Over the past few decades, medicine has developed many new methods for diagnosing infectious diseases, as well as methods for their treatment. This also applies to those infections that are sexually transmitted and entail great health problems. One of the pathogenic microbes that lead to the development of STDs is mycoplasma, the species of which will be considered in this article. More than two hundred varieties of these microorganisms live in nature, but only four of them provoke the development of infection. For the first time, these bacteria were discovered in a study of pleuropneumonia in cattle. They cause the development of a disease such as mycoplasmosis.
Description and description of the problem
Mycoplasma, the species of which will be discussed below, is a microorganism that does not have a cell wall and lives on plants, as well as in the animal and human body, feeding on cholesterol. In the group of one species, both large and small cells are present, which can have a spherical, filiform, rod-shaped or branching structure. This bacterium has the smallest size of all known unicellular organisms.
These microbes grow on those media that contain lipoprotein. They use this substance as a food source. At the initial stage of their growth, mycoplasmas need mucin, RNA, and DNA. Bacteria are enzymatically inert and enzymatically active. The latter ferment various carbohydrates, dissolve human red blood cells.
After a person has been infected, agglutinating, precipitating, as well as complement-binding antibodies are formed in his body.
Classification
Mycoplasmas come in several forms:
- Those microorganisms that are unable to cause the development of a pathological process when a person is infected.
- Pathogenic bacteria that cause mycoplasmosis.
- Microorganisms leading to the development of latent infection, the manifestation of which is suppressed by human immunity.
Based on the above classification, such diseases as fresh, acute and subacute, sluggish and chronic mycoplasmosis, as well as asymptomatic carriage, are distinguished.
Today, there are about two hundred varieties of these bacteria; only sixteen of them can live in the human body: six on the epithelium of the genitals and urinary tract (urogenital mycoplasma), ten on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and in the pharynx. In this case, only four varieties of microbes provoke the development of a disease such as mycoplasmosis, when exposed to some unfavorable factors on the body. This pathology becomes the cause of serious health problems.
Mycoplasma: types and differences
Microbes are attached to the cells of the mucous membranes of the genitourinary, respiratory and intestinal tracts, as well as to spermatozoa, fibroblasts, epithelium of the trachea, red blood cells and macrophages.
In humans, four types of microbes under certain conditions can cause the development of the disease:
- Mycoplasma pneumonia affects the respiratory system of a person, causing him to develop inflammation in the throat, bronchi and lungs.
- Ureaplasma urealyticum provokes the development of ureaplasmosis.
- Mycoplasmahominis.
- Mycoplasmagenitalium are the causative agents of urogenital mycoplasmosis, which in modern medicine occupies a significant place among STDs.
All these microorganisms have a similarity in the fact that they die in the external environment, therefore, they can only exist inside the human body. In this case, the impetus for the development of the disease is a violation of the immune system. In this case, the bacteria activate and begin to multiply actively.
Mycoplasmahominis is found in 25% of newborn girls, in boys the bacterium is detected less often. In most cases, infected children experience self-healing over time, most often this phenomenon is inherent in boys. This microorganism is found in half of women of mature age. Mycoplasmagenitalium are less common.
Respiratory Mycoplasmosis
Mycoplasma pneumonia can affect the upper and lower parts of the respiratory system. The latent period of the development of the disease is about thirty days. With damage to the upper respiratory tract, a person may develop rhinitis, and with damage to the lower respiratory tract - pneumonia, which will be accompanied by intoxication of the whole organism. This pneumonia is resistant to many antibacterial drugs, often it causes the development of pneumosclerosis and bronchiectasis. The disease is accompanied by chills and an increase in body temperature.
Microorganisms provoke the development of mycoplasmosis ARI, in which pharyngitis and rhinopharyngitis develops, while the person feels satisfactory, the body temperature does not increase.
Genitourinary mycoplasmosis
Mycoplasma (species Mycoplasmahominis and Mycoplasmagenitalium) provokes the formation of various infections of the genitourinary system. Typically, the infection develops sharply, and in the absence of therapy becomes chronic, which is accompanied by frequent relapses. The latent period lasts about two weeks. Many people ask the question - "Mycoplasma Hominis - what is it?". If such a bacterium is found in the analyzes, this may indicate that a person develops an STD. This is usually associated with a violation of the hormonal and immune systems, hypothermia, pregnancy and other negative factors. Such a pathogenic organism causes the development of urethritis, vaginitis, prostatitis, pyelonephritis, inflammation of the uterus and its appendages, as well as other pathologies of the genitourinary system. If a person is infected with mycoplasma, the consequences can be serious especially for men, since these microorganisms provoke the death of sperm, which causes infertility.
Reasons for the development of diseases
Currently, medicine does not know how pathogenic microorganisms attach to the cells of the mucous membranes. Although this connection is strong, the bacterium is not completely attached to the mucous tissues, like many viruses. A strong connection is caused by the similarity of the structure of its cell membranes with the membranes of the human body. Therefore, mycoplasma (the species of which we already know) is protected from the influence of the host immunity. In the external environment, bacteria die, therefore, a person is infected sexually or during labor from an infected woman. In the latter case, a newborn baby becomes infected, especially girls. Domestic infection is unlikely, but some doctors say that bacteria can enter the body through contact with personal hygiene items.
The peculiarities of mycoplasmas are that for a long time they may not manifest themselves, being in the genital or respiratory tract of a person. Under certain circumstances, microorganisms begin to multiply actively, provoking the development of many pathologies. To identify the causes of the development of diseases, doctors always prescribe tests for latent infections.
The risk group includes young women, people with promiscuous sexual relations, people with inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, pregnant women, and homosexuals.
Symptoms and signs of diseases caused by mycoplasmas
Usually, the disease proceeds with erased symptoms (in 40% of cases) until provoking factors, such as hypothermia or stress, begin to influence the human body. Then the infection is activated and provokes the development of serious complications. Mycoplasma in women, the causes of which usually lie in unprotected intercourse with an infected partner, cause the development of endometritis. This is especially true after abortion, surgery and childbirth. Women complain of abundant vaginal discharge, accompanied by constant itching and burning sensation, pain during urination. Most often, mycoplasma in women, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider in this article, is manifested by inflammatory processes in the uterus and its appendages, as well as in the kidneys and bladder. They develop vaginitis, urethritis, the menstrual cycle is disrupted, discomfort appears during sexual intercourse. Often, infection leads to the development of cystitis, gardnerellosis, salpingitis, infertility and adnexitis. In this case, adnexitis causes inflammation of the ovaries, a complication of which may be an abscess and adhesion of the ovary and fallopian tube.
It manifests itself in slight discomfort and pain during urination of mycoplasma in men. The doctor will tell about the symptoms and treatment of this disease when diagnosing a pathology. Over time, infection leads to the development of chronic prostatitis and inflammation of the kidneys. In medicine, a connection of pathogenic microorganisms with some varieties of male infertility has been established. The doctor will tell you how to treat mycoplasma in men, because without timely treatment, the infection spreads to the prostate, testicles, provoking the occurrence of pain in the groin area, testicular swelling. Therefore, it is important not to postpone a visit to a medical institution for examination.
Mycoplasma and pregnancy
Currently, women often have mycoplasma during pregnancy. Usually during this period, the infection worsens due to the restructuring of the hormonal background and a decrease in the immunity of the woman, provoking the development of various complications.
According to statistics, pathology often leads to spontaneous abortion, the death of the embryo in the early stages. But these pathogenic microorganisms do not affect the fetus itself, since the placenta reliably protects it from infection. Inflammation, which begins to develop on the walls of the vagina and the cervix, often passes to the membranes, they begin to tear, the water drains and premature birth begins.
What is the danger of mycoplasma during pregnancy? The risk of preterm birth during this period increases three times. Also, an infection can cause an ectopic pregnancy or infertility.
If a pregnant woman is infected, endometritis often develops after labor. Therefore, doctors recommend early treatment of the child to undergo treatment.
Mycoplasma and children
During labor, the child may become infected with mycoplasmosis from the mother while passing through the birth canal. The infection usually affects the bronchi and lungs, causing inflammation of the nose, pharynx, lungs and bronchi. The severity of the pathology will depend on the state of immunity of the child. Mycoplasma in women, the causes of which may be different, does not always lead to infection of the child. In some cases, when children become infected, they spontaneously self-heal after some time.
But with infection, children develop inflammatory processes in the respiratory system. Often, the bacterium becomes the cause of sepsis, meningitis, conjunctivitis. Moreover, the weaker the immune system in a child, the more severe the course of the disease will be.
Often children become infected in preschool and school institutions. In this case, the infection is transmitted by airborne droplets. But only those children who have a weak immune system become infected, for example, after a viral disease. Usually they develop bronchitis, sometimes pneumonia. In European countries, about 40% of childhood bronchitis occurs in mycoplasma. The main symptom of the disease in this case is a constant cough for two weeks. In some cases, the infection affects children with asthma or asthmatic bronchitis, which provokes the frequent occurrence of seizures.
The course of mycoplasmosis in children can be different, with frequent periods of remission and relapse. Sometimes the disease may not show symptoms. In some cases, children only become carriers of infection, which can occur during puberty even in the absence of sexual contact. It is not possible to diagnose the disease in children by examining a smear from the cervical canal or vagina.
Diagnostic measures
After studying the history, questioning and examination of the patient, the doctor first prescribes cultural diagnostic methods, which include the mycoplasma inoculation tank. It makes it possible to identify the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibacterial drugs to develop effective treatment. For analysis, a swab from the vagina, urethra or urethra is taken, in some cases, urine can be used. The accuracy of this method is 100%, but the results need to wait about six days.
PCR is also a commonly used diagnostic method for detecting infection. This technique helps to identify bacterial DNA in the patient’s biological fluid (smear or blood). The accuracy of the results is close to 100%.
Often, the doctor prescribes an ELISA method. The analysis will be informative when antibodies to mycoplasma are found in the blood. The study is prescribed by a venereologist, gynecologist or urologist. The accuracy of the ELISA method is about 70%, the results can be obtained the next day.
These diagnostic methods are prescribed in the presence of any inflammation of the genitourinary system of unknown etiology, with the manifestation of signs of mycoplasmosis, in preparation for surgery on the pelvic organs, as well as with frequent exacerbations of thrush. It is always recommended to take an analysis for mycoplasma when planning pregnancy, in preparation for IVF, diagnosing the causes of infertility, miscarriage. Usually, together with this pathology in a person, diseases such as herpes and trichomoniasis are detected. The analysis must be passed to both sexual partners in order to eliminate the risk of reinfection.
When contacting a doctor, he will answer in detail the question of whether mycoplasma Hominis is what it is. If this infection is detected in the analyzes, he prescribes the appropriate treatment.
Pathology therapy
The doctor prescribes treatment with antibacterial drugs, to which pathogens are sensitive. In this case, antibiotics must be selected carefully in order to prevent the development of immunity in mycoplasma. Usually, the disease is accompanied by other bacterial infections, so the attending physician will select the drug that affects all types of infections. The doctor will tell you in detail how and how to treat mycoplasma in men, women and children. Often, several antibiotics are prescribed at once, for example, Azithromycin and Tetracycline. Also prescribed drugs to strengthen the immune system, vitamin complexes, dietary supplements, probiotics. Modern drugs are highly effective, healing is about 95%.
Often in medicine, laser therapy is used to treat the disease. This technique makes it possible to directionally destroy pathogenic microorganisms. The laser is directed to the urethra and the area where bacteria and the inflammatory process are detected. Using a laser, it is possible to relieve inflammation, increase local immunity, normalize blood circulation, and stop the pain syndrome. After this procedure, mycoplasma in men, the symptoms and treatment of which are discussed in detail in the article, as well as in women, completely disappears. But it is important to carry out therapy to both partners, otherwise re-infection is possible.
Pregnancy treatment
Since the treatment of the disease is carried out only with the use of antibacterial drugs, it is recommended that treatment be carried out after the twelfth week of pregnancy with short courses that will be safer for the woman and her unborn child. Usually, the doctor prescribes antibiotics from the macrolide group, as they are safer than other drugs. Until the twelfth week of pregnancy, pathology cannot be treated, since the organs of the fetus have not yet fully formed.
In addition, the doctor prescribes probiotics to normalize the microflora in the intestines, as well as vitamins, immunomodulators, which help to reduce the duration of treatment. After undergoing therapy, a woman should undergo a second examination in order to find out whether the disease has been cured. Typically, a PCR method is prescribed for this, and analysis should only be done one month after the end of therapy.
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