Mycoplasma genitalium: symptoms, causes and treatment of this STD

A little known and recently discovered sexually transmitted disease.

Talking about sexually transmitted diseases or infections is something common nowadays, being this type of diseases one of the most widespread epidemics and one of the most challenging ones nowadays at a medical level. When we talk about STDs we generally think of HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia or human papillomavirus (HPV) or other problems that can be transmitted sexually, such as hepatitis. But these are not the only sexually transmitted diseases that exist.

In fact, the existence of a new venereal disease or STD has recently come to light which, although it was discovered in 1980, until now has been practically unknown and, in addition to beginning to spread, has the potential to become an antibiotic-resistant superbug. It is mycoplasma genitalium, which we are going to talk about in this article.which we are going to talk about in this article.

Mycoplasma genitalium: description and symptoms.

It is known as mycoplasma genitalium or mycoplasma genitalium a a hitherto rare sexually transmitted disease and which has recently begun to receive media attention when a dramatic increase in its prevalence was observed (today it is estimated that between 1 and 2% of the population suffers from it) and it was classified in 2015 as an emerging pathogen by the WHO. This does not imply that it is a new disease, since its discovery dates back to 1980.

It is a disease that can appear asymptomatic for years, although in cases where symptoms occur, they usually appear between one and three weeks after infection. The symptoms of this disease may vary between men and women.However, in general, both sexes usually share the presence of inflammation in the genitourinary tract that causes pain when urinating or having sexual intercourse.

In the case of women, apart from dysuria or pain when urinating, there may be pain in the pelvis, during sexual intercourse or even when walking, reddening of the urethra and inflammation of the bladder, as well as odorous discharge and abnormal bleeding. In addition, and I feel this is especially important, this disease has the potential to cause loss of fertility in women, as well as premature births. Bleeding may also occur after intercourse or even ectopic pregnancies (which can be life-threatening). (something that can be life-threatening).

In men, in addition to the symptomatology in the form of pain (generally in the form of burning) when urinating, it is not uncommon for the urethra and prostate to become inflamed, in addition to possible inflammation of the joints and purulent secretions from the urethra. It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, urethritis, proctitis or pharyngitis.

In addition to all this, in people with a depressed immune system (for example HIV+ or HIV+ patients) it can have other repercussions such as the appearance of pulmonary, bone, dermatological or joint infections..

Causes, population at risk and routes of infection.

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterial disease, whose main cause is the transmission of the bacterium mycoplasma genitalium through sexual contact. This disease can be transmitted vaginally, anally or even orally and can infect not only the genital tissue but also the pharynx or anus. In addition, it can also be transmitted by touching the genitals of infected persons with the hands.

With regard to the existence of at-risk populations, this disease can occur in both sexes and is equally prevalent in heterosexual couples. equally prevalent in heterosexual and homosexual couples.. The population at risk would be made up of all those persons with a previous sexually transmitted disease, persons with multiple sexual partners, persons who engage in high-risk unprotected sexual practices or sex workers.

A little known disease, now a cause for concern

Although it was discovered in the United Kingdom in 1980, its low prevalence to date and its symptomatologic confusion with other sexually transmitted diseases have made genital mycoplasma a little known and under-researched venereal disease. a little known and researched venereal disease, with very little informationThere was very little information about it until a few years ago and it was practically unknown to the population until 2015.

In fact, mycoplasma genitalium is often confused with chlamydia or sometimes with gonorrhea, although they are different infections caused by different bacteria. This makes mycoplasma genitalium difficult to treat, since the therapeutic target would be different. Furthermore, there are few specific tests to diagnose mycoplasma genitalium, there are few specific tests to diagnose this disease, and most of them are very recent. and most of them are very recent and available in few hospitals and clinics. In general, an exudate of the patient's secretions or urine is usually collected and analyzed.

If genital mycoplasma has suddenly become a cause for concern and is beginning to focus part of the scientific and social interest is for several reasons.

One of them is the seriousness and dangerousness that this disease can have, being able to cause sterility or even causing dangerous ectopic pregnancies that could cause the death of those who suffer from it. The other, which is of increasing concern, is the fact that it has been observed that mycoplasma genitalium is capable of acquiring resistance to Antibiotics and can become a superbug that is very difficult to eliminate. In addition, in many cases there are no symptoms, or the comorbid presence or the the comorbid presence or the confusion with another STD such as chlamydia may lead to a failure to seek adequate treatment.

Treatment

As a general rule, the treatment of this problem is based is based on antibiotics as the most effective method, although the fact that this type of infection can become resistant to treatment can make its resolution complex.However, the fact that this type of infection can become resistant to treatment can make its resolution complex.

The most common is to use antibiotics of the macrolide family or azithromycin, which could be given for a single oral dose or a daily treatment of between five days or a week. After that it will be necessary to carry out some medical tests and analyses in order to check if the bacteria have been eliminated.

Another of the main methods of preventing the emergence of this disease is prevention: the use of barrier methods and contraceptives, especially condoms.especially in the case of condoms, will in most cases prevent infection.

Bibliographic references:

• Arráiz, N., Colina, S., Marcucci, R., Rondón, N., Reyes, F., Bermúdez, V. and Romero, Z. (2008). Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and correlation with clinical manifestations in a population of Zulia state, Venezuela. Revista chilena de infectología, 25 (4). Santiago.
• British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. (2018) National guideline for the management of infection with Mycoplasma genitalium. July 2017. Available online at: https://www.bashhguidelines.org/media/1182/bashh-mgen-guideline-2018_draft-for-consultation.pdf.