Genital Infections - Symptoms and Treatments

Important premise

Studied symptomatically, numerous genital infections are marked by very similar symptoms, easily confused: for this reason, the recognition of the pathogen involved in the disease is not always so immediate.

In addition to the generality of the prodrome, sometimes there is also the difficulty, on the part of the patient himself, to identify with certainty the precise anatomical site of the painful genital, clearly making the diagnosis more complex. What continues to be repeated in textbooks and scientific articles is the need to consult a doctor from the very first symptoms, without hesitating or delaying: in fact, the medical examination with the differential diagnosis is the only effective method to ascertain the "infection and determine its severity level.
The patient's clinical history, therefore the anamnesis, gives a general idea of ​​the subject's state of health, of the possible alterations of the endocrine balance, of the efficacy of the autoimmune system and of all previous pathologies. genital infections are heavily affected by certain factors, such as past pathogenic insults, stress, gynecological / urological diseases, etc. some drugs can pave the way for infections, whether they are caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa or fungi.

Symptoms

Precisely because of the poor specificity of the symptoms, it is unthinkable to immediately make a diagnosis, if not approximate, on the type of pathogen involved in the genital infection; moreover, the symptoms reported by the patient are often confusing and overlapping, which makes the type even less clear. d "infection. To give an example, the woman suffering from a "common genital infection observes vaginal discharge, itching and burning, three elements that unite the vast majority of infectious genital diseases.
In men it is extremely complex to establish whether the irritation to the genitals is limited to the glans penis (balanitis) or is also pushed to the foreskin (postitis): for this reason, we tend to speak more often of balanoposthitis.
Clearly, some infectious forms are easier to diagnose, even with medical supervision alone: ​​this is the case of genital infections caused by Thricomonas, whose characteristic vaginal discharge takes on a greenish color, a spongy appearance and a fishy odor gone bad.

Symptoms table

To more easily distinguish one form from another, the symptoms that distinguish the most frequent genital infections are listed below.

Pathogen involved in genital infection Symptoms of "genital infection in MAN" Symptoms of genital infection in WOMEN Genital infections from Candida albicans Balanitis, balanoposthitis, dyspareunia, erythema of the balano-preputial sulcus with itching and burning. It is often asymptomatic Redness of the vaginal mucosa, local burning, whitish plaque formation, itching, white cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge Genital infections from Chlamydia Trachomatis Pain when urinating, genital (testicular) swelling, urethral discharge after squeezing the glans, proctitis Cervicitis, pain during intercourse, pain when urinating, abnormal menstrual discharge, even outside of your period (spotting) Genital infections from Gardnerella vaginalis Often asymptomatic. Symptoms: urethritis, foul-smelling genital odor. Complications: impaired fertility Typical bacterium involved in vaginosis, often asymptomatic. Burning, irritation, itching, white or gray vaginal discharge, pungent odor. Complications: PID, impaired fertility Genital infections from Trichomonas vaginalis Balanitis, balanoposthitis, dyspareunia, dysuria, erythema of urethral meatus, pollakiuria, prostatitis, urethral pruritus, blood in urine, bladder tenesmus, foul-smelling urine Increased vaginal pH, dyspareunia, dysuria, pain when urinating, greenish, foamy and foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pollakiuria, local itching, blood in urine, bladder tenesmus, foul-smelling urine Genital infections from Mycoplasma hominis Infertility, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, urethritis Spontaneous abortion, endometritis, infertility, chorion-amniotic infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), salpingitis, poor development of the newborn, vaginitis Genital infections from Herpes simplex Appearance of round blisters on the skin and genital mucosa + burning, discomfort, itching and local redness Appearance of rounded blisters on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital mucosa + burning, discomfort, itching and local redness Genital infections from Neisseria gonorrhoeae Dysuria, hyperemia of the urethral meatus, emission of purulent fluid from the urethral canal Burning / pain when urinating, redness of the urinary meatus, pelvic inflammatory disease, moderate vaginal discharge, salpingitis
Genital infections from Brucella abortus Diarrhea, muscle aches, epididymitis, low-grade fever, orchitis with formation of granulomas Spontaneous abortion, diarrhea, body aches, low-grade fever, metritis (inflammation of the uterus), retention of the placenta Genital infections from Treponema Pallidum (syphilis) Balanitis, genital burning, pain during intercourse, swollen inguinal lymph nodes, genital lesions and ulcers, postitis Genital burning, cervicitis, dyspareunia, genital lesions, painless genital ulcers, vaginitis Genital infections from HPV (type 6 and 11) Acuminate warts at the glans, urethral meatus, frenulum, shaft of the penis and balano-preputial sulcus + burning, pain, irritation and localized itching Genital warts limited to the vulva, vagina and cervix + localized burning, pain, irritation and itching

Care

Given the "high risk of contracting a" genital infection - which grows in proportion to the number of sexual partners - it is necessary to reiterate once again that prevention is, without doubt, the most effective weapon to avoid a "genital affection caused by pathogens. The use of condoms, regular intimate hygiene with mild detergents and cotton underwear are three basic measures to minimize the risk of genital infection.
However, drug treatment is based on the administration of antifungal drugs for genital infections caused by fungi (eg. Candida albicans), of antibiotic pharmacological products for the treatment of bacterial infections (e.g. chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.) and of substances with antiviral therapeutic action for the treatment of viral infections (classic those sustained by H. genitalis). The treatment with these drugs can be completed by the application of other products, indicated to relieve symptoms such as itching, burning, dryness: for this purpose, ointments with an emollient and soothing action are indicated. In addition to these products, in the case of antibiotic therapy, advises to take also tablets or vials of lactic ferments to balance the bacterial flora, inevitably compromised by the administration of the antibiotic drug.
Briefly, the table summarizes the drugs most used in therapy to treat various genital infections.

Medication table

Genital infection Most used drugs Candidiasis

• Topical antifungals / vaginal insertion - ova (eg Clotrimazole, 1% Miconazole, 2%)
• Systemic antifungals (eg Itraconazole Amphotericin B, Nystatin, Cancidas)

Trichomoniasis

• Systemic antibiotics, to be taken orally (e.g. metronidazole, tinidazole) or to be administered in the form of vaginal suppositories

Gonorrhea

• Systemic antibiotics (eg Azithromycin, Cefotaxime, Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Bacampicillin, Tetracycline)

Chlamydia

• Systemic antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, sulphysoxazole, erythromycin)

Syphilis

• Antibiotics to be taken orally, intramuscularly or intravenously (eg. Penicillin G, Procaine, Doxycycline, Cefatrixone, Tetracycline)

Gardnerella

• Antibiotics to be taken orally, intramuscularly or intravenously (eg. Metronidazole, Tinidazole, Clindamycin)
• Administration of acidifying agents to reduce genital pH

Brucellosis

• Systemic antibiotics (e.g. Doxycycline Tetracycline, Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim, Gentamicin)
• Bacteriostatic (eg. Chloramphenicol)
• Medicines to lower fever (eg Paracetamol)

Mononucleosis

• Antivirals (e.g. acyclovir)
• Analgesics (eg Ibuprofen)
• Immunoglobulins
• Corticosteroids (e.g. cortisone)
• Antipyretics (eg Paracetamol)

Herpetic genital infections

• Antivirals to be taken orally (eg Aciclovir Famciclovir Valaciclovir)

Acuminate warts

• Immunomodulatory drugs (e.g. imiquimod, Interferon-2a)
• Topical drugs (eg podophyllotoxin, podophyllin resin, 5-fluoro-uracil)

It is also recommended to subject the sexual partner to therapy to treat genital infections (even in the absence of symptoms) to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.