Sex Ed Flashcards
What bacteria is responsible in maintaining the pH of the vagina
Doderlein Lactobacilli
How does Doderlein Lactobacilli maintain the pH of the vagina
Glucose -> lactic acid
What is the normal pH of the vagina and why
4.5, prevents growth of bacteria
Symptoms of vulvovaginitieg
- Change in colour/volume/smell of discharge
- Itching
- Burning
- Irritation
- Dyspareunia
- Dysuria
Non-infectious causes of vulvovaginitieg
- Atrophic Vaginitis (post-menopause)
- Retained Foreign objects (condoms, tampons).
Needs to be examined by speculum
Examination findings in atrophic vaginitis
- Smooth, Shiny Vaginal Epithelium and strpophy
What causes atrophic vaginities
- Lack of oestrogen to maintain uterus wall causes thinning and inflammation
RF for atrophic vaginitis
- Smoking
2. Breastfeeding
Treatment of atrophic vaginitis
Local Oestorgen creams
Lubricants
Three types of infectious vulvovagiitis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Candida Vulvovaginitis
^ imbalance in normal flora
- Trichomoniasis
^ STD
What STDs cause cervicitis rather than vulvovaginitis
- Gonnorheoa
- Chlamidyia
- Mycoplasma
Vaginitis is rare
What is bacteria vaginosis
When number of lactobacilli decrease = increase in pH
What bacterial species will proliferate in when there is a lack of lactobacilli
- Gardnerella vaginalis
RF for bacterial vaginosis
- New sex partenr
- Multiple partners
- Douches
- Antibiotics
- IUD
NOT A STD as it doesn’t colonise the male reproductive tract
5 Characteristics of discharge in bacterial vaginosis
- Thin
- Homogenous
- Grey
- Foul Smell that gets WORST when having sex
- NO VULVAL INVOLVEMENTR
Consequence of other symptoms of bacterial vaginosis that were not mentioned in the previous card
Signs of mixed infection
Criteria for Bacterial Vaginosis
AMSEL CRITERIA
What is the Amsel Criteria
3 of 4 must be met:
- Thin Grey Vaginal Discharge
- Vaginal pH> 4,5
- Positive WHIFF-AMINE TEST
- SALINE WET MOUNT FOR CLUE CELLS
What is the WHIFF-AMINE TEST
- Discharge placed on slide and 10% KOH added
causes a fishy odour
What are clue cells
- Vaginal epithelial cells with coccobacilli (stippled borders)
Treatment of bacterial vaginosis
- Oral Metronidazole (500mg 2x daily for 7 days)
OR
Vaginal Creams (2% CLindamycin)
What topical antiboitic should not be used with condoms
- CLINDAMYCIN (makes them less effective)
What species of candida causes candida vulvovaginitis
Candida albicans (normally present in low numbers)
RF for candidiasis
- Immunosuppressions (glucocorticoids)
- DM
- Antiboitics
- Increased oestrogen levels (pregnancy, contraception and COCP)
Symptoms of candidiasis
- Intense itching
- Thick, White ‘cottage cheese’, odourless vaginal discharge
- Vulva is also flamed
Symptoms specific to vulva inflammation
- Dyspareunia
2. Dysuria
Screening for candidiasis
- Saline wet mount (10% KOH to destroy cellular elements)
2. Vaginal Culture if no pathogens seen on microscopy or recurrent symptoms or non-albicans species
What would be seen under a saline wet mount for candidiasis
- Yeast or hyphae form
What is uncomplicated candidiasis
- Otherwise healthy, immunocompetent, non-pregnancy females
- <3 Episodes in the past year with MILD to MODERATE SYMPTOMS
- Confirmed albicans species
How is uncomplicated candidiasis treated
Single 150 mg ORAL FLUCONAZOLE
What is complicated candidiasis
- Pregnant/DM/Immunosupressed
- Severe Symptoms
- History of >3 episodes in one year
- Non-Albicans
Treatment of complicated candidiasis
- 2/3 doses of 150mg Fluconazole (72 hours apart)
2. Intravaginal Boric Acid
Symptoms of Trichomoniasis infection 1
- THIN, Purluent vaginal discharge
- Burning and Itching
- Dysuria
- Urinary frequency
- Lower abdomen pain
- Dyspareunia
Diagnosis of trichomoniasis
- Erythema of cultus and vaginal mucosa
- MOTILE Trichomonads on saline wet mount
- GOLD” nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) for DNA
Treatment of trichomoniasis
- 2g oral Metronidazole (or Tinidazole but not for pregnancies)
- Screen all partners.
Characteristics of Treponema Pallidum
- Gram-Negative, Spirochetes.
2. Obligate Parasite
What is an obligate parasite
Cannot survive outside the host
Adapation of a spirochete
- Spiral shape contains endoflagella to move them about by spinning
Two ways syphilis can be transmitted
- Acquired syphilis: enters through bodily fluid
2. Congenital Syphilis
Passages of acquired syphilis
- Cuts/breaks in skin or mucous membranes of the external genitalia and mouth
- Sexual Contact (oral, anal or vaginal)
- Contaimated needles
- direct contacts with skin lesions containing spirochetes
What is congenital syphilis
- Mother has syphilis and t.pallidum infects baby during vaginal delivery.
Four stages of infection in acquired syphilis
- Primary, early localised stage (week 1-3):
Spirochetes destroys the skin and soft tissue where they enter the body - painless CHANCRES that heal on their own
- Secondary, dissemination stage (week 6-12)
Spirochetes invade the lymph nodes causing lymphadenopathy -> lymph -> blood
Spirochetes enter the blood (spriochetaemia), causing generalised lymphadenopathy.
Spirochetes attach to endothelial cells and capillaries on surface = non-itchy maculopapular rash
Either pustular or papulosquamous (scaly and hard).
Resolves in a few weeks
- Latent phase
Disease enters a dormant phase, spirochetes found in capillaries of organs and tissues
Early sub-phase:
During the first year of infection, spirochetes re-enter the blood. Can still be found circulating in the blood, causing secondary stage symptoms
Late sub-phase:
After the first year of infection.
Tertiary Phase:
Overall, capitally infection causes a severe immune response.
Type IV hypersensitivity reaction:
T-cells recruit macrophages and release TNF and IL-1 and IL-6
Swelling, oedema, redness and warmth, fever.
Plasma cells produce antibodies against t/ pallidum antigens and stick to them to form Gumma
These gummy form organ damage:
Cardiovascular syphilis, neurosyphilis
Three characteristics of Chancres
- Raised Border
- Hard Base
- Fluid Rich in Spirochetes that spread to other parts of the body and individuals
Look at where the primary chancre originated from to see how it was transmitted.
When might a primary chancre not be seen in syphilis
- BLOOD TRANSFUSION
How does the maculopapular rash in stage 2 of acquired syphilis spread
Trunks -> arms and legs, genitalia -> palms and soles
Three types of rashes found in stage 2 syphilis
- Pustular
- Papulosquamous
- Condyloma Lata (white painless rash found in moist regions)
Most infectious stage of syphilis
- Stage 2, secondary.
Three main antigens of t. palladium
- Group specific antigen
Species specific antigen
Cardiolipin
Plasma cells produce antibodies against these antigens
Structure of a gamma
- Immune cell complex, surrounded by fibroblasts.
Inside is coagulative necrotic
What is cardiovascular syphilis
- Endarteritis (vaso vasorum inflammation which supplies the blood vessels)
Can cause aortic aneurysms
What is neurosyphilis
- Spirochetes sit in the capillaries supplyingg the posterior spinal cord = Tabes Dorsalis
- Destroys protective sheath of spinal cord nerves: Loss of vibration sense and proprioception.
Sometimes, they invade the anterior spinal cord: General Paresis (loss of sensation and weakness).
- Invade into brain: Slurred speech, beavhiour, memory loss, difficulty coordinating and paralysis
- Invade into the eyes
Sign of eye invasion of syphilis
- Argyll Robertson Pupil
What is Argyll Robertson Pupil
- Pupil loses light reflex but has accommodation reflex, which means it constricts with a nearby object but no response to light
Two ways a baby can be infected with syphilis
- Placenta
2. Childbirth
Symptoms of early disease of syphilis in babies
- Snuffles
- Maculopapular rash
- Hepatosplenomegaly from organ damage
- Optic neuritis
Symptoms of late disease of syphilis in babies
- Saddle Nose
- Saber Shins
- Hutchinson Teeth
- Hearing Loss