Symptoms of adnexitis in women. Diagnosis, treatment
Clinical signs of acute adnexitis and its chronic form, diagnosis of pathology, various methods of its treatment, as well as prevention - information that every woman who takes care of her health and plans pregnancy should have.
Adnexitis - what is it. Reasons and development
Adnexitis (another name is salpingo-oophoritis) is an inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Both one- and two-sided process can develop. According to the frequency of occurrence, this pathology consistently ranks first in the list of inflammatory diseases of the genital area diagnosed in women.
Direct causes of adnexitis are infectious agents, most often staphylococci (especially aureus), streptococci, pathogenic fungi (they are also called fungi), gonococci, as well as agents of a specific infection - tuberculosis mycobacteria (Koch's bacillus), chlamydia and others. The peculiarity of adnexitis (and, accordingly, the complexity of treatment) is that its infectious provocateurs show resistance to a large group of antibiotics. This should be taken into account when prescribing local (antibacterial suppositories for adnexitis) or general treatment.
There are also factors that do not directly provoke the formation of adnexitis, but against their background the disease develops faster:
- hypothermia (especially of the lower part of the body - pelvis and legs);
- ignoring hygiene norms;
- constant stresses;
- promiscuous sexual relations and so on.
Left-sided/right-sided adnexitis passes as a typical inflammation. Microorganisms enter with the flow of blood, lymph or by contact, sink into the wall of the fallopian tube. As the pathology progresses, the inflammation "creeps" onto the covering epithelium of the ovary and both leaves of the pelvic peritoneum. As soon as ovulation has occurred, the infectious agent enters the ruptured follicle and continues to multiply already in the ovary.
In the further development of the disease, the ovary and tube seem to "merge" into a continuous inflammatory conglomerate.
Symptoms of acute adnexitis and its chronic form
The disease can have an acute or chronic form.
Symptoms of adnexitis in women:
- sharp pains in the lower abdomen;
- hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) up to 37.5-38.5 degrees Celsius;
- mucous and purulent discharge from the vagina;
- disruption of urination;
- due to intoxication - chills, weakness, brokenness.
If treatment is not started, the process may further develop as purulent - in the form of an abscess. If the abscess ruptures, pelvioperitonitis develops (inflammation of the peritoneum, which lines the pelvic wall from the inside and covers the pelvic organs).
Such symptoms are observed from 7 to 10 days, then there is either recovery or the transition of adnexitis into a chronic form. Forms of the disease should be taken into account when choosing an antibiotic regimen for adnexitis.
Chronification is most often observed due to the fact that acute adnexitis was simply not treated. The chronic process is observed in the form of alternating exacerbations and remissions (periods of absence from the clinic). Exacerbations are provoked by hypothermia, stress, neuroses, dissatisfaction with sex life, and so on. During an exacerbation, abdominal pain appears (but not as acute as during acute adnexitis), hyperthermia (also not so pronounced - up to 37.4-37.8 degrees Celsius), in some cases - discharge from the vagina. Adnexitis pain and other symptoms traditionally last from 4 to 7 days.
About half of patients with adnexitis suffer from disorders of the menstrual cycle - most often these are:
- menorrhagia - release of more blood than normal;
- algomenorrhea – pain during menstruation.
A third of women may experience pain during intercourse, as well as a decrease in libido (sex drive). Therefore, a woman's sexual well-being depends on the treatment of an exacerbation of chronic adnexitis or its acute form.
With often recurring adnexitis, neuroses develop, work productivity deteriorates, and conflicts arise in the family and at work.
Possible consequences
In addition to purulent complications, adnexitis threatens the following unpleasant consequences for a woman:
- ectopic pregnancy;
- spontaneous miscarriage;
- secondary infertility.
Their occurrence is due to the fact that inflammation sooner or later leads to the formation of bands around the ovaries and tubes, infiltrates (tissue compactions), the formation of sclerotic processes in the tubes, which leads to their obstruction. Therefore, a woman's ability to become a mother depends on the modern diagnosis of subacute adnexitis or its chronic form.
Even unexpressed chronic adnexitis, which seems harmless, can provoke secondary inflammation of nearby organs - intestines, gall bladder, and urinary bladder.
Diagnosis of the disease
The diagnosis of adnexitis is based on the patient's typical complaints and additional examination data.
During a bimanual (two-handed) examination, the doctor feels for one- or two-sided enlargement of the uterine appendages. The procedure is painful for the patient.
More information can be obtained as a result of conducting instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods that will help identify the causes of adnexitis and assess its development. First of all, these are the following methods:
- ultrasound examination of the ovaries and tubes;
- X-ray of pelvic organs;
- hysterosalpingography (X-ray examination using contrast material);
- laparoscopy;
- measurement of rectal temperature;
- determination of cervical mucus tension;
- bacterioscopic examination of swabs of the urethra (urinary canal), vagina and cervix;
- bacteriological research (inoculation of vaginal contents on nutrient media).
Candles for adnexitis and other methods of treatment
Acute adnexitis is treated in a hospital, chronic - on an outpatient basis. How to treat bilateral adnexitis or its chronic "version"? The treatment is based on the following purposes:
- antibiotics taking into account the sensitivity of microorganisms;
- anti-inflammatory means;
- desensitizing agents;
- infusion therapy;
- painkillers (if necessary);
- local treatment (candles and so on).
Physiotherapy methods have proven themselves very well. They are used, starting from the subacute phase (subduing of acute processes). These are the following methods:
- ultrasound;
- electrophoresis with magnesium, potassium, zinc preparations;
- vibration massage.
In the chronic period, sanatorium-resort treatment is indicated, which is based on paraffin treatment, therapeutic baths, vaginal irrigation, and the use of ozokerite mud.
If purulent complications of acute adnexitis occur, urgent surgical treatment is indicated:
- puncture of the vault of the vagina with suction of purulent contents and sanitation (washing) of the purulent center;
- laparoscopic surgery;
- adnexectomy – removal of appendages in case of their purulent melting.
"Adnexitis - what is it?", "is it possible for this disease to reoccur", "tell me the best antibiotic for the treatment of adnexitis" - to get answers to these and other questions, we invite you to visit our site Dobrobut.com.
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