Diagnosis
The anamnesis plays the most important role in the diagnosis. If the patient speaks of frequently changing sexual partners or green-yellowish discharge after sexual intercourse abroad or with a foreign partner, the doctor can usually already suspect a sexually transmitted disease. Since trichomoniasis is a common STD and the discharge is typical, this infection is quickly considered.
To substantiate the diagnosis, a smear of the vaginal wall in women or the urethra in men can be taken, which is examined under the microscope. This then shows a so-called flagellate flagellate. The diagnosis is thus confirmed. Nevertheless, other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea should be excluded.
Incubation period
It can take from 5 days to 3 weeks from infection to the onset of symptoms. In most cases (approx. 80%), however, no symptoms occur, although the parasite can survive in the host for months to years. Especially in males, the course of the infection is usually asymptomatic.
These are the symptoms of a trichomonas infection
The treatment of an infection by trichomonads is primarily by means of antibiotic therapy. The antibiotic of choice here is metronidazole, which is usually administered orally twice a day for 7-10 days or systemically, i.e. via the blood, in the case of severe infections. The dosage requires the expert decision of a physician.
In addition, it is important to treat the partner as well, even if he or she does not show any symptoms. As described above, an infection can often be asymptomatic. However, the parasite can survive unnoticed in the body for months to years and if sexual contact is repeated, further transmission and infection can occur.
This is known as the ping-pong effect, which must be prevented. During treatment, sexual intercourse should be avoided. After one week, i.e. after the end of the therapy, a control smear can be taken to ensure that no more trichomonads live in the genital area.
Metronidazole as an oral antibiotic cannot be obtained without a prescription in Germany, but requires a prescription to be issued by a doctor. This is due to the numerous side effects and the fight against resistance through antibiotic use. However, there are few drugs that contain the active ingredient in small quantities.
These are drugs that can be used in the form of an ointment or vaginal suppository in women for local application in the vagina. A distinction is made between the drugs Eubiolac Verla, a vaginal suppository containing the active ingredient “lactic acid” and Evazol and Fluomizin, a cream or suppository containing the active ingredient “Dequalinium”. However, they cannot replace intensive antibiotic therapy with metronidazole.
A doctor or pharmacist should be consulted before taking such preparations. The antibiotic of choice for trichominiasis is metronidazole, an antibiotic from the group of nitroimidazoles. It is mainly used against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa.
It leads to DNA breaks in the genes of the pathogens. In trichomoniasis it is usually used orally for 7 – 10 days with a dosage of 400mg twice daily. Alternatively, 2g can be taken once daily.
However, the decision on the correct dosage is up to the treating physician. Metronidazole has a good success rate in treating a trichomonas infection. However, like all antibiotics, it causes some side effects, such as: diarrhea, headache, itching. However, these are usually rare.