trichomoniasis
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GC: n

S: WHO – http://apps.who.int/rhl/rti_sti/gscom/en/index.html (last access: 5 November 2015); MEDLP – https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/trichomoniasis.html (last access: 5 November 2015).

N: 1. 1950, from trichomonas, genus of a family of flagellate parasite (from tricho-, latinized form of Greek trikho-, combined form of thrix (genitive trikhos) “hair” + -monas) + -iasis, from Greek, which means “disease or morbid condition”.
2. Trichomoniasis (or “trich”) is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Although symptoms of the disease vary, most women and men who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected.
3. It is considered the most common curable STD. In the United States, an estimated 3.7 million people have the infection, but only about 30% develop any symptoms of trichomoniasis. Infection is more common in women than in men, and older women are more likely than younger women to have been infected.
4. About 70% of infected people do not have any signs or symptoms. When trichomoniasis does cause symptoms, they can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Some people with symptoms get them within 5 to 28 days after being infected, but others do not develop symptoms until much later. Symptoms can come and go.

  • Men with trichomoniasis may feel itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or some discharge from the penis.
  • Women with trichomoniasis may notice itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, or a thin discharge with an unusual smell that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish.

Having trichomoniasis can make it feel unpleasant to have sex. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years.
5. It is not possible to diagnose trichomoniasis based on symptoms alone. For both men and women, your primary care doctor or another trusted health care provider must do a check and a laboratory test to diagnose trichomoniasis.
6. Trichomoniasis can be cured with a single dose of prescription antibiotic medication (either metronidazole or tinidazole), pills which can be taken by mouth. It is okay for pregnant women to take this medication. Some people who drink alcohol within 24 hours after taking this kind of antibiotic can have uncomfortable side effects. People who have been treated for trichomoniasis can get it again. About 1 in 5 people get infected again within 3 months after treatment. To avoid getting reinfected, make sure that all of your sex partners get treated too, and wait to have sex again until all of your symptoms go away (about a week). Get checked again if your symptoms come back.
7. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the movies Dr. T and the women (2000) by Robert Altman and Showgirls (1995) by Paul Verhoeven, in which it appears a desease pretty associated with trichomoniasis: vaginitis.

S: 1. OED – http://goo.gl/QTd3AZ and http://goo.gl/FXYVG3 (last access: 5 November 2015). 2 & 3. CDC – http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm (last access: 5 November 2015). 4. NYTIMES – http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/trichomoniasis/overview.html (last access: 5 November 2015). 5 & 6. CDC – http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm (last access: 5 November 2015). 7. Filmaffinity – http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film184752.html and http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film461751.html (last access: 6 November 2015).

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CR: infestation, trichomonas.