Vaginal trichomoniasis: Complement fixation, puerperal morbidity, and early infection of newborn infants

Abstract

Examination of fresh vaginal discharge is the more practical and economical way to diagnose the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis. Cultures are highly satisfactory but add little to the study.Approximately 50 per cent of women infected with T. vaginalis gave positive complement fixation reactions, which were noted less often in carriers than in women with vaginitis. One-sixth of women in whom Trichomonas vaginalis could not be demonstrated also gave positive reactions. It is not improbable that some of these women had been previously infected.Trichomonas vaginalis infection is not associated with an increase in puerperal morbidity and its presence does not constitute an indication for treatment in asymptomatic patients.Approximately 5 per cent of female babies born to infected mothers were shown to be infected with Trichomonas vaginalis during the first eight days of life.