In the genitourinary tract, ureaplasma is often found. This is a microorganism that provokes the development of a dangerous pathology. Its name is ureaplasmosis. The incubation period of ureaplasma is quite long, and the course is usually asymptomatic. These characteristics of the disease contribute to the spread and transmission of infection.
Brief description of pathology
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Usually, ureaplasma parvum and ureaplasma urealiticum are found in the human genitourinary system. There is a microorganism in both the male and female genital flora. Some data suggest that on average 55% of the population has it. In most people, ureaplasma does not provoke the development of pathology, and some doctors believe that it is part of the vaginal microflora in normal.
The incubation period of ureaplasma in women and men is the time that elapses from the moment the infection enters the human body until the initial symptoms of the disease develop. The best medium for the reproduction of the microorganism is the mucous lining of the urinary system and genitals. In many cases, the pathogen causes the occurrence of diseases of the genitourinary system, only in some cases, changes in the human body do not develop. The incubation period of ureaplasma is from 1 week to 1 month.
Causes
The most common way to get into the body of ureaplasma urealitikum - sexual, with unprotected intercourse. It is generally accepted that the main carrier of this infection is women. If a sexual partner falls ill, then men have a chance of self-healing. In addition, infection can occur during childbirth. In this case, the mother passes the microorganism to the child. According to medical statistics, more girls are infected during childbirth than boys. The likelihood of domestic infection is minimal.
However, it is worth noting that it is impossible to consider this infection completely venereological. Infection can occur not only during sexual intercourse. But experts on this issue have a different opinion.
The incubation period of ureaplasma and mycoplasma is described in more detail below.
Symptomatology
In the initial stages of the development of pathology, the symptomatic picture is very weakly expressed. Most often, ureaplasmosis in men and women is asymptomatic until the disease passes into an advanced stage. Chronization of infection is also possible. The main feature of the symptoms is similarity to the manifestations of other infectious lesions of the genitourinary system.
After penetration into the body, ureaplasma cells begin to penetrate the mucous membranes of the genitourinary tract, where they remain at rest. When the immune system of the body fails, the pathogens begin to become active and cause significant harm to human health.
It is worth noting that the incubation period of ureaplasma in men and women can be different.
Among women
The main manifestations of the disease in women are the occurrence of discomfort, which manifests itself during urination, as well as the appearance of clean and slippery colorless discharge. Sometimes an infection provokes an inflammatory process in the uterine cavity. In this case, the woman has pain in the area of this organ, as well as appendages. The main complications that can develop as a result of this disease in women are: cystitis, pyelonephritis, endometritis.
An infection can affect the mucous membranes of the throat if an act of oral sex has occurred between a woman and an infected partner. The main symptom of infection is signs of tonsillitis, the appearance of white plaque on the tonsils, redness of the throat, soreness when swallowing.
In men
The incubation period of ureaplasma in men can be long or, conversely, short. Everything is individual here.
Manifestations of infection are less pronounced. The main symptoms in this case are: discharge from the urethra, burning, slight discomfort that occurs during urination. Quite often, men do not give due attention to manifestations of this nature, and the ailment disappears on its own. There are cases when ureaplasma parvum infects the prostate gland. As a result of this, a severe inflammatory process can develop. This is dangerous because inflammation can adversely affect the reproductive system and cause the development of infertility.
Incubation period
The duration of the incubation period of the ureaplasma is directly dependent on the state of the human immune system. Statistics allow us to conclude that the primary manifestations of infection, as a rule, occur a month after infection. This happens if a person has a very weak body. With a high level of immunity, signs of pathology will not appear until the level of the content of microorganisms reaches its maximum.
With normal immune defenses, the first signs of infection can occur only 4 months after infection. All the indicated periods of the incubation period of the ureaplasma urealitikum and parvum are approximate, they depend on the individual characteristics and characteristics of the organism of a particular person.
Thus, on average, the incubation of ureaplasma, as already noted, lasts from 1 week to 1 month, but can reach 5-6 months.
Ureaplasmosis during pregnancy
Before planning a pregnancy, it is recommended that the expectant mother undergo several examinations, since an infectious lesion can be asymptomatic, and this situation can occur in both sexes. The necessity of a preliminary examination due to the fact that during pregnancy the use of many pharmacological agents is prohibited. This greatly complicates the process of treating diseases that can adversely affect a woman’s health status.
Ureaplasmosis is necessarily subject to therapy, since during pregnancy, a woman's immunity is greatly weakened. This means that the likelihood of activating microorganisms increases significantly, and the incubation period of ureaplasma is reduced. If pathogens are found in the body, it is recommended to eliminate them before pregnancy.
The likelihood that a child will develop malformations as a result of infection of the mother’s body with ureaplasma is minimal, since microorganisms cannot go down through the placenta. But the probability of infection of the child during passage through the birth canal is quite high. According to statistics, this happens in about half the cases. Usually, infection occurs due to damage to the mucous membranes of the genitals and nasopharynx.
The main danger of ureaplasmosis during pregnancy is that the infection can cause premature birth or termination of pregnancy. In addition, it can cause oxygen starvation of the fetus due to damage to the placenta. The optimal period for therapy is the 22nd and subsequent weeks of pregnancy - it is by this time that the fetus is fully formed.
Diagnostics
If you experience the first manifestations of an infection or change in well-being, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. The specialist will evaluate the patient’s condition and recommends a number of studies to diagnose the disease, differentiate it from mycoplasma, Trichomonas and other infections. It is the timely detection of the disease that is the key to health. By eliminating ureaplasmosis, the development of a number of complications can be prevented.
The following methods are used to diagnose the disease:
- General laboratory examination of urine samples. This study eliminates the presence of pathological changes in the genitourinary tract.
- Bacillus smear - helps to identify the presence of pathogens and determine their variety.
- Polymerase chain reaction - allows you to determine the type of pathogen.
- Laboratory study of a blood sample for antibodies to pathogens.
If complications develop, the list of diagnostic methods expands significantly. The choice of diagnostic methods remains with the specialist, who takes into account the symptoms of the pathology and the complications that have arisen. Therapy of ureaplasmosis is carried out by gynecologists, urologists, dermatovenerologists.
Treatment
After identifying the causes of the disease, the specialist confirms the presence of ureaplasma and recommends adequate therapy. Medicines are selected taking into account the characteristics of the pathology.
The main methods of therapy:
- Antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics are prescribed in order to suppress the vital functions of ureaplasmas and their reproduction.
- Tetracyclines. They are drugs for antimicrobial effects, they also contribute to the suppression of pathogenic flora.
- Immunomodulating drugs. They stimulate the immune system.
- Vitamin Therapy. Complex preparations based on minerals and vitamins help restore immunity.
An important aspect of therapy is dieting. Enhanced immunity is promoted by foods rich in vitamins. It is better to refuse smoked, sour, salty, spicy, sour-milk products.