We all know how dangerous sexually transmitted infections are. They are not only long and difficult to treat, but also entail a number of negative consequences.
One of the most common STDs is chlamydia. It infects more than 100 million people every year. Now we will talk about the signs of chlamydia in women, as well as what to do if this STD was found in the body.
What is a disease?
Before we turn to the signs of chlamydia in women, it is worth talking about the disease.
So, it is caused by the parasites known as chlamydia. They invade the cells of the body, begin to feed on its contents and multiply. Gradually, there are more and more of them, and if their presence is not detected in time, they will cause a whole spectrum of organ damage in the girl.
Unlikeother organisms, chlamydia damage both the external and internal genital organs. In addition, they extend to the cardiovascular system, respiratory tract, organs of hearing and vision, teeth, synovial lining of joints, etc.
In simpler terms, chlamydia destroys the body. Which is not surprising, because they have toxic and hemagglutinating activity. That is why it is important to contact a venereologist, noticing suspicious symptoms, and not hoping that it will “go away by itself.”
Main symptoms
At first, the signs of chlamydia in a woman do not manifest themselves. Although it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body - sometimes girls begin to complain about certain discomfort a few days after infection.
But in general, the first signs of chlamydia in women (photos of symptoms are not for the impressionable) include the following manifestations:
- Discomfort and pain during urination.
- Burning on the surface of the genitals.
- Itching in the urethra.
- Unpleasant vaginal discharge, resembling a mixture of mucus and pus. On examination, they appear after pressing on the affected area.
- Pain and heaviness in the lower back.
- Defect in the form of erosion in the cervix.
- Pain in the lower abdomen of a pulling nature.
- Irregular menstruation.
- Conjunctivitis due to eye involvement in the pathological process.
- Increased body temperature andweakness.
Signs of chlamydia in a woman are quite specific, so it is not difficult to determine it. You should definitely visit a doctor if you have at least one or two symptoms, if you have recently had unprotected intercourse of any nature (vaginal, oral or anal).
Colpitis
This is not only a sign and symptom of chlamydia in women, but also its consequence. Since colpitis (aka vaginitis) occurs precisely because of this disease.
This pathology of the female genital organs is most common. Its characteristic manifestations are:
- Burning and itching in the vagina.
- Hyperemia of the mucous membrane, manifested in the overflow of blood vessels.
- Soreness felt during intercourse.
- Erosion in certain cases.
- Profuse cheesy or purulent discharge, often with a bad smell.
Over time, the manifestations subside, but under the influence of provoking factors, they intensify again. After sex, such as hypothermia, colds, overwork, wearing synthetic underwear.
If you ignore colpitis, then the pathology will take on a chronic form, as a result of which inflammation will spread along the ascending tract and affect the fallopian tubes, uterus and urethra. This can lead to cervicitis, endometritis, cystitis and even infertility.
Cervicitis
Continuing on the topic of chlamydia symptoms in women (the photo above showsmicroorganisms provoking its occurrence), it is important to talk about cervicitis.
This is an inflammatory process that occurs in the vaginal segment of the cervix. Another symptom is a consequence of chlamydia. It manifests itself in the following:
- Profuse purulent or mucous discharge.
- Dull pain in lower abdomen.
- Hyperemia of the external opening of the cervical canal.
- Severe swelling.
- Small ulcerations and hemorrhages.
- Protrusion of the mucosa.
Cervicitis occurs in the setting of many STDs. But only if in other cases (with gonorrhea, for example) it is acute, then with chlamydia it is not so noticeable.
If you run it, the discharge will become more cloudy, the cylindrical epithelium will begin to grow in the vaginal area of the uterus. Inflammation often spreads to neighboring glands and tissues, forming a cyst, infiltrates and indurations.
Salpingoophoritis
This sign of chlamydia infection in women is very serious. After all, salpingoophoritis is an inflammatory disease of the uterine appendages, including adjacent tissue, fallopian tube and ovaries.
It is important to note that this pathology does not occur due to a single pathogen, but due to a whole microbial association, which includes both absolute and conditional pathogens.
Acute salpingo-oophoritis is always accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. But the intensity can be different, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the girl. Often the pain radiates to the rectum and sacrum. Other manifestations include:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Bloating, constipation, stool retention.
- Problems with urination.
- High temperature (may exceed 39 degrees).
- Pain when pressing on the abdomen.
- Enlargement of appendages.
It is important to note that salpingo-oophoritis discharge is not seen in all infected people. And this pathology, like those listed above, has several forms of flow. Depending on this factor, symptoms may also change.
Diagnosis
Only she can confirm the symptoms and signs of chlamydia in women. However, diagnosing this disease is not so easy.
All due to the fact that chlamydia is an intracellular microorganism. What does it mean? Chlamydia lives inside the cell and does not manifest itself in any way, although the infection has already occurred. But when favorable conditions come for her in the body, she leaves her and causes an inflammatory process.
Self-treatment attempts can lead to chronicity of the process, due to which the disease will “strengthen”, acquire a stable form.
However, it is worth returning to the topic of diagnostics. Nowadays, the following methods are used:
- Smear from the cervix, from the walls of the vagina and from the external opening of the urethra. The sensitivity of this method varies from 15 to 30%.
- Express test. You can buy at a pharmacy and check at home. But the sensitivity of such tests is only 20-50%.
- Immune reactionfluorescence. An extremely complex and time-consuming method that requires a special approach and the availability of special equipment. A smear is taken and stained with fluorescent substances to help identify chlamydia. The sensitivity of the method reaches 70%.
- Bacteriological culture. The longest, laborious, but also reliable method that never gives false results. Bacteria from a smear are sown on a special nutrient medium where only chlamydia can grow. They are given a few days in the incubator, and if the girl is infected, the microorganisms will grow in the form of special colonies.
- Serological method. Special antibodies bind to chlamydia and identify them. The method is not particularly sensitive, but it is used as a screening test as part of a rapid and comprehensive examination.
- Immunoassay. It allows you to identify not chlamydia, but antibodies that are available to it. The sensitivity is 60%. Also, the method helps to determine the presence of infection only 20-30 days after infection.
- Ligas chain reaction. The most sensitive method is 95-100%. The girl only needs to pass urine for analysis. However, this method is not practiced in all clinics, as a specially equipped laboratory and highly qualified personnel are needed.
As you can see, diagnosis takes a lot of time anyway. Therefore, you should immediately go to a venereologist at the first sign of chlamydia. In a woman, their manifestation will gradually intensify, and if delayed, then waiting for the results, which will be at least several days, will be painful.
Problem Solving
Having considered the nature of the discharge, the signs of chlamydia in women and photos of the microorganisms that cause the disease, we can proceed to the study of the topic of treatment.
The main task of therapy is to destroy chlamydia and subsequently eliminate all of the above side effects.
Universal drugs that can help get rid of the signs of chlamydia in a woman, photos of which are terrifying, do not exist. Basically, venereologists prescribe antibiotics to their patients. This happens after studying the tests and diagnostic results, taking into account the form of the disease and the presence of concomitant infections.
The course of treatment lasts at least six life cycles of chlamydia. It usually lasts two to three days. So the therapy takes 12-18 days.
Here are the principles according to which medicines are selected to treat the first signs and symptoms of chlamydia in women:
- Antibiotics should be highly active against the infectious agent.
- It is important that the drug creates the right concentration when it is inside the body.
- The drug must freely enter the intracellular space.
- Need to choose an antibiotic with low toxicity.
The medicine is selected taking into account the moment when the infection allegedly occurred. Since the one that is less than two months old is "fresh". More "older" infection is classified as chronic. Of course, diseases of various formstreated with completely opposite drugs.
List of effective medicines
Once again, it is worth mentioning that if a woman has signs of chlamydia, treatment is prescribed by a doctor. Prescribing antibiotics on your own can be harmful to your he alth. But as a rule, doctors prescribe the following drugs:
- "Erythromycin". A macrolide antibiotic that has a bacteriostatic effect. It is drunk either at 0.25 grams four times a day, or at 0.5 twice. Women with a severe form of the disease may be prescribed 4 doses of 0.5 g. The course lasts 10 or 14 days.
- "Medicamicin". An antibacterial drug similar to the previous one. Take for two weeks three times a day, 400 mg.
- "Vilprafen". An antibiotic whose action is based on the inhibition of protein synthesis by bacteria. Drink for one week, consuming three servings of 2.16 g daily with an interval of 8 hours.
- "Clarbact". It has a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It should be taken for 2 weeks, drinking 0.25 grams of the drug daily twice a day.
- "Azithromycin". Acts bacteriostatically. Every day you need to take 0.5 grams for 10 days. Usually prescribed for pregnant women.
- "Roxithromycin". Semi-synthetic antibiotic with a wide spectrum of activity. The treatment cycle is from 8 to 22 days, they drink twice a day for 0.15 g. Recommended for pregnant women.
- "Tetracycline". These tablets are drunk for 2 weeks, taking 2 grams daily, dividing them into 4 doses (required after meals).
- "Doxycycline". Drink for two weeks twice a day, 100 mg. Analogues are drugs such as Vibra-Tabs, Vibramycin and Dorix.
- "Ofloxacin". An antimicrobial fluoroquinolone used for a week twice a day at 300 mg.
- "Lomefloxacin". These tablets are drunk once a day for 0.4 grams for 10 days.
- "Norfloxacin". Drink twice a day, 0.4 grams for a week. If the disease is severe, then therapy is extended to 10 days.
- "Ciprinol". Treatment with this drug lasts a week. Taken twice a day for 0.5 g.
As you can see, there are a lot of drugs to eliminate the signs and symptoms of chlamydia in women (photos of bacteria are presented above). And this is not the whole list of them. There are a lot of medicines, and if the doctor makes the right course, then the disease can be cured quickly and effectively.
Physiotherapy
Continuing the theme of the symptoms and early signs of chlamydia in women whose photos of infection make you think about the need for protection, it is important to talk about the procedures that help to cope with this disease.
There are those that have received the most distribution. They eliminate painful symptoms and significantly increase the body's resistance.
Speed up the regeneration processtissues, relieve inflammation and improve immunity can ultrasonic irradiation. Magnetotherapy helps to remove swelling and pain. And electrophoresis improves metabolism and has several effects at once - vasodilating, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
However, again, the direction for certain procedures is prescribed by the doctor. Here, just as in the case of drugs, there are a number of contraindications that must be taken into account.
Folk remedies
Of course, such a serious disease is difficult to cure without the use of antibiotics, and it will take much more time, but many girls decide on it. And here are some folk remedies that help eliminate the first signs and symptoms of chlamydia in women:
- One teaspoon of crushed Elsgoltia, which has bactericidal properties, should be poured with boiling water (320 ml) and let it brew for an hour. Then filter. Drink before bed for fourteen days, one sip.
- Finely chopped parsley stalks (3 tbsp.) Pour into a saucepan and pour boiling water (0.5 l). Send to boil for 6-7 minutes. Then let it brew for fifteen minutes and strain. Drink three times a day, 2 teaspoons for two weeks. This tool improves blood flow in the tissues, and also has an antibacterial effect.
- Mix 20 grams of bergenia, wheatgrass and calamus root. Add radiola rosea and aralia rhizomes (10 g each), licorice and elecampane root (30 g) and red rowan fruits (40 g). Everything carefullygrind together and put in a thermos with a volume of 1 liter. Pour boiling water, close and leave to infuse overnight. The next day, strain and drink during the day between meals. The course lasts two weeks.
- In equal proportions, mix dry walnut leaves, yarrow, bird cherry fruits, wormwood seeds and St. John's wort. Then take 2.5 tablespoons of the resulting collection, pour water (0.5 l) and send for 25 minutes on a small fire. Cool, filter. Drink for 3-4 weeks daily, four to five times, on an empty stomach.
- In equal proportions, mix chopped St. John's wort and burnet. Store in an airtight container. Every day, brew tea for yourself from the resulting collection several times (put 1 tsp in a mug).
These funds can be used not only for treatment, but also for prevention.
