Chlamydia: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

A prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI), commonly referred to as a sexually transmitted disease (STD), is Chlamydia. The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis is what causes Chlamydia. Because many people do not experience symptoms like genital pain and vaginal or penile discharge, you might not be aware that you have Chlamydia.

Chlamydia trachomatis primarily affects young women, yet it can infect anyone, regardless of gender or age. Although it is not difficult to treat, delaying care may result in more significant health issues.

Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the early stages frequently have few symptoms. Even when they do, symptoms are frequently not severe. Because of how simple it is to overlook them, routine screening is crucial.

Read this blog further to get a quick overview of this important topic for anatomy and ace your NEET PG exam preparation.

Causes Of Chlamydia 

Chlamydia is typically transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person. Even if no one does, it could still occur. Chlamydia is most commonly contracted during vaginal and anal sex, although it can also be carried through oral sex.

Occasionally, if you have contaminated secretions on your hand and touch your eye, you could contract Chlamydia. If the mother has Chlamydia, it can potentially be passed to the baby during birth. You CANNOT catch Chlamydia via sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on the toilet. Chlamydia is not spread through casual touch.

The best technique to help prevent Chlamydia is to use dental dams or condoms each time you have sex.

Symptoms Of Chlamydia 

Chlamydia is frequently referred to as a "silent infection" because the majority of Chlamydia patients show no symptoms. However, it can result in several symptoms in others, such as an uncomfortable burning sensation when urinating and unusual discharge from the vagina or penis. Some Chlamydia symptoms may also vary slightly between men and women.

Men's Chlamydia symptoms

Many men fail to recognize the signs of Chlamydia. Most males have zero symptoms. some of the most typical signs of Chlamydia that we can find in men are:

• A scorching feeling when urinating
• Pain in the lower back
• Pain in the testis, 
• Yellow or green discharge from the penis

The anus can also become infected with Chlamydia and we can find following signs:

• Discharge discomfort and bleeding in this location
• The risk of contracting Chlamydia in the throat increases when having oral intercourse with an infected person. The presence of a sore throat, a cough, or a fever are symptoms. It's also possible to have undetected throat bacteria.

Signs of Chlamydia in women

After being infected with the STI, a woman might not show any symptoms for a few weeks. Some of the most typical symptoms of Chlamydia in women include the following:

Dyspareunia is characterized by uncomfortable lower abdomen pain, burning during urination and vaginal discharge, cervicitis, cervicitis of the cervix, and bleeding in between periods.

In certain women, the infection may spread to the fallopian tubes, which could cause the disorder pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a medical emergency.

PID symptoms include:

• Severe pelvic pain and fever
• Irregular vaginal bleeding between cycles and sickness

The rectum can also be infected by Chlamydia. If a woman has a Chlamydia infection in the rectum, she could not exhibit any symptoms. But if a rectal infection does develop, symptoms could include bleeding, discharge, and pain.

Women who engage in oral sex with a person who has a throat infection run the risk of developing one themselves. Cough, fever, and sore throat are signs of Chlamydia infection in your throat, yet you might get it without knowing it.

If you have any of the symptoms listed above, it's vital to speak with a healthcare provider because the symptoms of STIs in men and women might vary.

Risk Factors For Chlamydia 

Chlamydia risk factors include:

• Less use of condoms.
• Fewer people are using health services to treat and prevent STIs.
• Numerous sexual partners.
• Before realizing that you have a Chlamydia infection, switching relationships.
• Younger people are more susceptible to contracting Chlamydia than elderly persons. Younger people are more likely to have many risk factors, which explains this.

Diagnosis For Chlamydia

The doctor who is treating you for Chlamydia will probably inquire about your symptoms. If there aren't any, they might inquire as to your worries. A physical examination may be done by the medical professional if symptoms are present. This enables them to look for any discharge, lesions, or strange patches that might be connected to an illness.

Swabs of the vagina are the most reliable diagnostic tools for Chlamydia, as are urine tests for men and women. These places may also be swabbed if there's a likelihood the infection is in the throat or anus. Results could take a few days to appear. 

Treatment For Chlamydia 

Antibiotics are a highly effective treatment for C. trachomatis infection. Azithromycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, levofloxacin, or ofloxacin are advised by guidelines. The relative efficiency of antibiotics in women is highly uncertain, however, doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for 7 days) is likely more effective in men than azithromycin (1 g single dosage). Erythromycin or amoxicillin are two medications that are advised during pregnancy.

Patient-delivered partner therapy (PDT or PDPT), which is the practice of treating the sex partners of index cases by giving prescriptions or medications to the patient to give to his or her partner without the health care provider first inspecting the partner, is an option for treating sexual partners of those with Chlamydia or gonorrhea.

After receiving treatment, individuals should be retested three months later to look for reinfection.

Prevention Of Chlymadia

The best strategy for someone who engages in sexual activity to prevent catching Chlamydia is to use a condom or other barrier during sexual activity.

It is suggested that:

• With each new sexual partner, employ a barrier technique.
• With new partners, get routine STI testing done.
• Till you and a new partner have been STI-screened, avoid having oral sex or use protection when having oral sex.
• These procedures can assist people in avoiding infections, unwanted pregnancies, and other issues. If done properly, STI prevention has a very high rate of effectiveness.

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