Mycoplasmosis is a disease that people experience due to the effects of mycoplasma hominis and genitalia. This infection can negatively affect the functioning of the genitourinary apparatus and lead to the emergence of all kinds of pathologies. If the body is covered with pneumonia mycoplasma, diseases of the upper respiratory system can occur.
General information
The causative agents of mycoplasmosis are organisms that do not have their own cell walls, having only a membrane. It is thanks to this property that they are able to quickly attach to the epithelium of the respiratory and genitourinary apparatus, as well as to spermatozoa. The causative agents of the disease affect the surface of the joints and mucous membranes of the eyes, and also provoke the development of autoimmune processes in the body, which imply the occurrence of an allergic reaction to their own cells.
Medicine knows several dozen varieties of mycoplasma, but the most dangerous for the human body are:
- Hominis and genitalia, as well as urealitikum, which can lead to various diseases - that is why ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis often accompany each other.
- Pneumonia type, provoking respiratory pathology.
- Pathogens leading to AIDS.
Mycoplasmosis is a disease provoked by opportunistic microorganisms. In other words, in the presence of pathogens in the body, a disease can manifest itself only when the protective forces of the immune system are significantly weakened. In completely healthy people, mycoplasmas can be present in the body, but at the same time not bring it any harm or benefit. In another way, this phenomenon is called commensalism.
Most women carry hominis bacteria, but they don’t have any problems. A quarter of newborns of the weaker sex have such microorganisms in their bodies. But in boys, mycoplasmosis is extremely rare. Usually, even in case of infection, the body of men fights bacteria independently.
Ways of infection
How does mycoplasma appear in humans? There are many ways to transmit this disease.
The most common route of infection with mycoplasmosis is through sexual contact. More than 90% of all infections occur in this way. Most often, the carriers of the pathology are the female gender. Men can also spread mycoplasmosis, but often they themselves become infected from partners at the time of unprotected sexual intercourse. In general, there are many different causes of mycoplasmosis.
The probability of infection is much higher if a person does not use barrier contraception - condoms. A special risk category includes those who:
- often changes sexual partners;
- does not take into account personal hygiene;
- not sure about the health status of his partner;
- early sex begins.
In general, the fact of being close to the carrier of the disease does not at all mean that infection will certainly occur. If a person has a sufficiently strong immunity, then the body will fight bacteria.
The transmission of mycoplasmosis by airborne droplets is much less common. The ingress of bacteria in this way leads to the emergence of a respiratory pathology.
After infection by airborne droplets, a person poses the greatest danger to others for 10 days. The countdown should begin from the moment of the first manifestations of the symptoms of the disease.
In the case of a chronic form of respiratory mycoplasmosis, an infected person is dangerous to others for at least three months. It is noteworthy that the patient himself may not even feel the presence of pathology in his body.
Of course, it is possible to become infected with mycoplasmosis of the respiratory system even after a single contact with the carrier of the disease, but this risk is actually minimal.
The most dangerous are the following places:
- schools and other children's institutions;
- cramped offices;
- sport sections;
- military units.
There are other ways to transmit the disease:
- Household infection. The risk of contracting pathology in this way is extremely small. A dangerous situation is for people who use common personal hygiene items. But at the same time, one of them must be a carrier of pathogenic bacteria. By the way, when they enter the environment, the causative agents of mycoplasmosis quickly die, because they cannot exist outside the human body.
- Vertical infection. Such infection involves the transfer of bacteria from mother to child at the time of delivery. A similar phenomenon also happens extremely rarely. In addition, mycoplasma is able to penetrate the placenta and infect the embryo.
- Hematogenous method. This path involves infection at the time of blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Such cases are also recorded extremely rarely. However, it is worth saying that such infection can occur only when non-sterile instruments are used during surgery or if other sanitary rules are violated.
Symptoms of a respiratory illness
A photo of mycoplasmosis is a great way to examine in detail what exactly happens to the body after a similar infection enters it. Often this disease occurs as SARS or the common cold in the form of bronchitis, pharyngitis and laryngopharyngitis. The clinical symptoms of respiratory-type mycoplasmosis are practically no different from simple diseases like SARS. The main signs of pathology include:
- fever
- weakness;
- moderate intoxication;
- migraine;
- increased body temperature;
- pain in the throat, runny nose, coughing;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
In some cases, swelling of the face and inflammation of the sclera occur.
The incubation period of the chronic form of the disease can last from several days to a month. By its signs, the disease resembles a simple catarrhal pathology like tracheitis, pharyngitis or laryngitis. As a rule, the following symptoms occur:
- an increase in the submandibular and cervical lymph nodes;
- tonsil congestion;
- severe coughing;
- rhinorrhea;
- conjunctivitis;
- grit of the sky.
Signs of pathology in the weaker sex
Mycoplasmosis, the symptoms and treatment of which can be very diverse, in its clinical manifestations is still slightly different in men, women and children.
Signs of the disease in the weaker sex may not appear for several days after infection. After all, this pathology also has a certain incubation period. It is extremely difficult to determine the exact time of infection, since mycoplasmosis has a latent or erased course.
If the external part of the reproductive system is damaged, bacteria accumulate on the mucous membrane of the vagina and inside the urethra. In such a situation, a woman may not experience any manifestations of the disease at all. But in some cases, the occurrence of such symptoms is likely:
- slight itching in the labia;
- a small amount of vaginal discharge without color.
In the period of exacerbations, these signs may intensify.
It is worth saying that the symptoms and treatment of mycoplasmosis in women are interrelated. After all, initially therapy is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms. In addition, it is very important to diagnose the disease differentially, and this can be done on the basis of the manifesting symptoms of mycoplasmosis in a woman. Treatment in this case is prescribed individually.
Signs of the disease in men
In the same way as in women, in this case the disease may not manifest itself in any way, which complicates the timely diagnosis of pathology. But after a significant weakening of the immune system, the symptoms of mycoplasmosis in men still appear in the form:
- false urge to urinate;
- discomfort at the time of intimacy;
- yellow discharge from the urethra;
- frequent trips to the toilet;
- redness of the urethra;
- burning and discomfort during emptying of the bladder;
- weaknesses and decreased performance;
- genital itching;
- pain in the lower abdomen in the groin;
- rashes on the genitals.
If such signs are found, the patient should immediately seek help from a venereologist or urologist. The effectiveness of treatment with such a diagnosis will directly depend on its timeliness. That is why it is so important to know what the symptoms of mycoplasmosis look like in men.
Signs in children
The treatment of the disease depends on the stage of its development and clinical manifestations. Diagnostic problems also apply to mycoplasmosis in children, because often it is completely asymptomatic. But in some cases, there are signs such as:
- fever, runny nose and cough;
- abnormal discharge from the genitals;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- severe genital itching;
- migraine;
- lack of appetite;
- dyspnea;
- diaper rash on the skin;
- disorders in the work of the respiratory apparatus.
With any of these deviations, the child should be taken to a specialist. Parents should know that far from always a commonplace cold and cough are signs of an easily treatable disease.
Diagnostics
Today, there are many examination methods to detect mycoplasmosis. The main place among them is occupied by laboratory diagnostic methods.
- Analysis for mycoplasmosis - delivery of culture. This method is almost always used in the diagnosis of mycoplasmosis. It is considered quite reliable, however, some difficulties may arise during testing. In carrying out this study, it is impossible to determine what specific type of pathogens is in the body.
- Metabolism Inhibition Reaction (RIM), Growth Inhibition Reaction, and Immunofluorescence Reaction (RIF).
- Aggregate-hemagglutination reaction. All these studies make it possible to detect mycoplasma and ureaplasma antigens from the secretion of the cervix, urethra and prostate gland. The most effective and sensitive diagnostic methods are PCR and the use of genetic probes.
- Serological technique. True, this method is uninformative and is used extremely rarely.
Ancillary analyzes
Additionally, other diagnostic methods can be used:
- Polymer chain reaction. It is aimed at identifying the genetic material of pathogens.
- The second version of the immunofluorescence technique. Needed to detect specific antibodies. They are marked with a special dye and, applying to a special preparation, fragments with the presence of these microorganisms are determined.
- Enzyme immunoassay. This technique is based on antigen and antibody reactions.
In addition to all of the above tests for mycoplasmosis, it is also necessary to donate blood and urine. Studies of biological materials make it possible to detect the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the body.
Diagnosis of mycoplasmosis in children
For this age category, as a rule, two types of analyzes are used:
- Detection of specific antibodies. This technique allows you to identify traces of the immune response to infection in the body.
- Detection of DNA viruses using a polymer chain reaction. This study is today considered the most informative and sensitive. But this technique is not available in all clinics due to the lack of expensive equipment.
As you can see, there are many ways to diagnose mycoplasmosis in children and adult patients. But which method will be used in a particular case will only be decided by a specialist, given the form of the disease, its stage and symptoms.
How to treat mycoplasmosis in women
Therapy involves the use of antibiotics:
- "Erythromycin" has bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties, blocks the active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
- "Metronidazole" disrupts the production of protein in the cells, thereby stopping the spread of bacteria.
- "Azithromycin" and "Sumamed" help to reduce the therapeutic course due to the long period of elimination of antibiotics from the digestive tract.
- "Vilprafen" is most often recommended for pneumonia mycoplasmosis, since it tends to accumulate in the tissues of the lungs.
- "Trichopolum" fights infection and pathogens of the urogenital type of mycoplasmosis.
- "Doxycycline" is contraindicated in pregnant women and children.
Medicines for the disease are prescribed in parallel with the procedures for douching the vagina with the help of various antiseptics. In addition, candles can be used.
Treatment for men
Therapy largely depends on the symptoms that appear. Surprisingly, the treatment of mycoplasmosis in men is far from always necessary. Most often, with a mild form of the disease, the body independently fights the penetrated infection. But if therapy is nevertheless necessary, it should include several important components:
- the use of antibacterial medicines;
- immunotherapy;
- prevention of complications;
- control examination.
Treatment with drugs for mycoplasmosis involves the use of multivitamin complexes and immunomodulating agents. And antibacterial drugs prevent the further spread of infection. Most often, men are prescribed "Azithromycin", "Ofloxacin", "Midecamycin", "Doxycycline."
If we are talking about severe forms of pathology, then treatment can take several months.
Children therapy
In this age category, the treatment of mycoplasmosis is also carried out using antibacterial drugs in the form of antibiotics. Commonly used macrolides, fluoroquinolones and azalides. In case of detection of moderate forms, tablets and syrups are usually recommended, but if a child has a severe stage of the disease, injections are necessary.
The duration of treatment ranges from one to two weeks. Two months after therapy, an examination should be performed to identify the appropriate antibodies.
Treatment of respiratory mycoplasmosis
Lung therapy is carried out only if the bronchi are significantly inflamed, pneumonia is detected, or the upper respiratory tract is seriously injured. As for the treatment of children with such a diagnosis, it should be said that with a fairly strong immunity, antibacterial drugs are not needed. Often, the body independently copes with the problem.
In the treatment of respiratory mycoplasmosis, macrolide category drugs are recognized as the most effective, especially with Macropen. Often, tetracycline antibiotics, such as Doxycycline, are also used. But for children, such therapy cannot be used.
Prevention
To prevent the development of mycoplasmosis, it is necessary:
- Diagnose sexually transmitted infections every year.
- Refusal of intimacy without the use of barrier contraception.
- Screening for infections before sexual intercourse.
- Refusal of casual sexual relations.
- Avoidance of crowds during exacerbations of respiratory epidemics.
Possible consequences
Women can face various complications of mycoplasmosis:
- andexitis;
- cystitis;
- salpingitis;
- difficulty conceiving;
- problems during pregnancy;
- difficulties after childbirth - sepsis, infection of the child;
- disorders in the work of the kidneys - inflammatory processes or nephropathy.
Another possible consequence of the pathology is infertility, which is extremely difficult to deal with.
In addition, it is worth saying that the defect negatively affects the development of the embryo in the mother’s womb. Often, a woman may not even suspect the presence of a disease in her body, and the child is already infected.
As for the representatives of the stronger sex, they may encounter such complications:
- pyelonephritis - pathogenic microorganisms adversely affect the activity of the kidneys, leading to their inflammation;
- infertility - bacteria affect the quality and quantity of sperm, significantly reducing their activity;
- orchitis.
All these consequences are considered quite serious and significantly affect the quality of life of the patient.
In addition, it is extremely difficult to deal with any urological and gynecological pathologies. That is why it is so important to prevent the development of complications by identifying the disease in time and proceeding with its treatment.