Chlamydia is a dangerous infectious disease that must be treated immediately after the first signs of infection appear, because it is fraught with serious consequences and complications.
A lot can be said about this disease, as well as about everything that concerns it. But now we will talk about chronic chlamydia in men.
About the disease
The disease in question can affect the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, visual and respiratory systems, but most often - the genitourinary. Urogenital chlamydia is manifested by symptoms of inflammatory diseases, and becomes chronic rather quickly. This cannot be allowed, because the consequences are quite serious. Among them are infertility, ascending urinary tract infections, neurochlamydia, impotence, cardiovascular disease, joint damage, etc.
The infection is transmitted sexually. The causative agent is Chlamydia trachomatis. Unfortunately latelymore and more cases of infection. Most often, the diseased are men aged 20 to 40 years, as well as sexually active adolescents. According to statistics, 90 million people around the world become infected with chlamydia every year. At risk are people with weakened immune systems.
Very often, chronic chlamydia in men is combined with other infections. As a rule, these are gardnerellosis, thrush, ureaplasmosis, syphilis, mycoplasmosis, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. The combination of several infections only aggravates the course of the disease, and this negatively affects the duration of treatment.
Before talking about how to cure chronic chlamydia in men, it should be noted that the pathogen can live inside the infected cells for a long time. Bacteria simply do not manifest themselves in any way during this period, which can last for years. But if the body's defenses weaken, they will begin to actively multiply and progress, which will lead to clinical manifestations of chlamydia.
However, as a rule, from the moment of infection to the onset of symptoms, it takes from 7 to 15 days (slightly less often - up to one month).
Symptoms
They also need to be listed, since we are talking about chronic chlamydia in men. The fact is that in about 46% of the sick, the disease proceeds without any manifestations. This significantly complicates the diagnosis and treatment, and also increases the risk of complications. But an asymptomatic disease is still dangerous. The carrier of the infection is potentially dangerous, sohow can he infect his partner.
But in most cases, the symptoms of chronic chlamydia in men appear. The following can be distinguished:
- Discharge from the urethra of a watery or mucopurulent nature. They usually appear in the morning.
- Burning and itching during urination. The urine itself becomes somewhat cloudy.
- Redness and swelling of the urethra.
- Increased to 37-37, 6 °C body temperature.
- Prostration and general weakness.
- Pain in the lumbar and groin.
All these symptoms are characteristic of the disease, which is in the acute stage. In the absence of treatment, they subside, but this does not mean that the disease has receded. On the contrary, he passed into the stage of chronic chlamydia. In men, the symptoms disappear, and they are replaced by a lesion of the urethra, which can be treated much more difficult than the acute ailment.
Diagnosis
How to determine the presence of the disease? This question also needs to be answered, since we are talking about chronic chlamydia in men.
Diagnosis is carried out by urologists. However, it is also necessary to make an appointment with a venereologist in order to exclude the possibility of contracting other sexually transmitted infections based on the results of the examination.
What about diagnostic activities? A general cytological smear does not give a complete picture of the presence of chlamydia. Therefore, PCR diagnostics are now being carried out. This method makes it possible to detect the pathogen in the test material even invery small amount. Its accuracy reaches 95%.
More informative is the enzyme immunoassay method. It helps to detect the presence of antibodies to the pathogen. Sometimes they resort to direct immunofluorescence, which involves microscopy of smears stained with a special substance.
In addition to the above, bacteriological culture is often used to diagnose chronic chlamydia in men, whose photo shows an unpleasant picture. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic sensitivity test.
As a rule, the material for carrying out all the above procedures is blood, semen, urine, cell scrapings, as well as secretions from the genital organs.
Preparing for diagnostics
A man, having decided to make an appointment with a urologist for an examination, must prepare. Here are the rules to follow:
- For 1-2 days before the reception, you need to give up intimate relationships.
- You will need to stop using any special hygiene products.
- We will have to stop the use of sprays, ointments and other medicines as soon as possible.
- On the eve of the examination, in the evening, it is necessary to cleanse the external genital organs. To do this, it is allowed to use warm water and soap. Nothing to do in the morning.
- It is advisable not to relieve yourself 2-3 hours before the examination.
Complications
The consequences of chronic chlamydia in men should be discussed separately. If this disease is not treated, thenthe likelihood of such complications:
- Prostatitis. It begins to develop due to the involvement of the prostate gland in the infectious process. Chlamydial prostatitis is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms: pain in the rectum, perineum and lower back, slight discharge from the urethra, problems with potency, difficulty urinating.
- Urethritis. Accompanied by damage to the urethra. Pronounced symptoms are frequent painful urge to urinate, as well as mucopurulent discharge. You can't start this disease. This is fraught with narrowing of the urethra.
- Epididymitis. It develops due to inflammation of the epididymis. This complication is accompanied by a severely elevated temperature, redness and swelling of the scrotum, as well as a direct increase in the epididymis.
All of the listed urogenital diseases are fraught with infertility and impaired spermatogenesis. In addition, there is a possibility of inflammation of the rectum, lungs, joints, kidneys, bronchi.
However, one of the most serious consequences is Reiter's disease. It manifests itself in the simultaneous damage to the articular tissues, eyes, mucous membranes and, of course, the urogenital tract. Urethritis, conjunctivitis, arthritis, dysuric disorders, edema, defiguration of the fingers are just a small part of the symptoms of this disease.
It is difficult to cope with it, the treatment lasts at least six months. It is possible to achieve a stable remission, but this does not exclude the possibility of an exacerbation.
Chlamydia and reproduction
There are many causes of male infertility. However, the most common is urinary tract infections transmitted through unprotected intercourse. Unfortunately, the active progression of parasitic microorganisms leads to irreversible changes in the composition of sperm.
Scientifically speaking, hyperproduction of the active form of the oxygen radical by sperm polymorphonuclear leukocytes is noted. This leads to damage to the sperm membrane. And this phenomenon, in turn, has a depressing effect on the ability to fertilize.
It is also important to consider that such a pathology often leads to abnormal development of the fetus.
Features of therapy
Now we can talk about the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men. It is immediately necessary to make a reservation that therapy for this disease, in whatever form it takes, involves taking antibiotics. It is strictly forbidden to choose them yourself.
The doctor prescribes drugs of the tetracycline group - macrolides and fluoroquinolones. But, as a rule, the course of rational treatment of chronic chlamydia in men is not limited to medication alone. Often the patient has to take two drugs from different groups. The doctor may prescribe bacteriophages, antifungals, enzymes, enzymes.
If necessary, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy. The most popular are magnetotherapy, ultrasound and electrophoresis.
Tetracyclines
How to treat chronic chlamydia in men, you need to tell in detail. Tetracycline drugs have the ability to disrupt the process of protein synthesis of parasitic cells, penetrating into the intracellular space. They are produced in the form of ointments and tablets. For chlamydia, both are used.
The most famous drug is the drug "Tetracycline" in tablets. It is prescribed if the patient does not have pathologies of the liver and kidneys. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks. It must be taken four times a day for 0.4 g. The ointment is usually prescribed for chlamydial conjunctivitis.
Effective and "Metacycline". It has diverse antimicrobial activity. The capsules must be taken within one week. The daily dose is 600 mg.
Minocycline is also prescribed. This is a drug of semi-synthetic origin, which is available in the form of a suspension, capsules and tablets. It should be taken 40 minutes every day at 200 mg before meals, also for one week.
But the most effective drug from this group is Doxycycline. It is available in the form of a powder (a solution is prepared from it, which is administered parenterally) and capsules. The active substance destroys most strains of the pathogen. In a pharmacy, the drug can be found under the name Dorix, Vibramycin, Unidox Solutab. Take one of these funds twice a day for 0.1 g for 1-2 weeks.
Talking about the drugs taken in the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men, it should be noted that side effects may occur.effects. Most often it is a headache, nausea, hypertension, vomiting, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as increased skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays.
Macrolides
This is another group of drugs that are used in the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men and women. Antibiotics of this series are distinguished by a powerful bacteriostatic effect. They are semi-synthetic and natural.
Most often, patients are prescribed "Erythromycin". It is an effective macrolide, but not everyone tolerates it well. You need to use it four times a day, 0.25 g one and a half hours before meals. The course lasts one week. It is allowed to supplement the treatment with a local effect on the organ - for this, an ointment with erythromycin in the composition is used.
Patients tolerate Spiramycin (Rovamycin) best of all. This drug has less toxicity, and it also accumulates in the focus of inflammation. It must be taken three times a day for 3 million units for 10 days.
Also, the doctor may prescribe "Sumamed" - the best azalide in existence. A single application is enough for the drug to remain in the focus of inflammation at the maximum concentration for the next five days.
This tool can destroy even pale treponema and gonococci. Plus, the likelihood of side effects is minimal. Take this remedy as follows: once two tablets of 0.5 g on the first day, and in the next 5-7 - one at a time.
Another option is Roxithromycin. Low toxicity, but highly active, it is excreted slowly from the body. You need to drink it 2 times a day for 0,15 g, always 20 minutes before meals. The course of treatment lasts 10-14 days.
Often prescribed "Klacid" and "Vilprafen" (twice a day, 0.5 g, course 1.5-2 weeks) and "Macropen" (three times a day for two weeks, 0.4 g each).
Fluoroquinolones
As clinical trials have shown, the drugs of this group are somewhat inferior in efficiency to the notorious tetracyclines and macrolides. These are Norfloxacin, Lomefloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Sparfloxacin, and Levofloxacin. They are rarely used in the treatment of acute or chronic chlamydia.
However, there is a drug that has excellent reviews - this is Ofloxacin (Tarivid). It represents the second generation of fluoroquinolones. It should be taken within 7-10 days once a day. The dosage is 0.4 g.
Possible side effects include kidney failure, sleep problems, epigastric pain, and cardiovascular disorders. The medicine is serious but effective. It is used even in the fight against the resistant form of the disease.
Other drugs
The above medications are not all drugs that help eliminate the symptoms of chronic chlamydia in men. Treatment of this disease often involves the use of "Amoxiclav". It is a combination antibacterial drug with a broad spectrum of action.
"Amoxiclav" the doctor may prescribe additionally - in the event that a streptococcal infection has joined the underlying disease. However, it should not be taken with aminoglycosides.
Augmentin can still be assigned. It is a complete analogue of the notorious "Amoxiclav". The active ingredients are the same, only the manufacturer and price differ.
Also, in order to strengthen the immune system, the patient may be prescribed drugs such as Levamisole and Timogen. They significantly increase the body's defenses. It is also often appropriate to use interferon inducers ("Cycloferon") and proteolytic enzymes ("Chymotrypsin").
Forecast
Earlier, much has been said about the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men and the consequences that ignoring this disease entails. What about the forecasts?
It is very important to start therapy right away. And if a man is diagnosed with chlamydia, it is necessary to examine both partners, even in the absence of symptoms. Why? Because if one of the partners infected with the disease does not start therapy, then the second, cured, can become infected again.
It is also very important to undergo diagnostics one and a half to two months after the completion of the course (ELISA and PCR methods are used). If the test results for chlamydia are negative, then the person is he althy.
Once again, we must make a reservation that it is necessary to treat this disease in the acute stage. Getting rid of chronic chlamydia is very difficult. In addition, it is fraught with a lot of consequences - from infertility to impotence.
