Actinomycosis

Actinomycosis is a rare disease characterized by a hard, extensive infiltration, usually on one side of the neck. This disease is caused by fungi (actinomycetes) or anaerobic microorganisms. Treatment takes place in a hospital setting.

What is the actinomycosis?

Actinomycosis is a rare disease caused by A.israelii bacteria. Due to bone fractures or post-traumatic wounds in which other bacteria are also found, a microenvironment with a low oxygen concentration is produced, which in turn causes the development of the actinomycosis. In a healthy person A.israelii bacteria is a component of the oral mucosa and occurs in the intestinal flora. Actinomycosis is characterized by hard and extensive lesions / ulcers usually located on one side of the neck. It usually attacks the nose, throat, mouth and stomach, lungs and intestines. In other places it appears relatively rarely. Although the actinomycosis is not an infectious disease, it can spread to other parts of the body, and we can meet it most often in tropical countries. It affects men three times more often.

Causes of actomys

The causes of actinomyces are naturally occurring in the body (wears and throats) microorganisms from the Actinomyces israelii group. For the actinomycosis to develop, an additional presence of three other bacteria is necessary, i.e.

• Actinomyces naeslundii;
• Actinomyces odontolyticus;
• Actinomyces viscosus.

It should be noted that actinomycosis is a rare disease, but it does not mean that you cannot get infected. Among the factors that increase the risk of this ailment, we can distinguish:

• malnutrition,
• lack of basic oral hygiene after dental procedures,
• lack of oral care after mouth or jaw injuries (e.g. injury),
• significantly reduced immunity (e.g. due to a different ailment or medication),
• an ulcer located in the mouth (very common cause of actinomycosis) - if you have an ulcer in your mouth, do not hesitate and consult your doctor,
• women's use of contraception in the form of an IUD.

Kinds of spotlight

The following are several varieties of actinomycosis.

1. The cervix-facial emtii. This is the most common type of actinomycosis, which accounts for over 90% of infections. It develops due to tooth decay or damage, which in turn favors infection involving oral soft tissues. Moreover, the cause of this ailment is dental / dental procedures, during which harmless surface bacteria can be introduced into the tissues. Then the swelling of the subcutaneous tissue appears, which subsequently pierces the surface of the skin and the purulent secretion begins to secrete. In addition, radial druses (grains) are formed, which are masses of bacteria. As the name suggests, radiant lesions are most often located around the neck, and the diseased skin becomes red and warm (lymph nodes are not enlarged).

2. Actinom of the chest. It occurs due to the leakage of A.israelii bacteria into the lungs, in which it sometimes has ideal conditions for development, which ultimately leads to pulmonary infection. Symptoms of this type of actinomycosis are chest fistulas, rib dislocations and drainage.

3. Actinomycosis of the digestive tract. It usually occurs after inflammation and removal of the appendix and even the breakage of the intestine. The clinical picture reveals the presence of fever, abdominal pain, abdominal mass and significant weight loss. Patients may have an abscess in the lumbar-femoral muscle, and sometimes also abscess in the anus and rectum.

4. Spot dissector - a rare form of the disease with the presence of many abscesses.

5. The pelvis of the smaller pelvis - is a complication in women using intrauterine devices.

What are the complications of the actinomycosis?

Untreated, the actinomycosis can spread to neighboring bones, which in turn may require the surgical removal of infected bone parts. The situation is similar when the infection attacks the nasal sinuses - it may also be necessary to damage bones and other tissues.

In some (rare) cases, the actinomycosis can get into the brain and lead to meningitis.

Actinomycosis - diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of actinomycosis is based primarily on collecting fluid samples from affected areas. The collected material is then examined under a microscope to find actinomyces in it (they look like yellow granules).

Treatment of this condition involves taking antibiotics in the form of large doses of penicillin. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, other types of preparations may be used, eg erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin. Sometimes annual antibiotic therapy is needed to completely cure the actinomycosis.

Co-existing ulcers and eruptions should be dried or removed.

Important! In women whose uterus is caused by intrauterine device, it is necessary to remove it!

Can you prevent the actinomycosis?

In prevention, the basic rule is to take care of oral hygiene. You should take care to regularly visit a dentist who will detect irregularities on time before they become a serious problem. Appropriate diagnosis and implementation of the treatment allows complete treatment of the actinomycosis.