Trichomoniasis common causes of vaginitis
Trichomoniasis, sometimes referred to as “trich”, is a common cause of vaginitis that affects both women and men, although symptoms are more common in women.. It is a sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by the single-celled protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Trichomoniasis is primarily an infection of the urogenital tract; the most common site of infection is the urethra and the vagina in women.
How common is trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is the most common curable STD in young, sexually active women. An estimated 7.4 million new cases occur each year in women and men.
Sign and Symptoms of trichomoniasis
Most men with trichomoniasis do not have signs or symptoms; however, some men may temporarily have an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation. Typically, only women experience symptoms associated with Trichomonas infection. Symptoms include inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), urethra (urethritis), and vagina (vaginitis) which produce an itching or burning sensation. Discomfort may increase during intercourse and urination. There may also be a yellow-green, itchy, frothy foul-smelling vaginal discharge. In rare cases, lower abdominal pain can occur. Symptoms usually appear in women within 5 to 28 days of exposure. In many cases women may hold the parasite for some years without any signs (dormant). The parasite can be transmitted through oral or anal sex.
What are the complications of trichomoniasis?
The genital inflammation caused by trichomoniasis can increase a woman’s susceptibility to HIV infection if she is exposed to the virus. Having trichomoniasis may increase the chance that an HIV-infected woman passes HIV to her sex partner(s).
Diagnosis of trichomoniasis
For both men and women, a health care provider must perform a physical examination and laboratory test to diagnose trichomoniasis. The parasite is harder to detect in men than in women. Trichomoniasis is diagnosed by visually observing the trichomonads via a microscope. In women, the doctor collects the specimen during a pelvic examination by inserting a speculum into the vagina and then using a cotton-tipped applicator to collect the sample. The sample is then placed onto a microscopic slide and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. An examination in the presence of trichomoniasisptaulas may also reveal small red ulcerations on the vaginal wall or cervix.
Genetic sequence
A draft sequence of the Trichomonas genome was published on January 12, 2007 in the journal Science confirming that the genome has at least 26,000 genes, a similar number to the human genome.
Treatment of trichomoniasis
Treatment for both pregnant and non-pregnant patients usually utilizes metronidazole (Flagyl) 2000 mg by mouth at once. Sexual partners, even if asymptomatic, should be concurrently treated. Trichomoniasis can usually be cured with prescription drugs, either metronidazole or tinidazole, given by mouth in a single dose. The symptoms of trichomoniasis in infected men may disappear within a few weeks without treatment. However, an infected man, even a man who has never had symptoms or whose symptoms have stopped, can continue to infect or re-infect a female partner until he has been treated. Therefore, both partners should be treated at the same time to eliminate the parasite. Persons being treated for trichomoniasis should avoid sex until they and their sex partners complete treatment and have no symptoms. Metronidazole can be used by pregnant women.
Having trichomoniasis once does not protect a person from getting it again. Following successful treatment, people can still be susceptible to re-infection.
Complications
Research has shown a link between trichomoniasis and two serious sequelæ. Data suggest that:
* Trichomoniasis is associated with increased risk of transmission of HIV.
* Trichomoniasis may cause a woman to deliver a low-birth-weight or premature infant.
* Evidence implies that infection in males potentially raises the risks of prostate cancer development and spread due to inflammation.
Additional research is needed to fully explore these relationships.
Prevalence and prevention
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of trichomoniasis.
Any genital symptom such as discharge or burning during urination or an unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to consult a health care provider immediately. A person diagnosed with trichomoniasis (or any other STD) should receive treatment and should notify all recent sex partners so that they can see a health care provider and be treated. This reduces the risk that the sex partners will develop complications from trichomoniasis and reduces the risk that the person with trichomoniasis will become re-infected. Sex should be stopped until the person with trichomoniasis and all of his or her recent partners complete treatment for trichomoniasis and have no symptoms.
The American Social Health Association estimates trichomoniasis affects 7.4 million previously unaffected Americans each year and is the most frequently presenting new infection of the common sexually transmitted diseases.
Use of male condoms may help prevent the spread of trichomoniasis, although careful studies have never been done that focus on how to prevent this infection. Infection with Trichomoniasis through water is unlikely because Trichomonas vaginalis dies in water after 45-60 minutes, in thermal water after 30 minutes to 3 hours and in diluted urine after 5-6 hours. Treatment is usually Metronidazole.
For more information visit www.cdc.gov/std & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichomoniasis
