Introduction
You've probably never heard of trichomoniasis, but it's more common than you might think. In fact, it's the most common curable sexually transmitted infection in the United States.
Because it's such a widespread infection, it's important that you know the facts. Below, we'll introduce you to trichomoniasis and everything you need to know about it. We'll discuss the causes, types, symptoms and dietary management of this infection.
What Is Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a parasite. It affects both men and women, and can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
The parasite that causes trichomoniasis is called Trichomonas vaginalis. It infects the genital area, and can also be found in the mouth and throat. Symptoms may include itching, burning, redness and swelling in the infected area, as well as discharge from the penis or vagina.
If you think you might have trichomoniasis, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. It's important to get treated as soon as possible, because left untreated, the disease can lead to complications like infertility and even cancer.
Causes of Trichomoniasis
There are a few ways that you can get Trichomoniasis: through sexual contact, mouth-to-mouth contact, or contact with infected skin. It can also be passed from mother to child during birth.
Most of the time, people who are infected with Trichomoniasis don't show any symptoms. But for some people, the symptoms can be very severe. Symptoms can include: a green or yellow discharge from the penis or vagina, pain when urinating, itching and burning in and around the vagina, pain during sex, and swollen testicles in men.
Types and Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
There are several types of trichomoniasis, and each come with their own unique symptoms. The most common type is vaginal trichomoniasis, which can cause itching, burning, redness and soreness in and around the vagina. Sometimes there may be a greenish-white discharge, and men can develop an itchy rash on the penis.
Another common type is oral trichomoniasis, which can cause sore throat, difficulty swallowing, redness and inflammation of the tongue and throat, bad breath, and a metallic taste in the mouth.
Less common are rectal and urinary tract infections. Rectal infections may cause pain or bleeding during bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, or anal discharge. Urinary tract infections can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor right away for diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosing and Testing for Trichomoniasis
If you think you might have trichomoniasis, it’s important to get tested as soon as possible. The sooner you get diagnosed, the sooner you can start treatment and avoid passing the infection on to others.
There are a few different ways to test for trichomoniasis. The most common is a pelvic exam, where your doctor will look for symptoms like inflammation or discharge. They may also take a swab of your vagina or penis and test it for the presence of the trichomoniasis parasite.
Blood tests are also available, but they’re not as accurate as pelvic exams and can be more expensive. If you do get a blood test, it’s important to follow up with your doctor to make sure the results are accurate.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with trichomoniasis, it’s important to tell any recent sexual partners so they can get tested and treated as well.
Treatment and Management of Trichomoniasis
There are a few different ways that trichomoniasis can be treated. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, like metronidazole or tinidazole, which can be taken orally. You'll need to take this medication for 5-7 days.
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a single-dose medication, which you'll take all at once. This is usually only an option if you're not pregnant.
If you're pregnant and have trichomoniasis, you'll need to be treated with metronidazole. This medication is generally safe to take during pregnancy, but you should check with your doctor first.
It's important to note that you should not drink alcohol while taking metronidazole or tinidazole, as it can cause serious side effects.
After you've been treated for trichomoniasis, it's important to avoid having sex for at least 7 days so that you don't infect your partner. You should also avoid having sex with anyone who has trichomoniasis.
Dietary Management for Trichomoniasis
Proper dietary management is essential for the treatment of trichomoniasis. There are a few things you can do to make sure you're getting the nutrients your body needs to fight off the infection.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These are packed with vitamins and minerals that will help boost your immune system.
- Increase your intake of probiotics. These good bacteria will help restore balance in your gut, which is important for overall health.
- Drink plenty of water. This will help flush toxins from your body and keep you hydrated.
- Avoid sugary and processed foods. These can weaken your immune system and make it harder for your body to fight off infection.
- Eat less fatty foods especially saturated fats and trans fat.
- Increase the intake of good fats that's unsaturated fats such as omega3 fatty acids from fish and some fruits and vegetables such as avocados and soybeans.
- Avoids too much salt and sugary foods .
- Take natural green teas from lemongrass and mint leaves.
- Increase level of physical activities by carrying out exercise like walking out and dancing daily to burn out fats and toxins from the system.
- Discipline your self and avoid unnecessary sexaul inter course, increase the level of personal hygiene especially the female sexual organs.
- Increase the level of personal hygiene orally and the whole body by bathing regular with antibiotics soap and clean water warm water.
- Wash the hands thoroughly after hands shakes and hugging people.
- In conclusion see a dietician for healthy dietary menu plans and counselling to meet up the target nutrients for managing the disease trichomoniasis.