Inside the cervix, there is a cervical canal lined with epithelium, the inflammation of which is called cervicitis . The main pathogens that cause cervicitis are:
- microorganisms that cause specific inflammation (gonorrhea, syphilis, tuberculosis);
- causative agents of the nonspecific inflammatory process (streptococcus, staphylococcus, ureaplasma, chlamydia);
- protozoa (trichomonads, amoebae);
- fungi (candidiasis);
- viruses (herpes virus, human papilloma virus).
Contribute to the development of cervicitis trauma, cervical tumor, local irritation with contraceptives, systemic diseases.
Symptoms of chronic cervicitis
Symptoms of acute cervicitis are pains in the lower abdomen and during sexual intercourse, discharge from the genital tract (their appearance depends on the pathogen causing inflammation), spotting after intercourse, frequent urge to urinate. Chronic cervicitis can be asymptomatic and diagnosed on examination, but, with an exacerbation of the process, chronic cervicitis will look like an acute symptomatology.
Diagnosis of chronic cervicitis
Chronic cervicitis in the acute stage is diagnosed not only by symptomatology, first of all, the gynecologist examines the cervix in the mirrors. Chronic, but active cervicitis will manifest reddening of the cervical mucosa around the cervical canal (erosion), secretions (which are taken for microscopic examination), edema of the cervix.
Chronic, but inactive at the moment, cervicitis will look like cicatricial changes, thickening of the cervix with pseudo erosions and the formation of cysts inside the cervix. If necessary, a more detailed examination of the cervix using colposcopy. Be sure to take a smear for bacteriological examination of the microflora of the cervical mucosa and the cervical canal in order to identify the pathogen and understand how to treat chronic cervicitis.
Treatment of chronic cervicitis
The general treatment of chronic cervicitis is aimed at combating the pathogen and includes both partners, since a man can be an asymptomatic carrier of the pathogen. But, since the flora is usually mixed and the pathogen is not alone, complex treatment is often used:
- Antibiotics of a wide spectrum of action :
- cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Cefatoxime, Zenfuroxime, Cefipim);
- fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin, Gatifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin);
- macrolides (Roxithromycin, Clarithromycin).