To investigate the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis in the genital tract of sexually intact girls with arthritides, and to search for optimal means of their elucidation.
Sixty girls with rheumatic arthritides and 61 girls who had applied to a children's gynaecologist because of genital complaints (control group), aged 2-16 years, were examined. First-catch urine and swabs were taken from the vaginal arc and the surface of the external orifice of the urethra. C. trachomatis was elucidated by ligase chain reaction (LCR). U. urealyticum and M. hominis were detected with the Mycoplasma Duo diagnostic kit.
One of the investigated microorganisms was found in nine (15%) girls with arthritis: C. trachomatis in one (1.7%), U. urealyticum in six (10%), and M. hominis in two (3.3%). In patients without arthritis, only U. urealyticum was detected in two (3.3%) girls. Nine (15%) girls with arthritis had genital symptoms (actively revealed only through a questionnaire), and in seven of them the investigated microorganisms were elucidated. Taking smears from the external orifice of the urethra failed to elucidate the microorganisms studied in only 1/11 positive cases from both patient groups.
C. trachomatis was found in 1.7%, U. urealyticum in 10%, and M. hominis in 3.3% of 60 sexually intact girls with rheumatic arthritides. Actively detected genital symptoms may serve as a guide for examining girls with arthritis for these rare infections. The external orifice of the urethra may be an alternative easily accessible site for taking material for examination.