Chlamydia is a dangerous infectious disease that must be treated immediately after the first signs of infection, because it is fraught with serious consequences and complications.
Much can be said about this disease, as well as about everything that concerns it. But now we will focus on chronic chlamydia in men.
About the disease
The ailment under consideration can affect the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, visual and respiratory systems, but most often the urogenital. Urogenital chlamydia is manifested by symptoms of inflammatory diseases, and goes into a chronic form rather quickly. This cannot be allowed, since the consequences are quite serious. Among them are infertility, ascending infections of the genitourinary tract, neurochlamydia, impotence, cardiovascular disease, joint damage, etc.
Sexually transmitted infection. The causative agent is Chlamydia trachomatis. Unfortunately, there have been more and more infections recently. Most often, men aged 20 to 40 years, as well as sexually active adolescents, are affected. According to statistics, 90 million people worldwide are infected with chlamydia each year. At risk are people with weakened immunity.
Very often, chronic chlamydia in men is combined with other infections. As a rule, these are gardnerellosis, thrush, ureaplasmosis, syphilis, mycoplasmosis, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. The combination of several infections only exacerbates the course of the disease, and this negatively affects the duration of treatment.
Before talking about how to cure chronic chlamydia in men, it should be noted that the pathogen can live for a long time inside the cells of the infected. Bacteria simply do not manifest themselves in any way during this period, which can last for years. But if the body's defenses are weakened, then they will begin to actively multiply and progress, which will lead to clinical manifestations of chlamydia.
However, as a rule, from the moment of infection to the onset of symptoms it takes from 7 to 15 days (slightly less often - up to one month).
Symptoms
They also need to be listed, since we are talking about chronic chlamydia in men. The fact is that in about 46% of cases, the disease occurs without any manifestations. This greatly complicates the diagnosis and treatment, and also increases the risk of complications. But a disease with an asymptomatic course is still dangerous. An infection carrier is potentially dangerous because it can infect your partner.
But in most cases, symptoms of chronic chlamydia in men are manifested. The following can be distinguished:
- Discharge from the urethra of a watery or mucopurulent nature. They usually appear in the morning.
- Burning and itching that occurs when urinating. Urine itself becomes somewhat cloudy.
- Redness and swelling of the urethra.
- Increased to 37-37.6 ° C body temperature.
- Fatigue and general weakness.
- Pain in the lumbar and inguinal region.
All these symptoms are characteristic of an acute stage disease. If untreated, they subside, but this does not mean that the ailment receded. On the contrary, he went into the stage of chronic chlamydia. In men, the symptoms disappear, and they are replaced by a lesion of the urethra, which can be treated much more complicated than an acute illness.
Diagnostics
How to determine the presence of the disease? This question also needs to be answered, since we are talking about chronic chlamydia in men.
Diagnostics is carried out by urologists. However, it is also necessary to make an appointment with a venereologist in order to exclude the possibility of contracting other sexually transmitted infections based on the results of the examination.
What about diagnostic measures? A common cytological smear does not give a complete picture of the presence of chlamydia. Therefore, PCR diagnostics are now being carried out. This method allows you to detect the pathogen in the test material, even in very small quantities. Its accuracy reaches 95%.
Another informative is the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It helps to detect the presence of antibodies to the pathogen. Sometimes they resort to direct immunofluorescence, which involves microscopy of smears stained with a special substance.
In addition to the above, for the diagnosis of chronic chlamydia in men, whose photo shows an unpleasant picture, bacteriological culture is often used. Another doctor may prescribe a determination of sensitivity to antibiotics.
As a rule, the material for all of the above procedures is blood, semen, urine, scraping of the cells, as well as excretion from the genitals.
Diagnostic preparation
A man, deciding to make an appointment with a urologist for an examination, must prepare. Here are the rules to be followed:
- 1-2 days before admission, you need to abandon intimate relationships.
- You will need to abandon the use of any special hygiene products.
- You will have to stop using sprays, ointments and other medicines as soon as possible.
- On the eve of the inspection, in the evening, it is necessary to cleanse the external genital organs. To do this, it is allowed to use warm water and soap. In the morning, nothing needs to be done.
- 2-3 hours before the inspection, it is advisable not to relieve the need.
Complications
The effects of chronic chlamydia in men need to be discussed separately. If this disease is not treated, then the likelihood of such complications is high:
- Prostatitis. It begins to develop due to the involvement of the prostate gland in the infectious process. Chlamydial prostatitis is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms: pain in the rectum, perineum and lower back, slight discharge from the urethra, problems with potency, difficulty urinating.
- Urethritis. It is accompanied by a lesion of the urethra. The pronounced symptoms are frequent painful urges to urinate, as well as mucopurulent discharge. You can not run this disease. This is fraught with narrowing of the urethra.
- Epididymitis. It develops due to inflammation of the epididymis. This complication is accompanied by a very high temperature, redness and swelling of the scrotum, as well as directly an increase in the appendage.
All of these urogenital diseases are fraught with infertility and impaired spermatogenesis. In addition, there is a possibility of inflammation of the rectum, lungs, joints, kidneys, bronchi.
However, one of the most serious consequences is Reuters disease. It manifests itself in the simultaneous damage to articular tissues, eyes, mucous membranes and, of course, the urogenital tract. Urethritis, conjunctivitis, arthritis, dysuric disorders, edema, finger configuration - these are just a small part of the symptoms of this disease.
It is difficult to cope with it, the treatment lasts at least six months. A stable remission can be achieved, but this does not exclude the possibility of exacerbation.
Chlamydia and reproductive function
There are many causes of male infertility. However, the most common are genitourinary infections transmitted through an unprotected act. Unfortunately, the active progression of parasitic microorganisms leads to irreversible changes in the composition of sperm.
In scientific terms, there is an overproduction of sperm polymorphonuclear leukocytes of the active form of an oxygen radical. This leads to damage to the sperm membrane. And this phenomenon, in turn, has a depressing effect on fertility.
It is also important to consider that such a pathology still often leads to abnormal development of the fetus.
Therapy Features
Now we can talk about the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men. It is immediately necessary to make a reservation that therapy for this disease, in whatever form it occurs, involves taking antibiotics. It is strictly forbidden to pick them yourself.
The doctor prescribes drugs of the tetracycline group - macrolides and fluoroquinolones. But, as a rule, the course of rational treatment of chronic chlamydia in men is not limited to just medication. Often the patient has to take two drugs from different groups. The doctor may prescribe bacteriophages, antifungal agents, enzymes, enzymes.
If necessary, physiotherapy is prescribed to the patient. The most popular are magnetotherapy, ultrasound and electrophoresis.
Tetracycline preparations
About how to treat chronic chlamydia in men, it is necessary to tell in detail. Tetracycline drugs have the ability to disrupt the protein synthesis of parasitic cells, penetrating into the intracellular space. They are released in the form of ointments and tablets. With chlamydia, they are used in both cases.
The most famous medication is the tablet “Tetracycline”. It is prescribed if the patient does not have pathologies of the liver and kidneys. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks. It is necessary to take it four times a day for 0.4 g. An ointment is usually prescribed for chlamydial conjunctivitis.
Metacycline is also effective. It has diverse antimicrobial activity. Capsules must be taken within one week. The daily dose is 600 mg.
Minocycline is also prescribed. This is a medicament of semisynthetic origin, which is available in the form of suspensions, capsules and tablets. It should be taken 40 minutes every day, 200 mg before meals, also for one week.
But the most effective drug from this group is Doxycycline. It is available in the form of a powder (a solution is prepared from it, which is administered parenterally) and capsules. The active substance destroys most strains of the pathogen. In the pharmacy, the drug can be found under the name "Dorix", "Vibramycin", "Unidox Solutab". Take one of these funds twice a day for 0.1 g for 1-2 weeks.
Talking about the drugs taken in the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men, it should be noted that side effects may occur. Most often this is a headache, nausea, hypertension, vomiting, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as increased sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet rays.
Macrolides
This is another group of drugs that are used in the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men and women. Antibiotics of this series are distinguished by a powerful bacteriostatic effect. They are semi-synthetic and natural.
Most often, patients are prescribed "Erythromycin." This is an effective macrolide, but not all tolerate it well. It should be consumed four times a day, 0.25 g one and a half hours before a meal. The course lasts one week. It is allowed to supplement the treatment with a local effect on the organ - for this, an ointment with erythromycin in the composition is used.
Patients best tolerate Spiramycin (Rovamycin). This drug has less toxicity, and it also accumulates in the focus of inflammation. It must be taken three times a day for 3 million units for 10 days.
Also, the doctor may prescribe "Sumamed" - the best azalide of the existing ones. A single use is sufficient for the drug to remain in the focus of inflammation in the maximum concentration for the next five days.
This tool is able to destroy even pale treponema and gonococci. Plus, the likelihood of side effects is minimal. Take this tool as follows: once two tablets of 0.5 g on the first day, and the next 5-7 - one at a time.
Another option is Roxithromycin. Low toxic, but highly active, is slowly excreted from the body. You need to drink it 2 times a day for 0.15 g, always 20 minutes before eating. The course of treatment lasts 10-14 days.
Often prescribed "Klacid" and "Vilprafen" (twice a day for 0.5 g, a course of 1.5-2 weeks) and "Macropen" (three times a day for two weeks, 0.4 g).
Fluoroquinolones
As clinical trials have shown, medicines in this group are somewhat inferior in effectiveness to the notorious tetracyclines and macrolides. These are Norfloxacin, Lomefloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Sparfloxacin, as well as Levofloxacin. They are rarely used in the treatment of acute or chronic chlamydia.
However, there is a drug that has excellent reviews - this is Ofloxacin (Tarivid). It represents the second generation of fluoroquinolones. It must be taken within 7-10 days once a day. The dosage is 0.4 g.
Possible side effects include renal failure, sleep problems, epigastric pain, and also cardiovascular disorders. The medicine is serious, but effective. It is used even in the fight against a resistant form of the disease.
Other drugs
The above medicines are not all drugs that help eliminate the symptoms of chronic chlamydia in men. The treatment of this ailment often involves the use of Amoxiclav. This is a combined antibacterial drug that has a wide range of effects.
The doctor may prescribe Amoxiclav additionally, if streptococcal infection has joined the underlying disease. However, it is forbidden to take along with aminoglycosides.
Augmentin may still be appointed. It is a complete analogue of the notorious Amoxiclav. The active substances are the same, only the manufacturer and price differ.
Also, in order to strengthen the immune system, patients may be prescribed drugs such as Levamisole and Timogen. They significantly increase the body's defenses. The use of interferon inducers (Cycloferon) and proteolytic enzymes (Chymotrypsin) is still often appropriate.
Forecast
Much has been said before about the treatment of chronic chlamydia in men and the consequences that ignoring this ailment entails. What can be said about the forecasts?
It is very important to start therapy immediately. And when a man reveals chlamydia, it is necessary to examine both partners, even in the absence of symptoms. Why? Because if one of the partners infected with the disease does not start therapy, then the second, cured, can become infected again.
It is also very important to undergo diagnostics one and a half to two months after completing the course (ELISA and PCR are used). If the results of tests for chlamydia are negative, then the person is healthy.
Once again, it should be noted that it is necessary to treat this disease in the acute stage. It is very difficult to get rid of chronic chlamydia. In addition, it is fraught with a lot of consequences - from infertility to impotence.