Microbial Diseases Of The Urinary and Reproductive Systems |
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Caused by herpes simplex virus, usually type 2 (HSV II).
Symptoms are painful urination, genital irritation, and fluid filled vesicles.
Neonatal herpes is contracted during fetal development or birth. It can cause neurological damage and can be fatal.
The virus may become latent in neurons; vesicles may reappear after trauma, hormonal changes, and UV light exposure.
The infection is associated with cervical cancer.
Treatment is acyclovir (not curative).
A note about the viral types: There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV I and HSV II. HSV I is the cause of oral herpes, or cold sores. This is usually acquired as an upper respiratory tract infection during early childhood. HSV II is the cause of most cases of genital herpes. However, it is possible for HSV I to cause genital herpes and HSV II to cause oral herpes.
Genital herpes can be transmitted by oral sex and can be caused by HSV I or HSV II. The transmission of herpes can occur in the absence of lesions and during asymptomatic shedding. This is one of the reasons why the population of patients with genital herpes caused by HSV I is thought to be increasing.
The virus remains latent in ganglia of the sensory nerves in the dermatome that serves the area of initial infection - the trigeminal nerve ganglion in oral infections and the sacral nerve ganglion in genital infections.
Clinicians cannot tell the difference between the two types by physical examination alone (they are differentiated serologically and by cytopathic effects in tissue culture). The importance of understanding the different types is in the area of prognosis. Genital herpes caused by HSV II is more likely (90%) to cause recurrence than HSV I (50%).
Caused by papillomaviruses (Papovaviruses).
Associated with cervical cancer, especially when co-infected with HSV-2.
Acquired virally induced immunodeficiency, caused by HIV retrovirus.
No treatment is effective, it is usually fatal due to opportunistic infection.
Candida albicans causes NGU in males and vulvovaginal candidiasis in females.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is characterized by itching lesions and irritation, a yeasty odor and a white to yellow curdy discharge.
Predisposing factors are pregnancy, diabetes, tumors, and broad spectrum antibacterial therapy.
Diagnosis is based on observation, isolation and identification of the fungus.
Treatment is fluconazole (Diflucan) po; miconazole, clotrimazole,
and nystatin (topically); ketoconazole (IV) for deep-seated systemic candidiasis.
Caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, occurs when pH of the vagina is increased.
May be sexually transmitted or an opportunistic infection.
Symptoms include vaginal itching and a foul smelling greenish-yellow discharge.
Diagnosis is based on observation of the protozoan in purulent discharges from the site of infection.
Treatment is metronidazole (Flagyl).
T. vaginalis on Cultured Epithelial Cell
