What Are Vaginal Infections?
Despite what you might have heard, there are many different kinds of vaginal infections that can occur. These include Yeast infection, Bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia, and Trichomoniasis. All of these can cause pain, but there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of getting any of these.
Bacterial vaginosis
bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection that can cause unpleasant symptoms. The most common symptom is an increased discharge that typically is white or gray in color. Some women also notice itching or burning in the genital area.
There are several risk factors for bacterial vaginosis. Some of the most common are wearing tight-fitting clothing, having a history of sex, having multiple sex partners, and having a lack of protection. If you have BV, you should avoid sex until you have cleared up the infection.
Bacterial vaginosis can be treated with antibiotics. This treatment can help prevent sexually transmitted infections. You may take the antibiotic in pill form, cream, gel, or suppositories. The antibiotic will kill the bacteria and relieve your symptoms.
The treatment for BV is safe for pregnant women. However, it is important to use a full course of antibiotics. Without the proper treatment, BV can come back in three months. If you are pregnant, you should talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of BV.
The doctor will ask you several questions. They will examine you for any signs of BV or other sexually transmissible infections. He or she will also test your vaginal secretions and pH level to rule out more serious conditions. The doctor will then send the sample to a laboratory to be analyzed. If a test indicates a BV infection, he or she will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
In some cases, a healthcare provider will administer a suppository containing probiotics. This will help to improve your digestive tract’s flora and increase your BV treatment success.
A doctor will diagnose bacterial vaginosis based on the physical exam, vaginal secretions, and lab tests. The most common types of antibiotics used for BV include clindamycin, metronidazole, and clarithromycin. These drugs are safe to use during pregnancy and can be taken by mouth.
Yeast infection
Yeast infection in vaginal infections is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. It can be cured with over-the-counter antifungal creams or prescription medicines. The treatment usually involves applying a cream or a suppository, which is then placed inside the vagina.
There are many factors that can lead to yeast overgrowth in the vagina, including birth control pills, diabetes, or HIV. Your healthcare provider can diagnose the infection and help you choose the best treatment option.
A yeast infection in the vagina can be treated with antibiotics, ointments, and vaginal tablets. You should follow your healthcare provider’s advice on how to use these medications. If you have recurrent infections, you may need a maintenance plan.
In the early stages, you should be able to treat your infection on your own with over-the-counter creams and suppositories. The medicine may also be applied directly to the area with an applicator. If the infection hasn’t gone away after a week or so, you may need to have a lab test.
Your healthcare provider will examine your vagina and take a sample of your discharge. The discharge will then be sent to a lab for testing.
Your healthcare provider will ask you if you have had a yeast infection in the past. She will also want to know if you have had sexually transmitted diseases or STIs in the past. If you have a weakened immune system, you are at greater risk for developing yeast infections.
If you have recurrent yeast infections, you may need to take an antifungal medication for a longer period of time. If you are pregnant, you should avoid taking oral medications, such as azoles.
Chlamydia
Symptoms of a Chlamydia infection of the vagina include a smelly discharge. It is also accompanied by a reddish-brown color. This type of odor is not uncommon in patients who have undergone a hysterectomy.
The normal pH of the vagina is in the range of 3.8 to 4.5. This is similar to the acidic levels in beverages such as wine and beer. In addition, the vagina is home to a natural flora that produces mucus. A yeast infection, however, may lead to a foul-smelling discharge.
There are several other medical conditions that affect the odor of the vagina. Some of these are achy and painful intercourse, and others cause a mild orange coloring of the discharge.
Fortunately, a quick consultation with a physician or nurse can tell you what the problem is and what you can do about it. You can choose to use a mouthwash solution to clear up the gums or try a more natural approach such as taking a bath. Alternatively, you can wear a pessary. This will help alleviate the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection.
The ICD-10-CM tool can assist you in finding the right codes for your diagnosis. It’s a good idea to check with your doctor or nurse to make sure you’re using the appropriate code for your particular condition. It’s also a good idea to know which codes are billable and which are non-billable. As a result, you’ll avoid paying out the proverbial nose for a procedure that won’t pay you back.
In the end, what’s most important is knowing which codes to use. This will prevent you from getting stuck in a quagmire. Luckily, there are many coding websites that will give you a list of ICD-10 codes to use.
Trichomoniasis
During sexual intercourse, men and women can become infected with a parasite called trichomoniasis. It can also affect pregnant women. It can also lead to HIV, a virus that causes AIDS.
The protozoa infect the vagina, urethra, prostate, and outer part of the genitals (the vulva). It is a very common infection and is usually passed through sexual intercourse.
A woman who is symptomatic from Trichomonas vaginitis will experience painful urination, itching, and a frothy discharge. It is important to treat trichomoniasis when it appears. It is one of the most common STDs in the United States. It can affect children but is more common in women.
During pregnancy, a woman who is infected with Trichomonas vaginitis is more likely to have babies who are low in birth weight. They may also have conjunctivitis. They are also at higher risk for developing other sexually transmitted diseases.
A woman who is symptomatic of Trichomonas vaginitis may have small red ulcerations on her pelvis. She also may have a strawberry-like appearance in her upper vagina and cervix.
If the doctor suspects Trichomonas vaginitis, he or she will order a test called a culture. This is a laboratory test that uses a swab from the vagina to grow the trich parasite in the lab. The result of the test will show the presence or absence of the parasite.
Treatment with antibiotics is usually effective. The antibiotics work by inhibiting the growth of the parasite. They are prescribed in large doses. They can clear most trich infections. It is important to stop sex for a few days after you begin treatment.
People who are symptomatic from trichomoniasis should not have sex for seven to ten days after treatment. If they do, it is possible for the parasite to re-infect them.
Sexual abuse
Identifying sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children who might have been abused is important. In some cases, the presence of an STI may be the direct evidence of child abuse. In other cases, the STI might have been transmitted through another person’s sexual activity. In either case, testing for STIs in these children will be helpful to the child and to the child’s parents and other caretakers.
In order to evaluate the relationship between sexual abuse and vaginal infection, a study of 157 children under 14 years of age was conducted. These children had been referred to the sexual abuse clinic because they were suspected of having been sexually abused. This study was performed against a concurrent control group of 108 girls. These two groups were randomly selected for the study. The patients were all members of the same community, with a majority being white.
The cases were selected based on physical signs and symptoms that would indicate possible sexual abuse. The presenting symptoms were anogenital bleeding or bruising, lesions, irritation or redness, and vaginal discharge.
Several of the symptoms were more common in the case group than in the control group. In addition, the incidence of gonorrhea was higher in the case group than in the control group. The rates of gonococcal infection were also higher for the delayed reporting of the child’s abuse. This was likely because the cases were screened for sexually transmitted pathogens at a low frequency.
The findings suggest that a single evaluation might be sufficient to diagnose a sexually abused child. However, it is recommended that additional examinations be performed to identify infections not detected at the initial examination. The second visit should include a repeated physical examination and collection of additional specimens. This is important to ensure a correct diagnosis and to avoid a false positive STI test.
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Health A-Z. (2022, April 26). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770
Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
Health Conditions A-Z Sitemap. (n.d.). EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/conditions/
