CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia:
     Chlamydia is a bacterial infection spread solely through of sexual contact. It is also known as "silent epidemic"..

CAUSES:
      Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.
     Chlamydia is a risk factor for contracting HIV, due to their ecological association or shared risk of exposure, and biologically facilitated transmission of one infection by the other.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact (including, vaginal, anal and oral sex)
• Can be passed by the mother to her baby by vaginal childbirth

SYMPTOMS:
     Chlamydia bacteria can live in vaginal fluid and in semen. About 70 percent of chlamydial infections have no symptoms, thereby naming it the "silent" disease. Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after you are infected. Those who do have symptoms may have an abnormal discharge (mucus or pus) from the vagina or penis or experience pain while urinating. These early symptoms may be very mild.

     MALES: 

• Infectious urethritis (inflammation of the urethra)
• Painful or burning sensation while urinating
• Unusual discharge from the penis (less viscious and lighter in color than Gonorrhea)
• Swollen or tender testicles
• If left untreated can cause epididymitis (painful inflammation of epididymis)
• If not treated within 6-8weeks it can cause sterility (inability to effect sexual reproduction)
• It is also a potential cause of prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland)

     FEMALES:

• Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
• Dysuria (painful urination)
•  Fever
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• urinary urgency
• Cervicitis (inflammation of the uterine cervix)
• Asymptomatic infection that is not detected, approximately half will develop PID (pelvic inflammatory disease, generic term for inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tube and ovaries)
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Difficulty in pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy and other dangerous complications of pregnancy)

     Eye Disease:

• Chlamydia conjunctivitis (for both male and female)

     Other Conditions:

• Lympogranuloma verereum (infection of lymph node and lymphatics)
• Genital ulceration
• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin and other regions of the body
• Proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) 

PREVENTION:
    
     Chlamydia is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Chlamydia may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Chlamydia
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection. 










Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org