Chlamydia infection , what are the common symptoms?
Chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted disease. It is the most common cause of sexually transmitted diseases, that can be easily cured. But if not treated can cause serious complications especially in women. It is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis (there are 3 types of chlamydia). It can infect both men , ( the urethra (inside the penis), rectum, or throat), and women , (where it infects the cervix, rectum).
How is Chlamydia infection transmitted?
Sexual Intercourse. Sex is the most common way to spread Chlamydia infection. Oral, vaginal, or anal sex can spread the infection. A woman can also pass chlamydia to her baby during childbirth.
Re-infection. If someone had chlamydia that was treated in the past, he can be re-infected if exposed again to infection. Our body cannot develop immunological memory for chlamydia.
Infected mother to her baby.
What are the most common symptoms of chlamydia?
No symptoms. Chlamydia doesn’t cause any symptoms in most of the cases. So, an infected person may not realize that he has it, but he can still pass the disease to others.
Late symptoms. Some infected persons may show symptoms after several weeks after infection, (long incubation period).
| Symptoms in women include | Symptoms in men include |
| – Vaginal discharge (abnormal), which may have a strong smell – A burning sensation when urinating – Pain during intercourse | – Discharge from your penis – A burning sensation when urinating – Burning or itching around the opening of your penis – Pain and swelling in one or both testicles (not common) |
Diagnosis of chlamydia
Chlamydia infection can be diagnosed by symptoms and laboratory tests.
Laboratory tests
Urine analysis. Complete Urine analysis shows marks of infection; urine may be turbid with many pus cells , some times with RBCs.
Swab examination. For women, a cotton swab to get a sample from the vagina to test for chlamydia. For men a urethral swab is tested.
Chlamydia Home Test.
Complications of chlamydia infection
| Complications in women include | Complications in men include |
| – An untreated chlamydia infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause long-term pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. – Reactive arthritis (type of arthritis that happens as a “reaction” to an infection). – Increase chances of getting HIV/AIDS | – Men often don’t have serious health problems from chlamydia. But , it may infect the epididymis (the tube that carries sperm). This can cause pain, fever, and, rarely, infertility. – Reactive arthritis – Increase chances of getting HIV/AIDS |
How can I reduce the risk of chlamydia infection?
The only way to prevent infection with chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted diseases, is avoid STDs is to refrain from sex of all types, (vaginal, anal, or oral).
For those who are sexually active, they can lower the chances of infection by:
1- Stay in a long-term relationship.
2- Using latex condoms , properly, every time they have sex.
Treatments for chlamydia
Antibiotics. Chlamydia infections can be treated by antibiotics. Depending on what type, the antibiotic can be given as a one-time dose, or taken medicine every day for 7 days. Permanent damages that the disease has caused cannot be cured by antibiotics.
No sex. To prevent spreading the disease to your partner, you should not have sex until you are cured. You should wait about 7 days after taking the medicine to have sex again.
The partner. Your partner should also use antibiotics.
Sources:
– https://medlineplus.gov/chlamydiainfections.html
– https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm
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