent of which is a streptococcal bacterium, under the following conditions: the patient has contacted the infection, and his immunity is currently weakened. However, the second component is optional, since there have been cases of infection in healthy people whose immunity was normal.
There are the following ways in which a bacterium enters the human body:
- By airborne droplets. The risk of contracting an infection caused by streptococcus is often very high in the cold season, when colds become more acute. At this time, the number of various infections (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.) that live in the air, and most often indoors, increases significantly. Offices, public transport, various events and other crowded places, especially when acute respiratory infections are raging, become a habitat for bacteria, from where they can easily enter the human body. Sneezing and coughing people are the main carriers of infection, so you should not be in their immediate vicinity for a long time.
- Airborne by dust. The composition of dust usually includes small particles of tissue, paper, exfoliated skin, animal hair, pollen, as well as various representatives of infections: viruses, fungi, bacteria. Long stay in rooms with a high level of dust is another factor that increases the risk that streptococcal infection will enter the body of a healthy person.
- Contact household way. Infection in this way occurs during the sharing of dishes, personal hygiene items, towels, bedding and kitchen utensils with a person who is infected with a staph infection. The risk of infection increases several times in the event of a trauma in a healthy person of the mucous membranes of the nose or oral cavity. Damage to the skin can also be dangerous. At work, often, infection occurs due to the use of one cup by several people, or in the process of drinking one bottle from the throat.
- Sexually. Infection occurs in the process of intimacy with a person infected with streptococcal infection. Infection can occur even if a person is not sick, but simply is a carrier of these bacteria. This type of staphylococcus chooses the organs of the male and female genitourinary system as its habitat and active reproduction.
- Fecal-oral route. This method can be infected if you do not follow the rules of personal hygiene (for example, do not wash your hands before eating).
- In a medical way. Infection of a person with an infection occurs most often during his examination, as well as surgical or dental intervention. The reason is not disinfected medical instruments.
The risk group for infection with streptococcal infection is:
- People with bad habits (smokers, drink alcohol or drugs).
- Those who do not have a healthy sleep, and there are constant stress, chronic fatigue.
- People who eat harmful or unhealthy foods.
- Persons leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Those with insufficient vitamins and microelements in the body.
- People who abuse certain drugs, including antibiotics.
- Persons visiting beauty salons with a dubious reputation. In particular, this applies to procedures related to manicure, pedicure, piercing, tattoos.
- Those who work in rooms with a high level of pollution (for example, in enterprises with chemical or construction industries).
Urine tests for staph infection
If the analysis revealed a high level of streptococci in the urine, then we can say with confidence that the person is infected, and at the same time he has a disease caused by streptococcus bacteria. Bacteria can lead to tonsillitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, urethritis, bronchitis, pneumonia, prostatitis, meningitis, cystitis, sepsis, periodontitis and pyelonephritis.
Symptoms of the presence of bacteria in the urine
The increased content of streptococci in the urine can cause manifestations of pathologies in various organs and systems of the human body. In a person infected with streptococcal bacteria, the following symptoms are observed:
- urge to the toilet increases;
- body temperature rises or falls;
- enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area;
- the skin is covered with a rash;
- pain and burning sensation during urination;
- acute abdominal pain;
- the color of urine changes, it becomes turbid;
- redness appears in the area of ​​damage by bacteria;
- a whitish coating forms, resembling flakes on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
- the patient is tormented by attacks of nausea and vomiting;
- lowers or rises blood pressure;
- aching back pain occurs.
Some patients complain of an allergic reaction. And it arises as a result of the interaction of the body with the waste products of streptococcus bacteria. An allergy appears as a rash on top covered with yellow crusts. It may contain pus. During infection, streptococcus often provokes autoimmune processes that cause damage to the joints, heart and kidneys.
If the treatment of streptococcal infection is not started in a timely manner, its further development can lead to endometritis, urethritis, vaginal candidiasis, inflammation in the bladder and prostate gland. Further through the urethra, pus may be released. In this case, the patient feels severe pain in the lower abdomen, in addition, the lumbar region, swelling and itching of the genital organs may disturb.
Streptococcus in a pregnant woman
During pregnancy, a woman’s immunity weakens. That is why it is more susceptible than all others to diseases of an infectious nature, which cause including streptococci. The most terrible consequences of streptococcal infection may be premature birth, placental abruption, pathology in the development of the child or his death.
Group B streptococci, or, as they are also called, hemolytic streptococci, are very widespread. They cause a person’s health problems. However, the most dangerous hemolytic streptococcus is for a woman during pregnancy, and more specifically for her baby.
Carriers of group B bacteria are 10 to 30% of pregnant women. Since this bacterium is detected during the examination of every fourth pregnant woman, it is impossible to call it a rarity. However, it is inadmissible to treat her indifferently. The reason is that this pathogen can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth.
It is most often possible to detect the presence of streptococcus in the body of a pregnant woman only by conducting a laboratory analysis of urine and smear.
If streptococcus is detected in the urine of a pregnant woman, the attending physician must urgently begin treatment. If timely therapy is absent, the risk of developing the following pathological conditions of the pregnant woman and her fetus begins to increase:
- premature discharge of the membranes of the fetus;
- premature birth;
- intrauterine death of the child;
- the birth of a baby who later has cerebral palsy;
- the occurrence of problems with learning, speech functions and hearing in a child.
Symptoms of streptococcal infection
In pregnant women whose urogenital system is infected with streptococcus, the following symptoms occur.
Perhaps the development of chorioamniotitis, the development of infection in the urinary system, infection of the fetus, which is fraught with miscarriage or stillbirth.
After delivery occurs, especially after cesarean section, there is a huge risk that endometritis begins to develop. Symptoms will not be specific: high body temperature, the occurrence of weakness, pain in the lower abdomen, painful palpation of the uterus.
A few hours after birth, sepsis may occur in the baby, and after ten days - meningitis.
If the doctor has suspicions that the woman's genitourinary system is infected, then the analysis will help to detect the presence of streptococcus in the urine during pregnancy.
Diagnosis of infection
The detection of streptococcal infection is often not an easy task. Diseases with pronounced symptoms (for example, scarlet fever or erysipelas) can alleviate the problem. In most cases, bacteriological studies should be carried out to detect streptococci in women in urine or smear.
For the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment, the doctor must take samples from the source of infection. If a pregnant woman is suspected of urethritis, either a vaginal smear or urine streptococcus is taken. To clarify the nature of the disease, the doctor can give a referral for a blood test or screening test.
Urinalysis - normal and deviation
The result of urinalysis on streptococcus in pregnancy is calculated in colony forming units per milliliter (CFU / ml). Counting is carried out by specialists in a bacteriological laboratory. Normally, streptococci in the urine should contain no more than 1000 CFU / ml. In this case, it is safe to say that the woman is healthy, since such an amount is not dangerous to her health. If in the form of the results of bacteriological research this indicator exceeds 100,000 CFU / ml, no doubt, a pregnant woman is infected with streptococcus. Having obtained such results, the doctor should immediately begin to search for the source of infection and develop a treatment regimen. In order to determine the most effective method of treatment, pregnant women are often prescribed directions for an antibactogram. This study will help answer the question of which drugs will most effectively fight infection.
Pregnant woman treatment
A positive test for streptococcus requires immediate initiation of therapy. Most often, pregnant women find streptococcus agalactia in their urine. In the fight against them, antibacterial drugs are used. They are administered intravenously or with a dropper. Only antibiotics make it possible to protect the fetus and subsequently the newborn child from the infection with which his mother is infected.
If streptococcus is present in the urine, treatment starts from the third trimester of pregnancy or during childbirth. However, in some cases, therapy began at 12 weeks. The best antibacterial drugs that can cure streptococcal infection are the penicillin series of antibiotics. These include ampicillins, benzylpenicillins and macrolides. These medicines are considered the safest for the mother and her unborn baby. The occurrence of a rash is possible if the mother has an individual intolerance to penicillin.
In addition, in the fight against the presence of streptococcus in the urine of a pregnant woman, they sometimes use the bacteriophage streptococcal, an immunobiological drug that is effective in treating this kind of infection.
If you do not start treatment on time, the consequences can be most dire. After infection, the infant begins to suffer from meningitis, pneumonia, and blood poisoning.
Streptococcus in a child
Often, a child is infected with streptococcus bacteria by airborne droplets. However, other methods of infection are not excluded:
- as a result of a dental operation;
- placental infection during pregnancy or childbirth.
If streptococcal bacteria enter the child’s body through the skin or urethra, the bladder will be the site of their localization. There have been cases when bacteria entered the urethra from the colon. Once in the canal, bacteria move along the bladder and on. Such a movement of microorganisms is characteristic of the female sex, the cause is the anatomical features.
Symptoms of a staph infection in a child
You can detect streptococcus bacteria in a child at any age. The onset of infection is characterized by:
- drowsiness
- fever
- obscure breathing problems.
Symptoms in the late stages of infection:
- nasal congestion,
- lack of appetite,
- cough,
- heat
- cramps.
However, often bacteria infection is not accompanied by any striking symptoms. That is why doctors recommend laboratory diagnosis.
Diagnosis and treatment of a child
To detect streptococcus in the urine of a child, experts have developed special tests that help detect pathogens within half an hour. Traditional methods for diagnosing streptococcal infection include urine culture. If streptococcus is found in the baby's urine, a suspicion of a disease of urethritis or nephritis immediately arises.
This disease is treated with antibiotics. In order not to harm the children's body with such strong medicines, doctors prescribe additional medicines that restore microflora. Amateur performance in such treatment is not welcome. If the child’s body is severely depleted of toxins that secrete streptococcus bacteria, the doctor prescribes bed rest and refusal of physical activity.
As a rule, treatment lasts about two weeks. , , . , , .
. Causes and symptoms
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- The sensation of itching and burning in the genital area is the middle stage.
- The formation of cracks, microerosion and microscopic papules in the foreskin is a chronic stage.
The symptoms of the presence in the urine of a man with streptococcus include:
- nausea
- high temperature
- feeling of weakness;
- rapid and painful urination;
- purulent discharge from the urethra.
Diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal infection in men
In order to detect hemolytic streptococcus in the urine of a man, a whole range of measures is carried out, which includes:
- clinical urine analysis;
- laboratory examination of a smear of prostate secretion;
- bacteriological culture of urine;
- other laboratory research methods.
If streptococcus is nevertheless detected in a man’s urine after a bacteriological examination, serious treatment is prescribed, aimed at the complete destruction of the infectious source.
The basis of treatment is the same group of penicillin antibiotics. In addition to them, the patient should take drugs aimed at strengthening the immune system. During the treatment period, the man should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions. These include:
- proper nutrition;
- lack of physical activity;
- maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
- compliance with hygiene rules.
All medicines are prescribed only by a doctor, therefore, to avoid complications, self-medication should be abandoned.