Unfortunately, in the modern world there are diseases that have spread so widely around the planet that they can be characterized as epidemics - these are STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).
One of the reasons for such a total spread of infections such as chlamydia, mycoplasmosis and ureaplasmosis, doctors consider the course of the disease with mild symptoms. Often a person simply does not know that he is a carrier, and passes on to his partners chlamydia and ureaplasma. But the second reason is the negligence of the patients themselves, the wrong lifestyle and ignorance of the existence of such diseases. According to medical studies, several types of pathogens can be in the human body at once. So, when chlamydia, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma, and mycoplasma are diagnosed, too.
Chlamydia is ...
Chlamydia is one of the most common infections caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), transmitted mainly through sexual contact. According to WHO research, about 30% of people worldwide are infected with chlamydia. This disease, as a rule, proceeds in the presence of other infectious infections. Often diagnosed not only with chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, but also pathologies caused by microorganisms such as gardnerella, papilloma, mycoplasma, etc. In this regard, if at least one infection from the list is detected, it is necessary to take an analysis for chlamydia.
Development reasons
The causative agent of chlamydia is the exceptional microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis, which carries the properties of bacteria and viruses. This is manifested in the possibility of infection leading a parasitic lifestyle inside the cell. And the structure of the pathogen is similar to the virus. Such features are given by nature for the double protection of chlamydia. Diagnosing chlamydia is truly difficult.
Infection is very common not only among people, but also in nature. Scientists have identified chlamydia in the flora and fauna of the planet - in birds, domestic and wild animals, mollusks, even some species of plants have chlamydial infections.
Scientists have divided chlamydia into several types:
- Chlamydia psittaci - found in birds that can carry the infection and infect humans by airborne droplets. This species can cause pneumonia, arthritis, pyelonephritis.
- Chlamydia pecorum - this infection can be infected from animals, because it is them that are primarily affected by microorganisms.
- Chlamydia pneumoniae - Chlamydia infection from humans.
- Chlamydophila felis - these microorganisms cause disease in animals, which, in turn, can infect humans. The disease is manifested by frequent conjunctivitis (in both humans and animals).
- Chlamydophila caviae - this type of pathogen causes genital ailments in infected people.
- Chlamydia trachomatis - patients infected with this type of chlamydia can have disorders in the work of any organ in the body.
Chlamydia life is divided into two stages: infectious and reticular. In the first cycle, the microorganism attaches to the cell, penetrates into it and begins to grow, transforming into a reticular body. It is noteworthy that several bacteria can settle in one cell at the same time. In the second stage, chlamydia parasitizes inside the cell, begins division and, as soon as it reaches maturity, and this, on average 48 hours later, breaks through the membrane and a new colony of bacteria enters the body to damage the following cells.
Transmission ways
In modern society, it is very easy to catch chlamydia. The causes of infection are unprotected sex or erratic change of partners. Chlamydia transmission is possible during sexual intercourse of heterosexual couples and in homosexual relationships. If vaginal sex has taken place, the genitourinary organs are affected, with anal - the rectum, oral will lead to infection of the throat and respiratory tract. By and large, absolutely anyone can be infected with chlamydia.
Chlamydia is one of the few STDs, the infection of which can occur through the household. This may result in:
- shaking hands with an infected person;
- sharing utensils - a cup or spoon;
- general hygiene products - towels, washcloths;
- common underwear.
Particular care should be taken for women who are preparing to give birth to offspring. Chlamydia from an infected mother can be transmitted to the fetus and lead to complications of pregnancy, impaired intrauterine development of the baby or negative consequences after his birth.
Chlamydia, caused by bacteria of the species pecorum and psittaci, is transmitted to humans through contact with birds or animals. Often, people who are in close contact with representatives of the fauna are at risk. These are zoo workers, veterinarians, etc.
Development processes
As already known, the pathogen development period is three to four days. As a rule, the mucous membranes of the internal genital organs are primarily affected. The bacterium attaches to the host cell, penetrate into it, multiply and leave its temporary home, destroying its shell.
The incubation period lasts about a month, or rather from 20 to 30 days. So, during this time, it is impossible to diagnose chlamydia with methods known in medicine.
When the cells of the mucous membranes die, they release active substances of a biological nature that provoke an increase in blood flow, a decrease in the functions of the cell membrane and an increase in the number of lymphocytes in the tissues. Inflammation begins. From the outbreak, the infection moves along the lymph between the lymph nodes and spreads throughout the body. Scientists believe that chlamydia can affect any organ and tissue, but most often the tissues of the genitourinary system, joints and eyes suffer.
The human immune system can respond differently to chlamydia. This, as a rule, causes the chlamydial infection to become chronic. So, at the beginning of menstruation in women, taking oral contraceptives, with banal body fatigue from physical labor or psycho-emotional overload, the immune system weakens and becomes vulnerable. In this regard, infection and the course of the disease can be asymptomatic. But not always.
Symptoms
The predominant signs in men and women can occur from time to time during the incubation period, under the influence of some factors - alcohol consumption, active sexual intercourse, stress or eating spicy foods. Symptoms of chlamydia are presented in three forms:
- spicy;
- chronic
- asymptomatic.
According to clinical studies, symptoms appear in only 60 out of 100 infections.
Chlamydia can affect not only the genitourinary system, but also other systems and organs:
1. The eyes. The ailment is accompanied by conjunctivitis, in which the lining of the eye turns red, unpleasant sensations appear during blinking, tearing and discharge of a yellowish color. These signs resemble the usual inflammation of the conjunctiva, however, in this case, the cause of the disease is completely different - chlamydia. Symptoms (a photo of the affected organ of vision is presented below) can have different intensities and occur both together and separately.
2. The brain. The disease is manifested by encephalopathy, in which at times breathing stops and convulsions appear.
3. The respiratory system. There is inflammation of the pharynx and lungs, accompanied by chlamydial pharyngitis and pneumonia.
4. Kidneys - inflammation of the kidneys.
5. Joints. Arthritis caused by chlamydia occurs with severe pain in the joints during movement.
6. Rectum - chlamydial proctitis.
7. Simultaneous damage to internal organs - chlamydia of the heart, liver and lungs. In fact, it is one of the most complex diseases.
Since many of the listed symptoms are characteristic of other diseases, patients may not always understand that they have chlamydia. Symptoms and treatment can only be correctly recognized and prescribed by a doctor, and since not everyone, at the slightest deterioration in well-being, goes to the clinic, therapy may be delayed for an indefinite period, which leads to the development of complications.
Symptoms in women
When infected with chlamydia, a woman may notice:
- discharge of white or yellowish color with an unpleasant odor from the genitals;
- discomfort in the inguinal region - burning, slight pain, itching;
- painful menstruation and pain preceding them (it is a symptom, provided that such phenomena have not been noticed before);
- minor bleeding in the middle of the cycle ;
- weakness, fever;
- pain during and after intercourse.
Symptoms in men
With chlamydia, men can feel discomfort in the urethra (since there is inflammation) for several months. Other things may add other symptoms:
- small discharge of a glassy form from the urethra (mainly in the morning);
- minor pain in the genitals and lumbar;
- increased body temperature, weakening of the body;
- dark urine with an admixture of pus (veins);
- the appearance of drops of blood during urination or ejaculation;
- discomfort in the perineum during intercourse;
- pain in the groin, near the anus and in the prostate;
- a decrease in sexual activity, a decrease in the amount of sperm, as well as a change in its color.
Chlamydia disease in men is often mild and blurry, and the development of the disease is slow.
When children get sick
A newborn baby can become infected with chlamydia in three ways:
1. When passing through the birth canal of an infected mother. In this case, the baby can become infected with chlamydial conjunctivitis. The disease will manifest itself with profuse discharge from the baby's eyes after five or six days. If during the birth the baby is not infected by the mother, then there is a high probability of infection through breast milk.
2. In utero. Chlamydia crosses the placenta into the body of the unborn baby. As a rule, the diagnosis of the disease in the expectant mother occurs even before the baby is born, therefore, in the first hours after the baby is born, the doctors will carry out all the necessary tests to identify the disease. With a probability of 70%, the newborn acquires chlamydia from a sick mother.
3. In contact with an infected person in the first days after birth. Therefore, you should monitor the state of health of the baby and, at the slightest deviation, pass all the required tests.
In adolescence, infection can occur in the household way - when visiting the pool, from the handshake of a sick person and other contacts. The pathogen manifests itself, as in the case of adults, weakly, the symptoms are poorly expressed. In this regard, in order to early detection of infection, it is recommended to examine children systematically.
Chlamydia in children and adolescents is dangerous for possible complications. It can be:
- chronic inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs;
- problems in girls with future bearing a child;
- adhesions of the fallopian tubes;
- cervical cancer.
Symptoms in newborns can manifest as:
- Conjunctivitis - purulent souring of the eyes, bonding of the eyelids after sleep, redness of the eye. Such symptoms appear throughout the month.
- Pneumonia - respiratory distress, pallor of the skin, regurgitation after feeding, lingering cough.
- Skin inflammations and rashes.
- Urethritis in boys or vaginitis in girls.
Symptoms in adolescents are the same as in adults.
If chlamydia is diagnosed in children, treatment is carried out according to general schemes, with the only condition that a dose adjustment is required according to the weight of the patient. So, therapy of newborns involves the use of various means, which include antibiotics, intake of vitamin complexes, physiotherapy exercises. To treat the disease in adolescents, antibiotics, antifungal and immunosupporting drugs, and vitamins are used.
Diagnostics
Since the symptoms of this ailment are rather non-specific, for the most minor deviations in the state of health of the genitourinary system, you should consult a doctor. Women should visit a gynecologist, and men should visit a urologist. Also, a visit to a dermatovenerologist will not hurt.
To accurately determine the disease, you need to identify the microorganism that caused the infection - chlamydia. For the diagnosis of chlamydia, they usually use several methods at once:
- microscopic
- serological;
- the use of DNA probes;
- enzyme immunoassay ;
- secreting an infection in the cell;
- PCR and LCR methods;
- TA
- Mutual fund.
It is necessary to pay attention that, examining only a smear (scraping), it is impossible to identify an infection with 100% certainty. The specialist can only assume the presence of the disease, otherwise the confirmation by other diagnostic methods is required.
If a person has chlamydia, then tests for chlamydia and his sexual partner should be tested, even if he does not have symptoms.
Complications
Since the ailment proceeds with minor symptoms, a person for a long time may not be aware of infection. And at this time, sexual chlamydia can provoke the development of cystitis, prostatitis, pyelonephritis, infertility, erectile dysfunction, cause gynecological diseases of the uterus and its neck, as well as inflammation of the appendages. In most cases, couples who decide to have a baby are faced with infertility, which may be caused by chlamydia. According to researchers, every sixth couple has problems with childbearing, and in half the cases a man is unable to conceive.
A serious danger to the human body is not only chlamydia itself, but also complications after the disease. Men who have had this disease can develop vesiculitis and prostatitis, which, again, leads to infertility. In addition, if the infection penetrated the urinary system, then the development of cystitis is likely. And with advanced forms of chlamydia, narrowing of the urethra is possible.
In women, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy in the presence of chlamydia increases several times. Tubal obstruction and endometritis may occur. And during childbirth, the expectant mother can infect her baby, moreover, sometimes the fetus becomes infected and in utero, through the placenta, which is fraught with health problems of the baby and a general complication of pregnancy.
Chlamydia leads to damage not only to the genitals and urinary system. So, with Reiter's syndrome, joints, skin integuments are affected, the disease causes eye inflammation and other diseases.
Treatment
The recovery process is more difficult than with infection of the body by other bacteria. This is due to the fact that chlamydia perfectly adapt to drugs and are able to avoid them. In this case, therapy should be carried out as soon as possible. An important nuance: with chlamydia, treatment is indicated for both partners. At the end of the drug course, a second diagnosis should be made. If no pathogenic bacteria are found, then the test is postponed for a month. Women need to be examined before starting menstruation. If, as a result, the tests did not give a positive result, then the scheme was chosen correctly, and the disease receded.
The course of treatment for chlamydia includes:
- the use of antibacterial drugs;
- the use of immunomodulatory agents to maintain immunity functions;
- restoration of microflora of the mucous membranes.
So, chlamydia is a disease provoked by an infection inside the cell, and antibiotics are prescribed for its treatment, which penetrate and accumulate in the affected cells, stopping the intracellular processes of protein synthesis.
Together with antibiotics, patients begin immunomodulating therapy. It eliminates changes in immunity that have occurred in the body of a person infected with chlamydia.
The final stage of antichlamydia therapy is the use of drugs aimed at the prevention and elimination of intestinal dysbiosis. For this, probiotics are taken - medications containing live beneficial bifidobacteria.
Another way to treat chlamydia is to treat the vagina with specialized disinfectants, using antifungal drugs to exclude the possible attachment of candidiasis. The intake of vitamin complexes, antiparasitic agents and the introduction of enzymes into the body contribute to increasing the immunity of the infection.
Drug treatment in men and women is usually similar. The only difference is local therapy.
Important! Ascorbic acid and acidic solutions are contraindicated in diseases such as chlamydia. Treatment in men (drugs are prescribed in the form of creams) consists in processing the foreskin, the mouth of the urethra and the glans penis. Medicines are applied in a thin layer every day, 3 or 4 times a day, for a month. At the end of the course of therapy, you should consult your doctor again and undergo a second examination for chlamydia within three months. With a negative result, we can talk about cure.
This is how treatment in men is diagnosed with chlamydia. Drugs are prescribed antibacterial action:
- tetracycline group - "Doxycycline" and "Metacyclin";
- fluoroquinolone group - Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin;
- macrolides - Josamycin and Rovamycin.
In order to avoid relapse, the treatment of a sexual partner is mandatory.
When chlamydia is detected in women, the doctor prescribes vaginal suppositories that have suitable components for the effective fight against viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause trichomoniasis or chlamydia.
Treatment in women (drugs for the main dose):
- "Povidone iodine";
- Hexicon
- "Genefron".
These suppositories work perfectly against infection, destroying viral cells and vital structures of pathogenic microorganisms. However, therapy is not limited to suppositories only if a diagnosis of chlamydia is made. Treatment in women (additional drugs are listed below) should be comprehensive:
- Along with antibiotics, drugs that affect the immune system are prescribed - Methyluracil, Viferon, Lysozyme, Timalin, Polyoxidonium. These funds increase the protective functions of the body and contribute to the fight against chlamydia.
- Vitamins Vitrum or Supradin are prescribed. The use of these drugs is prescribed for a period of at least two months.
- To maintain the required number of enzymes in the body, Mezim, Festal, and Creon are prescribed.
- Due to the excessive use of drugs throughout the course of therapy, liver support is necessary. To do this, use "Gepabene", "Essential Forte".
- On the 10th day of the course of drug treatment, physiotherapy is added - laser treatment, ultrasound and magnetic therapy.
During the therapeutic course, patients should avoid stressful situations, lead a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet and stop having sex during treatment. Let us recall once again: both partners are undergoing therapy at the same time!
Prevention
To prevent infection with chlamydia, it is necessary to exclude promiscuous sex life and frequent change of partners. Using condoms will minimize the chance of contracting sexually transmitted infections. If the disease still catches up, then at the end of the course of treatment, repeated examinations of all potential sexual partners should be carried out to exclude possible relapses of the disease.