Chlamydia is an infection that is passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Any person who is sexually agile can get it, and sometimes individuals with chlamydia do not show any signs of being infected. If a person has chlamydia, healthcare providers can recommend antibiotics to cure the infection and suggest other steps to help medicate it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2018, there were about 1.8 million chlamydia cases in the U.S., making it the most common STI in the country.
Even though chlamydia often doesn’t cause any symptoms, it can cause serious problems, like difficulties in having children. The good news is that there is an effective intervention available, and it can cure the infection if followed properly.
Symptoms
Many individuals with chlamydia do not identify any symptoms. Research by the CDC indicates that only about 10% of men and 5 to 30% of women experience signs. The time it occurs for signs to appear is also unclear, but it might be many weeks.
In Women
For women, signs of chlamydia may involve cervix discharge, bleeding, and painful or frequent urination. If this infection transmits to the womb and fallopian tubes, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. PID might not appear symptom but can impact fertility.
In Men
For men, signs may involve pain, sensitivity, and inflammation in the urethra or the testicles, which is the tube that transports urine.
In Men and Women
Both men and women may develop signs in the anus or rectum. The infection can occur in these places while anal sex or by transmitting from the organs of reproduction. Symptoms involve pain in the rectal and bleeding or discharge.
Exposure to infected secretions can also cause chlamydial conjunctivitis. Lab examinations have identified chlamydia in people’s throats who had oral sex with an individual who was affected by the infection.
Treatment
If you have doubts you have chlamydia, it is important to seek medication to avoid serious health issues like ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Healthcare providers generally recommend antibiotics to medicate chlamydia, which are usually taken as pills.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force suggests re-examining at the minimum every three months after the intervention, relying on the person’s determinants.
Antibiotics
Some common antibiotics used to treat chlamydia include:
- Azithromycin: A 1-gram dose.
- Doxycycline: The 100 mg two times daily for a week.
- Ofloxacin: The 300 to 400 milligrams one or two times daily for a week.
Other options include amoxicillin or erythromycin, which may be prescribed during the gestation period.
Adverse Effects
Sometimes, antibiotics can cause side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, a sick feeling in the stomach, and vaginal thrush. The medicine called doxycycline can also cause a skin rash if the person taking it is exposed to the sun. In many episodes, these side effects are mild. However, if you experience serious adverse effects, meet your doctor. Do not halt taking the medicines without consulting your healthcare first.
A recommended dosage of antibiotics successfully resolves chlamydia in 95 out of 100 episodes. It is important to follow your healthcare provider’s guidelines and complete the entire treatment.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of chlamydia, a healthcare provider may perform a physical examination to look for signs like discharge. Additionally, they will take a urine or swab sample from the cervix, urethra, penis, rectum, or throat.
Chlamydia Screening
Since chlamydia often appears with no signs, health authorities suggest checking for certain individuals. The United States Preventive Services Task Force suggests screening for sexually active women aged below 25, pregnant females aged below 25 or beyond if they are at increased risk, and men in increased-risk clusters should all consider regular chlamydia screening.
Causes
This infection Chlamydia caused by a type of bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis also known as C. trachomatis.
This infection can impact various parts of the body, involving the vagina, penis, urethra, cervix, anus, throat, or eyes. If left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious and occasionally permanent damage to the system of reproduction, which may lead to difficulties in having children.
Spreading of Chlamydia
Chlamydia spreads over unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex, or by straight genital contact. Because chlamydia often shows no signs, an individual may unknowingly pass the infection to their sexual partner.
Chlamydia cannot be spread by:
- Sharing a sauna
- With a toilet seat
- Swimming pool
- Standing near to an infected person
- Touching surfaces that an infected person has touched
- Coughing or sneezing
- Sharing a house or an office with an infected person
As per the NIH, a mother with this infection can transmit to her new born during birth of baby. This can sometimes lead to complications for the baby, such as eye infections or pneumonia.
If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with chlamydia, she will require to be tested again 3 to 4 weeks post-treatment to make sure the infection has not come again.
Prevention
To prevent chlamydia or decrease the risk of infection, consider the following measures:
- Utilizing Condoms: Always use condoms correctly every time you have sex. This helps create a barrier that decreases the chance of the infection spreading.
- Restrict Sexual Partners: Having fewer sexual partners can lower the chance of coming into contact with someone who has chlamydia.
- Monogamous Relationships: Being in a committed relationship where both partners are sexually exclusive can help prevent the spread of chlamydia.
- Regular Screening: Get regular chlamydia screenings, particularly if you are sexually active, to catch and treat the infection early.
- Avoiding Sex During Treatment: If you or your partner are being treated for chlamydia, avoid having sex until the treatment is completely finished to prevent passing the infection back and forth.
Complications
With intervention, individuals uncommonly face complications from an infection. But without intervention, chlamydia in men can lead to or heighten the chance of several serious health issues. These include prostatitis, which is the prostate gland inflammation, urethra scarring, infertility, and epididymitis, an infection of a testicle tube.
Additionally, the American College of Rheumatology reports that infections can lead to reactive arthritis. Signs of reactive arthritis include pain in the toes, heels, joints, lower back, or fingers.
Summary
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, often without symptoms but can lead to serious reproductive damage. It spreads through unprotected sex and can be passed from mother to baby during childbirth. Diagnosis involves physical exams and samples from affected areas, while treatment typically includes antibiotics. Prevention methods include using condoms, limiting sexual partners, and monogamous relationships, regular screening, and avoiding sex until treatment completion. Regular testing and following medical advice are crucial for effective management and prevention.
