Actinomycosis | Medtick
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Actinomycosis

What is it?

A rare, slow worsening condition bacterial infection which occurs if one has a skin injury or if one inhales this type of  bacteria, surgery especially dental or if one uses intrauterine contraceptive devices which can affect the vaginal region.

  • It normally lives harmlessly in the mouth, Gastrointestinal tract and female abdominal flora.
  • An infection occurs if there is break in mucosal barrier, and this bacteria enters in areas it should not.
  • Normally this bacterium is only harmful if other bacteria are present and people who have weak immune system are particularly vulnerable.

Diagnosis Tests

  • Microscopy tests – look for “Sulfur granules” (yellow granules in discharge) on tissue and puss
  • Culture tests via tissue sampling
  • Histopathology
  • Imaging via CT/MRI
  • Blood tests

Cause

  • Bacteria: Actinomyces genus, Actinomyces israelli
  • Inhalation – organism travels from mouth to lungs
    • Poor oral hygiene
    • Poor sleep – and saliva travels into lungs
    • Poor gag reflex and saliva travels into lungs
  • Use of  intrauterine contraceptive devices (affect vaginal region)
  • Surgery of any sort in mouth, face, abdominal and female genital regions
  • Appendicitis
  • Cancer or radiation treatment
  • Diverticulitis
  • Eating ‘foreign bodies’ chicken, lamb, cow and fish bones
  • Skin injury

Symptoms

Face and neck:

  • Abscesses which contain yellow lumpy puss (Sulphur looking) on scalp, face, neck, tongue, throat, eyes and ears?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Sore throat longer than seven days or more?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Spasm of the jaw?

Lungs:

  • Abscesses which contain yellow lumpy puss (Sulphur looking) on the chest?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks and/or breathing difficulties?
  • Initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
  • Chest pain?

Abdominal region:

  • Abscesses which contain yellow lumpy puss (Sulphur looking) abdominal and anal regions?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • Unexplained weight loss?
  • Constipation?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Lumps on the skin?

Female vagina only:

  • Abscesses which contain yellow lumpy puss (Sulphur looking) on the vagina?
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding?
  • Vaginal discharge?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for ambulance If have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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