Chancroid
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually
transmitted diseases. The term “Chlamydia” derives from the name of
the bacterial genus Chlamydia in the family Chlamydiaceae, class and
phylum Chlamydiae. The genus Chlamydia includes 3 species: Chlamydia
trachomatis, Chlamydia muridarum, and Chlamydia suis. The Centers
for Diseases Control and Prevention estimates that more than 3
million cases of Chlamydia occur every year. Chlamydia is the most
frequent bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the US. An
estimated 4 million Americans get Chlamydia each year.
Health economists estimate that chlamydial infections and the other
problems they cause cost Americans more than $2 billion a year.
Chlamydia can be spread mainly through vaginal and
anal sex, but also rarely through oral sex and hand to eye contact.
Chlamydia is
transmitted via the birth canal of an infected mother, and neonates
exposed to Chlamydia at birth may develop conjunctivitis 5-13 days
later. Chlamydia
has a higher prevalence in sexually active adolescent girls, with an
incidence of 10%. A prevalence of Chlamydia as high as 14% has been
reported in African American females aged 18-26 years. In addition,
approximately 100,000 neonates are exposed to Chlamydia annually.
The disease is more common in less developed countries, among
minorities, people living in the urban area, etc.
Chlamydia has an incubation period
of 1-3 weeks.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
Chlamydia is known as the “silent”
disease because approximately 50 % of the men and 80 % of all women
infected with it display no symptoms. When it does present symptoms
these are abnormal vaginal and penile discharges (mucus or pus) and
painful urination. Women can also present abdominal pain, low fever,
pain during intercourse and the need to urinate more often. Men can
experience inflammation of the rectum and swelling or pain in the
testicles.
TREATMENT
Chlamydia is treated with
antibiotics. The most common used include doxycycline and
azithromycin. The treatment can last from one up to seven days. The
treatment also includes refrain from having sex and physical effort.
It is very important to be treated
as soon as possible, so if you present any of the symptoms listed
above, seek a medical advice.
Because Chlamydia transmission is
easy, you must get your partner tested for the infection as well.
More than 95 % of the people treated for Chlamydia will recover
completely.
COMPLICATIONS
If left untreated Chlamydia can lead to other serious
health problems. In women, Chlamydia can spread into the pelvic area
and infect the uterus, fallopian tubes and urine canal and can lead
to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Chlamydia can
cause permanent damage to the woman's reproductive organs and can
lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and an increased risk of
ectopic pregnancy.
Infection
with Chlamydia during pregnancy increases the risk of
spontaneous abortion
(miscarriage). Also the infection is dangerous to newborns, because
it can cause an infection of the baby's eyes (complications of the
infection include blindness), ears, genitalia and lungs. Pneumonia
may also occur.
Chlamydia also increases the risk
of contracting HIV. Women with Chlamydia are up to 5 times more
likely to contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
In men Chlamydia may spread to the
testicles and cause epididymitis, which can lead to sterility. In
young men it can cause Reiter’s Syndrome, characterized by
arthritis, skin lesions, and inflammation of the urethra and eyes.
PREVENTION
The only sure way to prevent
contracting Chlamydia is to refrain from having sex or limit to a
single, uninfected partner.
The risk of contracting Chlamydia
can be reduced by correctly using latex condoms every time you have
sex, but this is not 100 % sure.
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