Class 23 Pt. 1 - Alterations in Reproduction, Inflammation Flashcards
Inflammation of Reproductive Organs
Location
- In females, the extrenal genitalia, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and breasts can be affected
- In males, glans, urethra, testes, epididymis and the prostate glands are often affected
Causes
- Direct contact with irritants such as perfumed soaps, spermatocides or allergens
- Sexually transmitted infections or systemic infections (mumps/scarlet fever)
Signs and Symptoms
- Local include: swelling, redness, burning, pain and increased/foul smelling discharge.
- Systemic: fever, chills, malaise and leukocytosis. Associated with infectious and inflammatory processes
Acute or chronic
- Chronic inflammation/infections are associated with scarring and formation of adhesions in various structures of the reproductive tract. Common cause of infertility
Vulvitis
Inflammatory process of the external female genitalia
Often associated with contact with irritants
Endometritis
Inflammation of the lining of the uterus
- Usually resistant to infection because the endocervix acts as a barrier
- Acute infections can be caused by abortions, normal delivery, the use of any instrumentation
Chronic endometritis is associated with IUD or the retention of placental fragments during delivery, or with pelvic inflammatory disease
Signs and Symptoms
- Abnormal bleeding
- Mild-moderate tenderness
- Malaise, fever, and foul smelling discharge
Vaginitis
Due to Candida Albicans
- Thick, cheesy-like growth found on the cervix and walls of vagina
- often associated with itching and thick discharge
- Vulnerable population: taking antibiotics, diabetics, women taking birth control pills
Due to Trichomonas
- Sexually transmitted infection due to a parasite
- thick, white vaginal discharge
Salpingitis
Inflammation and infection of the fallopian tubes
- Often associated with infection and PID
- Causes: gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Often ends up with adhesions and scarring of the fallopian tubes (leading to infertility)
Mastitis
Inflammation and infection of the breast tissue
- Often associated with breastfeeding
- Cause: staphylococcus or streptococcus type pathogens or Candida Albicans
- Ascending infection: starts from the nipple and moves up the ducts and into the structures of the breast
- Transmitted through hands or baby’s mouth
- Wedge-shaped appearance and involve one quadrant of the breast tissue
- Can also occur outside of breastfeeding: related to fluctuations in hormones, trauma or localized tumour
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Acute inflammatory process of any organ of the upper reproductive tract: uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, peritoneum
- Most common cause and serious consequences of STI (gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and painful intercourse
Risk Factors
- Highest in women ages 16-24
- having multiple sexual parterns
- Previous history of one incidence of PID
Manifestations:
- Severity depends on virulence, amount of hte pathogen causing it and the host’s immune system
- Can be asymptomatic
- Severe, dull, steady, abdominal pain made worse when you walk or have intercourse
- High fever, dysuria (painful urination), irregular bleeding
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia tend to cause necrosis of the tissues of the reproductive tract
- One incidence increases vulnerability to recurrent instances
- After one episode, 15-25% of women will develop log-term sequelae including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, painful intercourse and may develop pelvic adhesion and abscesses of the fallopian tubes or the ovaries
- In a small number of women 0.29 in 100,000 PIDs can lead to septic shock and death
Urethritis
Inflammation or infection of the urethra
- Often associated with several sexually transmitted infections
- In males
Balanitis
Inflammation or infection of the glans
- Acute or chronic
- Can be associated with Candida Albican infection
- Diabetics are vulnerable
Epididymo-orchitis
Inflammation of the epididymis
- Sexually transmitted infections: gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Can be associated with non sexual issues related to UTI and other pathogens that will travel via the lymphatics and bloodstream to infect the epididmyis
- Sign and symptoms: unilateral pain and swelling, edema of the scrotum and tenderness in the groin
Prostatitis
Acute inflammation of the prostate gland
- Can be due to an acute ascending urethral infection or reflux of urine
- Common causes: E. coli and Pseudomonas
- Signs and symptoms: chills, fever, dull achy pain, cloudy urine, urgency, frequency, signs and symptoms of a UTI; may be low back pain and myalgia
Orchitis
Acute inflammation of the testes
- Can be associated with ascending urethral infection, systemic infection, or STI
- Common cause: mumps in post-pubertal males
- Signs and symptoms: sudden set of really severe fever, marked exhaustion, unilateral or bilateral swelling of the scrotum, leukocytosis
- Signs and symptoms manifest themselves 3-4 days after having a mumps infection
- Complications: atrophy of testes - decreased spermatogenesis - infertility (especially if bilateral orchitis
- Does not affect testosterone production
