Mycoplasmosis and everything about it: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Mycoplasmosis is a fairly common diagnosis, which is both in men and women. Many people put it, often for the first time are lost and do not know how they could be carriers of sexually transmitted infections, and what to do now. Meanwhile, not so scary. Yes, this infection can cause quite serious inflammatory diseases, but most often it doesn't manifest itself. Therefore, it is important to understand what is really a mycoplasmosis, when treatment is necessary, and when you can do without it.

Mycoplasma is one of the most common classes of bacteria. They live in humans, animals, plants. For a person present a potential risk only a small part of them. Mucous membranes can live only 16 species in the genitourinary system – only 6, of which only two forms can provoke the beginning of the disease.

Mycoplasma is often called bacteria, but in fact, it is a cross between a bacterium and a virus. This is one of the simplest living organisms, making it one of the favourite research objects of scientists. The causative agent is Mycoplasma hominis (causes Mycoplasma genitalium/hominis).

With the development of medicine the doctors can determine the presence of this microorganism. Since many people who applied with inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, was a carrier, then there is a version that Mycoplasma is responsible for them.

Now the situation has changed. A number of studies and a survey of a large number of men and women showed that among people living a sexual life, the number of carriers reaches 50-70%. At the same time, signs of inflammatory diseases appear only in small quantity. Thus, now is the basic version that Mycoplasma is a pathogenic microorganism that theoretically can cause inflammatory diseases, but in most cases does not manifest itself. It is considered part of the natural flora, along with many other microorganisms, including opportunistic.

Despite this, still a large number of doctors stick to the old scheme, and prescribed mandatory treatment, even if Mycoplasma does not manifest itself.

What is Mycoplasma?

In the vast majority of cases, the development of Mycoplasma successfully restrained the General and local immunity. Uncontrolled development is possible only in cases when the body's defenses are in critical condition. This may be caused by the following factors:

  • Immunodeficiency of various etiologies.
  • The course of chemo-, radio-, and immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Oncological disease.
  • Of serious infectious diseases.
  • The total exhaustion.

In these cases, the infection can spiral out of control immunity and begin to actively proliferate, causing inflammation of the mucous membranes. The women in this case, fixed inflammation of the urethra, bladder, vaginal mucosa, cervix, rarely of the kidney, endometrium, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Men also most commonly affected are the urethra and the bladder, sometimes kidneys, prostate, testicles.

It is important to understand that all of these inflammatory diseases in men and women can be caused by other microorganism. Therefore, before you start treatment, you should make sure that it the reason was it Mycoplasma.

Symptoms of mycoplasmosis

In carriers of Mycoplasma, no symptoms appear. No special diagnosis is the people are unaware that they are carriers. If inflammation, the first symptoms usually appear as follows:

  • A slight discharge from the urethra. They can be transparent or whitish, sometimes with a yellow tinge.
  • Discomfort during urination. It becomes painful, is accompanied by a feeling of cramps, a burning sensation.
  • Frequent urination. The urine sample can be less than usual.
  • Turbid urine. As a rule, is manifested as inflammation of the bladder. Urine becomes turbid due to the high content of white blood cells, epidermal cells and other impurities.
  • Vaginal discharge in women. They can change the size, structure, color and smell.
  • Discomfort in the vagina in women. She can feel the itching, burning, pain. They may intensify during and after intercourse.
  • The increase in the inguinal lymph nodes.
Importantly! These symptoms can not only cause mycoplasmosis, and many other microorganisms. So when they appear you need to consult a doctor to be examined and, if necessary, to start treatment.

Diagnosis of mycoplasmosis

To be tested often recommended not only when there are symptoms, but also from preventive reasons, toexample, in the framework of the regular examination for men and women, as well as at the planning stage of pregnancy and during registration at the antenatal clinic.

Generally use relatively simple and inexpensive method of diagnosis is PCR, at least – other. The advantage of this methods to simultaneously conduct a variety of tests, speed of obtaining the result and price. But it is highly sensitive and responds to even a not insignificant number of microorganisms in the sample. Also unsatisfactory is its accuracy (50-70%) and a high number of false positive responses.

The problems start if the result is positive. Many doctors after that recommend starting treatment, often quite aggressive, even if the symptoms of inflammation are absent.

Importantly! No need to treat analyses, and disease. The mere presence of pathogens Mycoplasma does not guarantee that the inflammation ever begins. Today, many doctors agree that a survey of women at the planning stage of pregnancy or during registration, as well as preventive, not required. Diagnosis should only be in the case of characteristic symptoms.

A more accurate method of diagnosis is considered to be a bacteriological culture. It takes much more time, but allows you to determine not only the presence of pathogens, but also their quantity. If the titer is less than 10000, then no treatment is required. A number of bacteria can cause inflammation. An additional advantage of cultures – ability to determine which antibiotics will be most effective, and prescribe treatment accurately.

Also may require additional diagnostics to determine how severe the inflammation is, what organs it has affected. For this prescribed urinalysis, ultrasound of the genitourinary system and a number of other surveys.

When you need to treat Mycoplasma infections?

To treat the disease only in those cases, if the titer of the mycoplasmas in the cultures above 100,000, there are symptoms of inflammation, but no other pathogenic or conditionally pathogenic microorganisms or their number is below 10,000.

The fact that this infection rarely leads to early inflammatory disease, and much higher probability that symptoms are associated with some other organism that should be treated.

In addition, there are a number of other cases where treatment is still required:

  • Sexual partner of a man whose confirmed Mycoplasma inflammation. If in this case the second partner is not going to treatment a high probability of re-infection after completing the course.
  • Before the planned surgery, courses of suppressive immune therapy, if it has time.

On the need for preventive treatment at the stage of preparation for pregnancy or during it now is debatable, but most doctors are inclined to think that this is not a necessity. The relationship of pathologies of pregnancy and Mycoplasma is now in serious doubt and the nurturing of the child in most cases is not as significant stress that the infection is out of control of the immune system and led to the beginning of the inflammatory process.

Thus, in fact, to treat Mycoplasma should be only in a relatively small number of cases. The vast majority of cases, asymptomatic carriage, but no therapy is not required.

The principles of treatment of mycoplasmosis

If, however, after the infection has led to the beginning of inflammation, it is important to choose the right products. As a rule, the course are based on antibiotics. This infection responds well to them, but to eliminate the possibility of resistance should do the cultures with the definition of sensitivity to antibiotics.

Once selected the most appropriate medication, the doctor will determine the duration of the course and form. For example, women are more suited to the local shape in the form of vaginal plugs, tablets, capsules. Can also be used systemic medications.

In addition, you often need additional therapy. For example, for women it is important to restore the normal composition of the vaginal flora, which is prescribed topical preparations-eubiotics.

Most often, this treatment does not end, it is necessary to choose the therapy most appropriate form and severity of the inflammation. So for cases of cystitis the necessary medications that increase the acidity of urine, antispasmodics, and also drink plenty of liquids.

If this infection is proved so that there is inflammation symptoms, it is likely that the immune system works less well than it should. Therefore, you should determine the causes and to find appropriate treatment, in particular immunomodulatory drugs.

In addition, the course often involves techniques of physical therapy. This is especially important for women because of inflammation of the internal organs of the reproductive system often causes difficulties with conception and carrying a child. To prevent this, your doctor may recommend electrophoresis, warm, hirudotherapy and so on.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of what is mycoplasmosis, how dangerous this infection is, and what to do if there are suspicious symptoms. This means that you will be better protected fromunnecessary treatments, saving your nerves and money.