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- $Unique_ID{BRK00026}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Recurring Vaginitis and Trichomonas Infection}
- $Subject{vaginitis trichomonas Infections Infection genitourinary lifestyle
- lifestyles vaginal vagina protozoa sexually transmitted disease std venereal
- diseases vd sexual ping-pong metronidazole clotrimazole protozoans protozoan
- genitourinary system}
- $Volume{A-14, J-23}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Recurring Vaginitis and Trichomonas Infection
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- QUESTION: Help! I have a recurring vaginitis. The employee health nurse
- feels sure that it is a "trichoma" infection, but my normal cleaning routine
- isn't helping. Can you?
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- ANSWER: Trichomonas vaginitis is a vaginal infection that can be a problem to
- get rid of. Unlike most other vaginal infections, which are bacterial,
- trichomonas is caused by a protozoa, a microscopic one-celled animal.
- A trichomonas infection is a sexually transmitted disease, although women
- can become infected through nonsexual contact as well. If you have the
- infection, your sexual partner usually has an undiagnosed case also. If you
- take medication and your sexual partner does not he will remain infected and
- after you have conquered your infection, may reinfect you. If he gets
- treatment, and you don't clear up your infection, you will transmit the
- disease back to him. Doctors have a descriptive term for such situations,
- calling them "ping-pong" infections. This may be occurring in your case.
- The usual first-line treatment for trichomonas is one dose of an oral
- drug called metronidazole. If the partner is treated at the same time as the
- infected woman, a single dose is 95% effective. However, if you fall in the
- other 5%, the only recourse is to try a seven-day course of lower doses of
- metronidazole, and perhaps, in addition, a topical drug called clotrimazole.
- In any case, this is not the time for self medication and trial and error
- treatment. You deserve to see a physician, obtain a careful and correct
- diagnosis, and receive the appropriate treatment. A discussion with your
- partner is in order as well.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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