Immune Decline and Ureaplasma Urealyticum: Is There a Connection?
Ureaplasma urealyticum is the smallest prokaryote between bacteria and viruses, mainly inhabiting the urinary and reproductive tracts of the human body. It is one of the primary pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases.
Can immune decline cause ureaplasma urealyticum?
The immune system is one of the crucial collaborative systems in the human body, which is mainly responsible for identifying and attacking pathogens in the body and maintaining physical health. When the immune system encounters problems or malfunctions, it can cause immune decline. The body may not be able to recognize and attack these pathogens in a timely and effective manner, increasing the probability of infections with ureaplasma urealyticum.
Low immunity increases the likelihood of infections with ureaplasma urealyticum. However, the immune decline is not a direct cause of infections with ureaplasma urealyticum. Ureaplasma urealyticum can colonize the surface of mucosal epithelial cells in the urethra and reproductive tract, and direct sexual contact is the main transmission route of UU infection.
Unclean sexual activity can also lead to such infections. If inflammation occurs in the female reproductive tract, it is highly likely that ureaplasma urealyticum be infected through damage to the urinary and reproductive systems.
Infection with ureaplasma urealyticum may also occur indirectly. Indirect infections mainly refer to infections caused by contact with the clothing and daily necessities used by patients. These triggering factors are not common clinically, but it still requires preventive measures in advance. It is recommended to avoid sharing daily necessities with others and lending personal clothing to others to reduce the probability of developing diseases.
Women infected with ureaplasma urealyticum will show symptoms of urinary system infections, such as frequent urination, urgency, pain, itching at the urethral orifice, sticky secretion at the urethral orifice, pain, and discomfort in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region. Cervical congestion, accompanied by purulent secretions, can cause non-specific symptoms, such as increased body temperature, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting in acute cases.
Without treatment, the infected lesions are likely to spread to the urethra and cervix, resulting in the urgency of urination, frequency of urination, abnormal leucorrhea, and other symptoms. At the same time, further developing ureaplasma urealyticum infections may damage the fallopian tubes, causing fallopian tube blockage and thus causing infertility.
The main symptoms in male patients include redness, itching, burning, and painful urination at the urethral opening. Some may also experience difficulty urinating in the morning.
Moreover, after being infected with ureaplasma urealyticum, males may experience abnormalities in sperm routine examination, resulting in a low sperm survival rate and decreased motility. Ureaplasma urealyticum infection may affect the quality of sperm and cause male infertility.
In severe cases, ureaplasma urealyticum infections may cause fetal death: ureaplasma urealyticum infections may also lead to intrauterine infections, thus impacting fetal health, causing premature rupture of membranes and premature birth, and even causing fetal death.
If patients suspect they are infected with ureaplasma urealyticum, they must go to the hospital for examinations promptly. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatments should be carried out as follows:
1. Medication: After the infections with ureaplasma urealyticum, sensitive antibiotics can be chosen under the guidance of a doctor. For most patients having undergone treatments, their symptoms and signs can be basically eliminated. However, the laboratory test results may still be positive, in which case further treatments are unnecessary.
2. Precautions in daily life: because ureaplasma urealyticum infections are easy to reoccur, relieving symptoms after medication treatment does not mean it has been eradicated. It is also necessary to pay attention to personal belongings in daily life designated for personal use, avoiding chaotic sexual activity, taking protective measures and exercising appropriately to enhance physical fitness.
Patients also need to accept follow-ups after treatments.
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