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 is manifested by signs of proctitis, urethritis, colpitis, cystitis, and is also often combined with genital infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, candidiasis, etc.
In the acute stage, this disease is accompanied by abundant vaginal discharge, itching and burning. These symptoms are characteristic of women. As for men, they have pain when urinating.
In the absence of the correct and adequate treatment, trichomoniasis becomes chronic. Subsequently, this can cause infertility, prostatitis, complicated childbirth and pregnancy, as well as infant mortality and intrauterine pathology.
Causative agent of infection
We further study the question of what trichomoniasis is. The causative agent of this disease is Trichomonas (vaginal), which is transmitted mainly through sexual contact.
With the development of this disease in men, the urethra is affected, seminal vesicles, the prostate, as well as the testicles and their appendages suffer. In representatives of the weaker sex, Trichomonas multiplies in the vagina, the vaginal part of the cervical canal and in the urethra.
Features of the disease
Trichomoniasis in women is detected more often than in men. At the same time, it affects women of reproductive age (17-35 years old), and during childbirth it can infect a newborn baby (in about 5% of cases). Due to the structural features of the epithelial layer in young children, this disease proceeds in a mild form.
Trichomoniasis in men (a photo of the pathogen is presented in this article) does not cause obvious symptoms. At the same time, they can be carriers of Trichomonas and not experience severe malaise. Such a 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 intercourse, or rather, when you do not want to use a condom.
Also, the infection can be transmitted through the household, or rather, through contaminated linen, towels, swimwear, washcloths and more.
How do doctors diagnose a disease like trichomoniasis? 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 unicellular organisms that are widespread in nature.
In the patientās body, three types of trichomonads can parasitize : intestinal, oral and vaginal. The latter is the largest, most active and pathogenic.
Due to the presence of flagella, Trichomonas are very mobile and active. They are omnivorous and sexless, multiply rapidly, including in the absence of oxygen.
After entering the human body, trichomonads are fixed in the genitourinary system and cause inflammation. Their decay products poison the patient's body and significantly reduce his immunity.
Such parasites can live not only in the genitals, but also in the patientās systemic bloodstream, where they penetrate through the intercellular spaces and lymphatic tracts through the enzyme hyaluronidase.
Trichomonads are well adapted to exist in the human body. According to experts, they can change shape. They also tend to disguise themselves as blood cells, which greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease.
It cannot be said that microorganisms such as ureaplasmas, gonococci, candida, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus and herpes viruses, getting inside Trichomonas, can easily find protection there from the effects of drugs and the patientās immune system.
Moving Trichomonas often spread other bacteria along the patient's urogenital system and its vessels.
Is it possible to get rid of a disease such as trichomoniasis? Treatment for women (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 with special antiprotozoal drugs.
Trichomoniasis: symptoms in women and men
The incubation period of the causative agent of this infection usually lasts from 2 days to 2 months. If the disease proceeds in a latent form, then its first signs can appear only a few weeks after infection. As a rule, this occurs when the human immune system is malfunctioning or when other chronic diseases become aggravated.
So how does trichomoniasis manifest in men (the pathogen photo is presented in this article) and women? The clinical manifestations of this disease in both sexes are different. Representatives of the weaker sex speak of 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 genital mucosa;
- frothy discharge of green or yellow color, having 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 during urination;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Now you know how trichomoniasis appears. Symptoms in women (discharge is the main sign of infection) listed above are aggravated before the onset of menstruation.
In childhood, this disease is observed infrequently. In girls, trichomoniasis is transmitted asexually from a sick mother through household items.
As for men, the disease in question proceeds in the form of urethritis and is accompanied by mild itching, mucopurulent discharge, burning after urination or sexual intercourse.
Diagnostics
How should a disease such as trichomoniasis be treated? Treatment for women (photos on this topic can be found in this article) and men should be selected by an experienced doctor. Diagnosis of this disease is to detect the pathogen through various methods.
When examining women, doctors identify such signs of inflammation as 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 mucosa with focal and pinpoint 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 taken material;
- PCR diagnostics;
- immunological method.
Trichomoniasis in representatives of the stronger sex is more difficult to diagnose. This is due to the lack of severe symptoms.
Treatment of the disease in women
How to cure trichomoniasis? Treatment in women (drugs, reviews will be presented later) is usually carried out by a gynecologist. The treatment regimen for all forms of this disease is the same (that is, it does not depend on the absence and presence of manifestations). It should be especially noted that trichomoniasis is treated 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 development of antibodies against Trichomonas does not form a stable immunity. Therefore, after therapy, a person can again become infected with this ailment.
The treatment of the disease in question should be combined with the treatment of other STIs. The treatment of 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 of Trichomonas to antibiotic agents, such a disease is treated with antiparasitic drugs, or rather, drugs of the 5-nitroimidazole group. The following are usually used as them: āTernidazoleā, āTinidazoleā, āOrnidazoleā, āMetronidazoleā, āNimrazoleā.
The method of treatment in men
How is trichomoniasis treated in the stronger sex? Treatment in women (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 in question it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol, since all of the listed drugs cause an antabuse-like syndrome.
Features of therapy and expert opinion
According to doctors, if trichomoniasis occurs in a subacute form, then 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 used strictly according to indications.
Experts also argue that when observing a mixed infection (for example, ureaplasma, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus, gonococcus, candida), an antibiotic is prescribed for patients with antiparasitic drugs.
Complete cure
Trichomoniasis is considered completely cured if, during diagnosis, the pathogen is not detected, and clinical symptoms are not observed.
During therapy, sexual contact should be avoided. It is also necessary to inform your partner about the presence of trichomoniasis and other similar ailments.
The result of treatment of the disease in question depends on the normalization of microflora in the genitourinary system. For this purpose, women are prescribed the Solko-Trikhovak vaccine. It is also possible the use of immunomodulatory drugs.
Very rarely, trichomonads show resistance to a particular drug of the 5-nitroimidazole group. But changing the dosage, replacing the drug or the duration of its administration gives a positive result in therapy.