Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is most commonly sexually transmitted.
Causes
Chlamydia
infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United
States. Sexually active individuals and individuals with multiple
partners are at highest risk.
Symptoms
As
many as 1 in 4 men with chlamydia have no symptoms. In men, chlamydia
may produce symptoms similar to gonorrhea. Symptoms may include:
- Burning sensation during urination
- Discharge from the penis or rectum
- Testicular tenderness or pain
- Rectal discharge or pain
Only about 30% of women with chlamydia have symptoms. Symptoms that may occur in women include:
- Burning sensation during urination
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Rectal pain or discharge
- Symptoms of PID, salpingitis, liver inflammation similar to hepatitis
- Vaginal discharge
Exams and Tests
The diagnosis of chlamydia infection involves sampling of the urethral discharge
in males or cervical secretions in females. If an individual engages in
anal sexual contact, samples from the rectum may also be needed. The
sample is sent for a fluorescent or monoclonal antibody test, DNA probe test, or cell culture. Some of these tests may also be performed on urine samples.
Treatment
The usual treatment for chlamydia is antibiotics, including tetracyclines, azithromycin, or erythromycin.
You
can get chlamydia with gonorrhea or syphilis, so if you have one
sexually transmitted disease you must be screened for other sexually
transmitted diseases as well. All sexual contacts should be screened for
chlamydia.
Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth. There is no significant immunity following the infection and a person may become repeatedly infected.
A follow-up evaluation may be done in 4 weeks to determine if the infection has been cured.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Early
antibiotic treatment is extremely successful and may prevent the
development of long-term complications. Untreated infection, however,
may lead to complications.
Possible Complications
Chlamydia
infections in women may lead to inflammation of the cervix. In men,
chlamydia infection can lead to inflammation of the urethra called
urethritis.
An untreated chlamydia infection may spread to the
uterus or the fallopian tubes, causing salpingitis or pelvic
inflammatory disease. These conditions can lead to infertility and
increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
If a women is infected
with chlamydia while pregnant, the infection may cause infection in the
uterus after delivery (late postpartum endometritis). In addition, the
infant may develop chlamydia-related conjunctivitis (eye infection) and
pneumonia.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of chlamydia.
Because
many people with chlamydia may not have symptoms, sexually active
adults should be screened periodically for the infection.
Prevention
All
sexually active women up through age 25 should be screened yearly for
chlamydia. All women with new sexual partners or multiple partners
should also be screened.
A mutually monogamous sexual relationship
with an uninfected partner is one way to avoid this infection. The
proper use of condoms during intercourse usually prevents infection.
References
U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for chlamydial infection:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:128-134.
Stamm
WE, Batteiger BE. Chlamydiatrachomatis (trachoma, perinatal infections,
lymphogranuloma venereum, and other genital infections). In: Mandell
GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 180.
source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001345.htm
