clove and Vaginal-Discharge

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected manifestation of urogenital schistosomiasis caused by S. haematobium. The disease presents with symptoms such as pelvic pain, vaginal discharge and bleeding and menstruation disorders, and might lead to infertility and pregnancy complications. The perspectives of women with FGS have not been studied systematically. The aim of the study was to understand knowledge, experiences, and practices of women with FGS.. We performed a qualitative study with seventy-six women diagnosed of having FGS, in the Ambanja district in Northwest Madagascar. Data collection was either through focus group discussion (N = 60) or in an individual semi-structured interview (N = 16). FGS was diagnosed by colposcopy. The data was analysed using Mayring´s qualitative content analysis.. Knowledge on how the disease is acquired varied and ideas on prevention remained vague. Patients suffered from vaginal discharge and pelvic complaints. Some women expressed unbearable pain during sexual intercourse and compared their pain to an open wound being touched. FGS considerably impaired women´s daily activities and their quality of life. Infertility led to resignation and despair, conflicts with the partner and to social exclusion from the community. Women fearing to sexually transmit FGS refrained from partnership and sexual relations. Many women with FGS reported stigmatisation. A coping strategy was to share strain with other women having similar complaints. However, concealing FGS was a common behaviour which led to social isolation and delayed health care seeking.. Our study underlines that FGS has an important impact on the sexual health of women and on their social life in the community. Our results highlight the importance of providing adequate health education and structural interventions, such as the supply of water and the provision of sanitation measures. Further, correct diagnosis and treatment of FGS in adolescent girls and women should be available in all S. haematobium-endemic areas.. The qualitative study was embedded in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in which two doses of praziquantel were compared (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04115072).

Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Female; Genitalia, Female; Humans; Infertility; Madagascar; Pain; Perception; Pregnancy; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Social Change; Vaginal Discharge

Women seeking care in Madagascar for genital discharge (n = 1,066) were evaluated for syphilis seroreactivity; bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis. Chlamydial infection was assessed by ligase chain reaction (LCR) and by direct immunofluorescence (IF); gonorrhoea by direct microscopy, culture and LCR. Leucocytes were determined in endocervical smears and in urine using leucocyte esterase dipstick (LED). Gonococcal isolates were tested for minimal inhibitory concentrations. BV was found in 56%, trichomoniasis in 25%, and syphilis in 6% of the women. LCR detected gonorrhoea in 13% and chlamydial infection in 11% of the women. Detection of Gram(-) intracellular diplococci in endocervical smears, and gonococcal culture were respectively 23% and 57% sensitive and 98% and 100% specific compared to LCR. Chlamydia antigen detection by IF was 75% sensitive and 77% specific compared to LCR. Leucocytes in endocervical smears and LED testing lacked precision to detect gonococcal and chlamydial infections. Of 67 gonococcal strains evaluated, 19% were fully susceptible to penicillin, 33% to tetracycline; all were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and spectinomycin. Patients who present with genital discharge in Madagascar should be treated syndromically for gonococcal and chlamydial infections and screened for syphilis. Gonorrhoea should be treated with ciprofloxacin.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chlamydia trachomatis; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Culture Media; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; Humans; Ligase Chain Reaction; Madagascar; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Predictive Value of Tests; Primary Health Care; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Treponema pallidum; Trichomonas; Urine; Vaginal Discharge