Mycoplasmas are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that are found in the body, both in healthy people and those who have toxoplasmosis. The difference is that in healthy people, mycoplasmas are within normal limits, which do not pose a particular threat to the body. But with any disease, they begin to multiply intensively and their number increases significantly. The habitat of these parasites is the mucous membranes covering the internal organs, namely the respiratory tract and genitals. Therefore, with mycoplasmosis, damage to the respiratory system and the genitourinary system is observed.
Symptoms of mycoplasma are often confused with viral infections (with respiratory infections) and genital inflammation (vulvovaginitis, fungal infections, thrush). Most often, mycoplasmosis affects the organs of the urogenital system of a person – both men and women, therefore it is attributed to diseases of a sexually transmitted nature. Ways of infection:
· Sexual contacts – and the carrier of the infection may not suspect the presence of mycoplasmosis
· Infection of the baby in utero or during childbirth
· Infection when microorganisms get on damaged mucous membranes during sexual or household contact
Diagnosis of the disease
In order to begin adequate treatment of mycoplasma , it is necessary, first of all, to conduct the correct diagnosis of the disease. It consists in laboratory analyzes of the biological material of the patient – taking a smear from the vagina (for men, you can take seminal fluid for analysis), pharynx. After this, microscopy or sowing of the bacterial flora on nutrient media is carried out. In addition, immunological studies are used: ELISA, PCR, antibodies to mycoplasmas.
Mycoplasmosis disease is widespread, equally affects both men and women. However, women and girls suffer from this infection more often, due to the anatomical features of the structure of their genitourinary system. With strong immunity, the disease progresses and rarely manifests itself – usually the symptoms of mycoplasmosis appear with a decrease in immunity or the attachment of another infection of the reproductive system.
Treatment features
There are certain features of the manifestations and treatment of mycoplasma in children and pregnant women. Children are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections caused by mycoplasma infection. Basically, small patients develop bronchitis or mycoplasma pneumonia. Treatment is carried out in accordance with the respiratory symptoms of the disease, as well as a targeted effect on the causative agent of the disease.
Mycoplasmosis disease during pregnancy is considered dangerous because of the possibility of premature birth, as well as because of some of the difficulties and features of drug therapy. The thing is that the use of most medicines is contraindicated for pregnant women, since aggressive medicinal substances penetrate the placenta and have a negative effect on the development of the fetus.
In addition, the treatment of mycoplasma is not always carried out, since this infection does not have a large effect on the body and is manifested in the form of violations only in rare cases. In order to prescribe drug treatment, special indications are necessary:
– the presence of symptoms in the absence of pathogens other than mycoplasma;
– Significant inflammation of the genitourinary system (vaginitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis);
– the absence of contraindications for the use of antibiotic therapy (pregnancy, severely weakened immunity).
To suppress and eliminate mycoplasma infection, antibiotic treatment is used, supplemented by a complex of drug therapies (antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial drugs). In addition, the complex treatment of mycoplasmosis provides for immunomodulating and restorative therapy.
Mycoplasmosis is a disease that most often develops a second time, that is, against the background of a decrease in the function of the immune system. Only in this case, the conditionally pathogenic flora of the body begins to exceed the norm. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of immunity, consume vitamins, and avoid hypothermia. For the prevention of the disease, protected sexual contacts are promoted, for women – mandatory regular visits to the gynecologist.