Trichomoniasis
INTRODUCTION:
- Very common sexually transmitted disease (STD).
- It is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.
- Although symptoms of the disease vary, most people who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
- About 70% of infected people do not have any signs or symptoms.
- When trichomoniasis does cause symptoms, they can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation.
- Some people with symptoms get them within 5 to 28 days after being infected.
- Men with trichomoniasis may notice:
- Itching or irritation inside the penis;
- Burning after urination or ejaculation;
- Discharge from the penis.
Women with trichomoniasis may notice:
- Vaginal trichomoniasis is the important cause of vaginitis in the childbearing period when the local immunological defence is impaired.
- Having trichomoniasis can make it feel unpleasant to have sex.
- Itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals;
- Discomfort with urination;
- A change in their vaginal discharge (i.e., thin Frothy discharge or increased volume) that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish with an unusual fishy smell.
- Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years
- Babies born to infected mothers are more likely to have a low birth weight
COMPLICATIONS:
- Genital inflammation
- HIV
DIAGNOSIS:
- Examination of wet film at 35°C
- Gram stain or Leishman stain is negative,
- Culture diagnosis
- Cytology
- PCR and NAAT(most sensitive)
- Antigen testing
- Pap smears: greyish blue pear-shaped structure without the flagella.
- A woman diagnosed with Trichomoniasis should also be evaluated for Other venereal disease
TREATMENT:
- Metronidazole(2 g metronidazole for 1 day only)
- If this causes vomiting, or in resistant cases consider use of alternative drugs tinidazole or secnidazole
- During early pregnancy,vinegar douche to lower the pH, trichofuran suppositories and Betadine gel
Exam Question
- Frothy discharge with red ulceration in the vagina is seen with infection of Trichomoniasis
- Greenish vaginal discharge with severe Itching points to a diagnosis of Trichomoniasis
- Commonest genital infection in females is Trichomoniasis
- Vaginal trichomoniasis is the important cause of vaginitis in the childbearing period when the local immunological defence is impaired.
- A woman diagnosed with Trichomoniasis should also be evaluated for Other venereal disease
- Trichomoniasis Is a sexually transmitted disease
- Trichomoniasis Produces copious thin frothy discharge
- Trichomoniasis Is most often asymptomatic
Don’t Forget to Solve all the previous Year Question asked on Trichomoniasis
