TRICHOMONIASIS

The most commonly used non sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world is trichomoniasis. The disorder is commonly referred to as trich. It gets its name from the parasite that causes the disease, Trichomonas vaginalis.

You could have trich and be completely unaware of it because the infection rarely creates symptoms. Trich is contagious, which means you could infect others without realizing it through sexual contact. Sexually transmitted illnesses, such as trich, are also known as STDs (STIs).

Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. When people are infected, almost 70% of them don’t show any signs or symptoms. Symptoms usually appear five to twenty-eight days following exposure.

 Itching in the genital area, a foul-smelling thin vaginal discharge, burning during urination, and pain during sex are all possible symptoms. Trichomoniasis raises the chance of HIV/AIDS infection. It’s also possible that it’ll produce issues throughout pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS:

Trichomonas vaginalis infection is usually asymptomatic, and it might go unnoticed for years. Pain, burning or itching in the penis, urethra (urethritis), or vaginal area are common symptoms (vaginitis). During intercourse and urination, both sexes may experience increased discomfort. 

A yellow-green, frothy, foul-smelling (“fishy”) vaginal discharge may also occur in women. Lower abdominal pain might develop in uncommon circumstances. Between 5 to 28 days of exposure, symptoms usually occur. Because the symptoms of trichomoniasis and chlamydia are so similar, they are sometimes misunderstood.

COMPLICATIONS:

• Trichomoniasis has been associated with several significant side effects.
• Trichomoniasis has been linked to an increased risk of HIV transmission and infection.
• Trichomoniasis can cause a mother to give birth to a premature or low-birth-weight baby.
• Although trichomonas infection may be linked to co-infection with high-risk HPV strains, the significance of Trichomonas infection in producing cervical cancer is unknown.
• Males with T. vaginalis infection have asymptomatic urethritis and prostatitis. It may cause persistent inflammation in the prostate, which can progress to prostate cancer.

CAUSES:

This species’ only reservoir is the human genital canal. Trichomonas is passed from one person to the next through sexual or vaginal contact.

After causing mechanical stress on host cells, the single-celled protozoan ingests cell fragments after cell death.

SEQUENCE OF GENES:

On January 12, 2007, a draught sequencing of the Trichomonas genome was released in the journal Science, showing that the genome contains at least 26,000 genes, similar to the human genome. The gene content now exceeds 60,000, thanks to an additional 34,000 unverified genes, including thousands that are part of possibly transposable elements.

DIAGNOSIS:

Trichomoniasis can be diagnosed in three ways.

• The first method is referred to as saline microscopy. This is the most usual procedure, and it necessitates the evaluation of an endocervical, vaginal, or penile swab sample under a microscope. A positive result is defined as the presence of one or more trichomonads. This approach is inexpensive, however, and has a low sensitivity due to an insufficient sample, which leads to false negatives.
• The next method is culture, which has long been considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing infectious diseases. Trichomonas vaginalis culture assays are relatively inexpensive, although their sensitivity remains low.
• The nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs), which are more sensitive, is the third method. These tests are more expensive and sensitive than microscopy and culture.

PREVENTION:

Although careful research on how to prevent trichomoniasis has never been done, the use of male or female condoms may assist prevent the spread of the infection. Trichomonas vaginalis dies in water after 45–60 minutes, in hot water after 30 minutes to 3 hours, and in diluted urine after 5–6 hours, therefore infection with trichomoniasis through water is rare. 

There are currently no routine standard screening standards for the general public receiving family planning or STI testing in the United States.

 Trichomoniasis testing is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for females who have vaginal discharge and should be considered for females who are at higher risk of infection or who have HIV-positive serostatus.

Trichomoniasis testing is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for females who have vaginal discharge and should be considered for females who are at higher risk of infection or who have HIV-positive serostatus.

Novel trichomoniasis tests that are very specific and sensitive have opened the door to new screening regimens for both men and women. To assess the cost-effectiveness and most effective use of these novel tests for the diagnosis and therapy of trichomoniasis in the United States, careful planning, discussion, & study are required, which could lead to improved preventative efforts.

Email and SMS messaging as appointment reminders have been demonstrated to be effective ways of improving STI testing follow-up.

SCREENING:

Screening Evidence from randomized controlled studies has not consistently indicated that screening pregnant women who do not have symptoms of trichomoniasis infection and treating women who test positive for the infection reduce the risk of preterm birth.

 More research is needed to confirm this conclusion and determine the optimum screening approach. In the United States, pregnant women without symptoms should be screened only if they have HIV, as Trichomonas infection is linked to an increased risk of HIV transmission to the foetus.

TREATMENT:

Treatment for both pregnant and non-pregnant women is generally metronidazole, which is taken once by mouth. Caution should be used during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Sexual partners should also be treated, even if they show no symptoms.

Infection is resolved in 95–97 percent of cases after one dose of metronidazole. Studies suggest that 4–5% of trichomonas cases are resistant to metronidazole, which may account for some “repeat” cases. In women, trichomoniasis can last months to years without therapy, whereas in men, it is expected to improve without treatment.

Because Skene’s gland and other genitourinary tissues operate as a reservoir, topical therapies are less effective than oral antibiotics.

CONCLUSION:

Trichomoniasis is a parasite infection that is passed from person to person through sexual contact. Trichomoniasis can produce a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, itching in the genital area, and painful urination in women.

Typically, trichomoniasis causes no symptoms in men. Pregnant women with trichomoniasis may be at an increased risk of giving birth prematurely.

Both spouses should be treated to prevent reinfection with the trichomoniasis-causing organism. One massive dose of metronidazole (Flagyl) or tinidazole is the most usual treatment for trichomoniasis (Tindamax). If you use condoms appropriately each time you have sex, you can lower your chance of infection.