Medicine for Africa - Medical Information Service

RICHOMONAS VAGINALIS

Definition:
 
The protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis belongs to the family of sexually transmitted diseases and can be transmitted during sexual contacts between two people. 'Sexual contact' does not only imply sexual intercourse, it also includes any close bodily contact, that is oral as well as anal contact and intercourse. The organism can cause an acute, purulent infection of the cervix (cervicitis) and of the vagina (vaginitis), and is often associated with the fungal organism Candida albicans, which can also cause acute, purulent cervicitis and vaginitis.
 

Symptoms:
 
The organism is a very common cause of vaginal discharge which is characteristically profuse, frothy and greenish in color and often extremely foul smelling. It may cause inflammation, called trichomoniasis, of the vulva and the skin around the vulva and anus. It can spread to the urinary tract, causing burning while urinating in both men and women. In women, it can also change the acidity of the vagina, thus leading to further infections of the cervix such as Candidiasis, caused by the fungal organism Candida albicans, which again causes increased itching and burning of the genital area.
 

Diagnosis:
 
Trichomonas vaginalis can be diagnosed by putting some of the discharge on a glass slide, staining the slide and viewing it under the microscope. The organism can also be diagnosed on a Pap smear or by setting up a culture test.
 

Therapy:
 
Antibiotic treatment in the form of drugs is available; a combination treatment may be indicated because of its association with other organisms.
 

Prevention:
 
Prevention of all sexually transmitted diseases lies primarily in avoiding and eliminating sexual contact with an infected person. Since one cannot always be assured of the sexual hygiene of a partner, prevention is best achieved, with a relatively high degree of success, by using a latex condom. Non-latex condoms are not as certain to prevent contact with the infected person's organisms, since some organisms can penetrate non-latex materials and infect the partner. In addition to the condoms used by men, there are now also condoms for women who can take the initiative if the man does not. A condom should never be used more than once, because contamination with or leaking of semen occurs frequently upon repeated usage of any kind of condom. If a person knows that he/she is infected by one of these diseases, he/she should take responsibility and abstain from sexual contacts with anybody during the time of contagion.

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