Chlamydia
Labels Chlamydia
- Definition .
- Description .
- Demographics .
- Causes and Symptoms .
- Diagnosis .
- Treatment .
- Prognosis .
- Prevention .
- The Future .
Showing posts with label Chlamydia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chlamydia. Show all posts
Labels Chlamydia
Definition
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Chlamydia
trachomatis bacteria. It is the most commonly reported infectious disease
in the United States. Some strains of C. trachomatis can also cause trachoma,
an infectious eye disease that can lead to blindness.
trachomatis bacteria. It is the most commonly reported infectious disease
in the United States. Some strains of C. trachomatis can also cause trachoma,
an infectious eye disease that can lead to blindness.
Description
C. trachomatis can be transmitted between sexual partners during oral,
anal, or vaginal intercourse. It can also be transmitted from an infected
mother to her baby during childbirth and cause an eye infection or a type
of pneumonia in the newborn. Chlamydia is sometimes called a silent
disease, because it may not produce any noticeable symptoms. For
women who do feel sick following infection, the most common symptoms
are bleeding between menstrual periods, abdominal cramps, pain
during intercourse, and a discharge of pus from the vagina. Men may
notice inflammation or soreness in their testicles, pain during urination,
or a discharge from the penis. One reason why chlamydia is a dangerous
disease in spite of the lack of early warning symptoms in many people is
that it can lead to long-term complications for men as well as women.
Women with untreated chlamydia are at risk of pelvic inflammatory disease
(PID), a condition that can cause lifelong infertility. Some infected
people are at risk of developing a type of chronic arthritis called Reiter’s
syndrome.
anal, or vaginal intercourse. It can also be transmitted from an infected
mother to her baby during childbirth and cause an eye infection or a type
of pneumonia in the newborn. Chlamydia is sometimes called a silent
disease, because it may not produce any noticeable symptoms. For
women who do feel sick following infection, the most common symptoms
are bleeding between menstrual periods, abdominal cramps, pain
during intercourse, and a discharge of pus from the vagina. Men may
notice inflammation or soreness in their testicles, pain during urination,
or a discharge from the penis. One reason why chlamydia is a dangerous
disease in spite of the lack of early warning symptoms in many people is
that it can lead to long-term complications for men as well as women.
Women with untreated chlamydia are at risk of pelvic inflammatory disease
(PID), a condition that can cause lifelong infertility. Some infected
people are at risk of developing a type of chronic arthritis called Reiter’s
syndrome.
Demographics
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United
States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates
that there are as many as 4 million Americans infected with chlamydia,
with 2.8 million new infections each year. It is highly likely that the real
numbers are higher because many people with chlamydia—75 percent
of infected women and 50 percent of infected men—do not have any
noticeable symptoms and are not screened by a doctor. The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that about 89 million people are infected
with chlamydia worldwide, with about 8 million permanently blind as a
result of trachoma.
Some groups of people are at greater risk than others of being
infected with chlamydia. High-risk groups in the United States include:
States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates
that there are as many as 4 million Americans infected with chlamydia,
with 2.8 million new infections each year. It is highly likely that the real
numbers are higher because many people with chlamydia—75 percent
of infected women and 50 percent of infected men—do not have any
noticeable symptoms and are not screened by a doctor. The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that about 89 million people are infected
with chlamydia worldwide, with about 8 million permanently blind as a
result of trachoma.
Some groups of people are at greater risk than others of being
infected with chlamydia. High-risk groups in the United States include:
- Young adults of either sex
- Adolescent girls between the ages of fifteen and nineteen
- African Americans
- People who have unprotected sex or do not use barrier methods of
birth control (condoms or diaphragms) - Homosexual men, particularly those who are HIV-positive or
abuse drugs or alcohol - People living in large cities
- People with low income or little education
- People who have a large number of sexual partners
Causes and Symptoms
Chlamydia is caused by C. trachomatis, a bacterium that lives inside the
cells of the tissues that line the genital tract in both men and women.
It can also infect the tissues that line the eye. It takes between one and
three weeks for the bacterium to produce noticeable symptoms in
infected people; as was noted earlier, however, most infected women and
half of infected men do not develop symptoms troublesome enough to
send them to a doctor.
Women infected with chlamydia may notice the following symptoms:
cells of the tissues that line the genital tract in both men and women.
It can also infect the tissues that line the eye. It takes between one and
three weeks for the bacterium to produce noticeable symptoms in
infected people; as was noted earlier, however, most infected women and
half of infected men do not develop symptoms troublesome enough to
send them to a doctor.
Women infected with chlamydia may notice the following symptoms:
- A burning sensation during urination.
- Pain in the abdomen or lower back
- Fever
- An abnormal discharge from the vagina
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain during intercourse
- Bleeding between
- A burning sensation during urination
- Pain or swelling of the testicles
- A discharge from the penis
- Pain, bleeding, or a discharge from the rectum (in homosexual men)
Diagnosis
Chlamydia is not always diagnosed promptly because so many people who
are infected have no symptoms and may not go to a doctor. In May 2007,
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended
annual screening for chlamydia of all sexually active women age
25 and younger, as well as other women at high risk for infection who
do not have symptoms. In addition, many people who do have symptoms
of chlamydia are also infected with HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, or other
STDs. It is now common for doctors to test patients for these other diseases
to determine which disease is causing the patient’s symptoms.
Chlamydia can be diagnosed in both men and women by a simple
urine test. Another test that can be used is a laboratory culture of a smear
taken from a woman’s cervix (the lower end of the uterus), the opening
of the urethra at the tip of a man’s penis, or the anus.
are infected have no symptoms and may not go to a doctor. In May 2007,
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended
annual screening for chlamydia of all sexually active women age
25 and younger, as well as other women at high risk for infection who
do not have symptoms. In addition, many people who do have symptoms
of chlamydia are also infected with HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, or other
STDs. It is now common for doctors to test patients for these other diseases
to determine which disease is causing the patient’s symptoms.
Chlamydia can be diagnosed in both men and women by a simple
urine test. Another test that can be used is a laboratory culture of a smear
taken from a woman’s cervix (the lower end of the uterus), the opening
of the urethra at the tip of a man’s penis, or the anus.
Treatment
Chlamydia is treated by a course of oral antibiotics, either as a one-time
dose or as a series of pills to be taken over a period of five to ten days.
People being treated for chlamydia should not have sex for a period of
two weeks after treatment to make sure they cannot pass the infection
to others.
dose or as a series of pills to be taken over a period of five to ten days.
People being treated for chlamydia should not have sex for a period of
two weeks after treatment to make sure they cannot pass the infection
to others.
Prognosis
The prognosis for chlamydia when treated promptly is very good; 95 percent
of patients are cured with a single course of antibiotic medications.
Between 10 and 40 percent of untreated women, however, will develop
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); of those women who are diagnosed
with PID, 5 percent will develop a liver disorder. Reiter’s syndrome may
also be a long-term or recurrent health problem; more than 40 percent of
patients diagnosed with it eventually develop vision problems or permanent
arthritis, although they can expect to live normal life spans.
of patients are cured with a single course of antibiotic medications.
Between 10 and 40 percent of untreated women, however, will develop
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); of those women who are diagnosed
with PID, 5 percent will develop a liver disorder. Reiter’s syndrome may
also be a long-term or recurrent health problem; more than 40 percent of
patients diagnosed with it eventually develop vision problems or permanent
arthritis, although they can expect to live normal life spans.
Prevention
Chlamydia can be prevented in several ways:
were not treated.
- Abstaining from sexual intercourse
- Not having sex with high-risk partners
- Using latex condoms every time when having sex
- Avoiding the use of drugs and alcohol, which can impair good
judgment - Having potential sexual partners tested or treated for chlamydia
before having sexual relation.
were not treated.
The Future
The most important task in fighting chlamydia is the introduction of
better screening methods, particularly for young women; more effective
tracing and treatment of infected partners; and honest communication
between patients and their doctors. As one Boston physician said in
2007, “Discussing sexual activity is not easy for a lot of people, but being
honest with your physician and getting tested are imperative for good
health and future fertility.”
better screening methods, particularly for young women; more effective
tracing and treatment of infected partners; and honest communication
between patients and their doctors. As one Boston physician said in
2007, “Discussing sexual activity is not easy for a lot of people, but being
honest with your physician and getting tested are imperative for good
health and future fertility.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)