Gynaecological Infections 2 Flashcards
What are causes of Genital Warts?
Benign lesion caused by HPV (90% HPV 6 or 11)
- Sexually transmitted infection that causes small, skin-coloured or pink growth on the genital skin
- Most common viral STI diagnosed in sexual health services
What is the mode of transmission of HPV?
- Skin to skin contact during sex
- No good evidence for formites.
- Incubation periods can be from 2 weeks to 8 months. The average is 3 months
What is pathophysiology of HPV in genital warts?
- Cells of the basal layer of the epidermis are invaded by HPV through mucosal micro-abrasions.
- Latent virus phase begins with no signs and symptoms and may lay dormant for months or years
- Following latency, production of viral DNA/particles begins
- Development of genital warts occurs
What are symptoms of Genital Warts?
- Wart growth in and around genital skin often asymptomatic, painless and skin colours. Warts can be solitary or multiple. They can be broad based, pedunculated, pigmented or flat and plaque like
- Non keratinised warts on warm, moist, non-hairy skin
- Keratinised on hairy skin firm
- Little discomfort but often psychological distress
- Distorted urinary stream with urethral lesions
- Bleeding from cervical/urethral/anal lesions
- Rarely secondary infection
What is the investigation for Genital Warts?
- Speculum examination to evaluate internal warts.
- Possible colposcopy
What are some differentials for Genital Warts?
- Non pathological: pearly penile papule, skin tags, fordyce spots
- Molluscum contagiosum: umbilicated pearly lesions
- Condylomata Lata: occur in secondary syphilis and highly infectious. Send syphilis serology and seek GUM advice
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Malignancy and Pre-malignancy: PIN, VIB, AIN, VaIN
- Features raising suspicious are pigmentation, depigmentation, pruritis, immune deficiency, prior history of intraepithelial neoplasia
- Buscke-Lowenstein: giant condyloma acuminatum. HPV contributes to it. Slow growing, locally aggressive and destructive
When should genital warts be referred for investigation?
- If you are unsure.
- Suspicious lesions or Recalcitrant lesions or internal lesions
- Immunosuppressed paints/ Pregnancy patients/Children/Elderly patient
What is the management of Genital Warts?
- Screen for STIs
- Encourage condom use to reduced risk of transmission
- Support for psychological distress
- No treatment is an option and await spontaneous resolution. Can try
- Anti-mitotic agents
- Immune modifiers
- Surgery
- Destruction – Cryotherapy
- In pregnancy, low risk to baby so can just wait it out. Cryoablation may be used and in extreme cases, caesarean or surgical removal of warts
What causes Bacterial Vaginosis?
Commonest cause of discharge in childbearing age.
- Due to imbalance of vaginal flora
- Loss of lactobacilli that maintain acidic pH of vagina (<4.5).
- This causes overgrowth of normal, commensal, anaerobic and facultative bacteria which leads to rise in vaginal pH and allows bacteria to grow.
Not an STI but enhances risk of HIV transmission and STIs
What are characteristic symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?
Offensive, thin, white/grey, ‘fishy’ discharge
What are triggers for Bacterial Vaginosis?
- Sex
- Menses
- Receptive Oral STI
- Vaginal douching
- Perfumed bath products
- Change in sexual partners
- Presence of STI
What are methods of diagnosing Bacterial Vaginosis?
- Hay-Ison criteria (used primarily)
- Ansel Criteria
What is the Hay-Ison Criteria?
Gram stain of posterior fornix shows
- = No bacteria
- = Normal
- = Reduced lactobacilli plus mixed flora (intermediate)
- = Few or absent lactobacilli and mixed flora, predominantly Gardnerella morphotypes (BV)
- = Gram positive cocci dominate
Describe the Ansel Criteria?
How is Bacterial Vaginosis managed?
Treat symptomatic mainly unless pre-surgery or patient request but consider asymptomatic pregnancy women due to risk of miscarriage
- Metronidazole 400 mg BD for 5 days
- Metronidazole 2g PO single dose
- Metronidazole 0.75% gel PV once a day for 5 days
- Clindamycin 2% cream PV OD for 7 days
Avoid precipitants