Is Bartholinitis harmful to the body?

Bartholin's gland inflammation usually occurs in women of childbearing age, rarely in infants and after menopause. The pathogens are mostly Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus and Enterococcus, and a few are gonococci. It is a disease that seriously endangers women's health and can easily cause a variety of complications. The following editor will introduce it to you in detail.

Bartholin's gland inflammation usually occurs during the reproductive age, rarely in infants and after menopause. Most pathogens are staphylococci, Escherichia coli, streptococci and enterococci, and a few are gonococci. The Bartholin's glands are located at the back of the labia majora on both sides, and the gland duct opens on the inner side of the labia minora near the hymen. Due to the characteristics of the anatomical position, when the vulva is contaminated by sexual intercourse, childbirth or other circumstances, pathogens can easily penetrate and cause inflammation. Based on the medical history, local appearance and digital examination, it is generally not difficult to diagnose. However, at the same time, attention should also be paid to whether the urethral opening and paraurethral glands are abnormal. Due to severe pain, vaginal speculum examination is no longer possible, and if it is not necessary, it can be temporarily suspended. Generally, secretions should be taken from the opening of the Bartholin's glands, the urethral opening, and the paraurethral glands for smear examination of pathogens.

In the acute phase, there is local pain and redness and swelling. The pain is most severe when a Bartholin's gland abscess forms. Fever is common, but chills are rare. Sometimes urination and defecation are difficult. Clinical examination can reveal a red, swollen, hard lump in the lower 1/3 of the labia majora, which is obviously tender. If it has developed into an abscess, it is mostly a lump the size of an egg or apple, and is often unilateral. The skin on the surface of the lump is red, curved and thin, and the surrounding tissues are edematous. When the inflammation is severe, it can spread to the perineum and the contralateral vulva. There is significant local tenderness and a sense of fluctuation, and the inguinal lymph nodes are often enlarged.

Complications of Bartholinitis:

If the abscess is not treated in time, it may occasionally spread to the posterior direction, forming a perirectal abscess, and sometimes even rupture into the rectum. After the abscess is incised and drained, most abscess cavities can be completely closed and healed, but fistulas may occasionally form, with a small amount of secretions constantly discharged. A small and hard nodule can be felt during palpation, with slight tenderness, and pus can sometimes flow out of the fistula when squeezed. Sometimes the fistula closes or narrows on its own, and pus can accumulate and form an abscess again, which may also recur and not heal for a long time. After the acute phase of Bartholinitis, due to the obstruction of the glandular duct, the glandular secretion fluid cannot be discharged and is retained, forming a Bartholin's gland cyst.