All you need to know about Chlamydia

Introduction

CHLAMYDIA is one of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the world. It is an infection with the bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is very similar to gonorrhoea in its symptoms and pattern of transmission.

It is important to note that many people (both women and men) who are infected with chlamydia do not have any symptoms and may not be aware that they have the infection. Chlamydia infection can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes in a woman and can unfortunately lead to future infertility and an increase risk of ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy also increases a woman’s risk of preterm labour and of having a baby with low birth weight.

What causes chlamydia?

Chlamydia is an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. When an infection is present, the bacteria can be present in the cervix, urethra, vagina, and rectum of an infected person. It can also live in the throat.

Any type of sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an infected person can spread the infection.

Young people who are sexually active are at high risk for chlamydia.

An infected mother can also spread the infection to her baby at the time of birth as the baby passes through the vaginal canal. The most common complications of chlamydia acquired through the birth canal are eye damage and pneumonia to the newborn baby.

Even after a person has been treated for chlamydia, it is possible to get the infection again. With chlamydia, repeat infection is common.

Signs and symptoms of chlamydia infection may include:

Painful urination

Lower abdominal pain

Vaginal discharge in women Discharge from the penis in men

Painful sexual intercourse in women

Bleeding between periods and after sex in women

Testicular pain in men How to control and prevent:

Sexually active women age 25 or younger. The rate of chlamydia infection is highest in this group, thus as health professionals we recommend a yearly screening test. Even if you’ve been tested in the past year, get tested when you have a new sex partner.

Pregnant women. You should be tested for chlamydia during your first prenatal exam. If you have a high risk of infection — from changing sex partners or from your regular partner’s possible infection — get tested again later in your pregnancy.

Women and men at high risk. Consider frequent chlamydia screening if you have multiple sex partners, if you don’t always use a condom during sex or if you’re a man who has sex with men. Other markers of high risk are current infection with another sexually transmitted infection and possible exposure to an STI through an infected partner.

Use condoms. Use a male latex condom or a female polyurethane condom during each sexual contact. Condoms used properly during every sexual encounter reduce but don’t eliminate the risk of infection.

Limit your number of sex partners. Having multiple sex partners puts you at a high risk of contracting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections.

Screening and diagnosis of chlamydia is relatively simple in most hospitals These tests include:

A urine test. A sample of your urine analysed in the laboratory may indicate the presence of this infection.

Treatment of Chlamydia

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. You may receive a one-time dose, or you may need to take the medication daily or multiple times a day for five to 10 days.

In most cases, the infection resolves within one to two weeks. During that time, you should abstain from sex. Your sexual partner or partners also need treatment even if they have no signs or symptoms. Otherwise, the infection can be passed back and forth between sexual partners.

Having chlamydia or having been treated for it in the past provides no immunity against reinfection in the future.

“Take care of your busy body, you owe that to your family”. Lee-Anne Hall BSc Physiotherapy tsepylee@yahoo.com