Te Whatu Ora Taranaki sexual health service has noted a rise in local trichomonas infections recently.
To make it easier to request testing, the trichomonas PCR has been moved on the TPS order form - now directly below chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing. People of any gender and any anatomy can get trichomonas, and it should always be treated if detected.
All sexual contacts in the last three months will need to be informed, and a sexual health check should be arranged. These contacts should be treated for trichomonas without awaiting results.
In addition to contacts, patients with the following symptoms should be tested: vaginal discharge, odor, vaginal irritation/itch, dysuria, or dyspareunia, vulvitis, vaginitis, scalded skin, or pan-genital pelvic perianal dermatitis. Men with persistent urethritis should also be tested.
Trichomonas is an extremely rare cause of symptoms in infants and children but testing should be considered if there is any suspicion of sexual abuse.
Treatment is with metronidazole 2g po stat (pregnancy category B2) OR ornidazole 1.5g po stat (not in pregnancy).
Test of cure is not necessary unless there are persistent symptoms at one month.
At this point, patients with persistent infection should be referred to the sexual health service due to concerns for resistance.
See detailed, localised information on trichomonas (PDF), supplied by Dr Monique Taylor of the Sexual Health Clinic, Taranaki.
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