Reviewing Cases and Features of Chlamydia

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in America. Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis that can infect both men and women through sexual contact.1 Bacteria can infect the vagina, penis, anus, mouth, or eye.2 Chlamydia can negatively affect essential urinary and reproductive organs. Fortunately, this infection is not difficult to cure with antibiotics. However, a variety of issues can arise if chlamydia is not treated properly or fast enough. Chlamydia is usually asymptomatic, or silent, meaning that people who have this disease don’t show any sign of abnormality.1 This can be a considerable problem since the success of the treatment depends on the point in time victims seek antibiotics.

Certain groups are more susceptible to chlamydia than others. Chlamydia is most common among youth. People in their mid-teens to lower-twenties are three times more likely to be diagnosed than people in the ages 25-39. It is estimated that one in 15 young females who are sexually active has chlamydia.1 Studies show that chlamydia is also common among men who have sex with men (MSM). People who have multiple sex partners are at a higher risk to being infected also.1 Between 1995 - 2011, the number of women that reported having chlamydia increased each year.1 This can be explained by an increase of women getting screened for chlamydia and being able to report results. Furthermore, studies show that chlamydia is more common among African Americans than other ethnic groups in the U.S.1

Only 10% of men and 5-30% of women report any noticeable symptoms.1 Symptoms can take weeks to finally arise in those who do develop apparent symptoms. Among these symptoms include painful urination, discharge, sores, and rashes.3 Chlamydia can have different effects on men and women. In men, symptoms are similar to characteristics of gonorrhea and can be often mistaken for one or the either. For women, the infection begins in the cervix, which can spread to the upper reproductive tract which can lead to other diseases and complications. In both men and women, the infection can target the urethra and cause urethritis which varies in pain and discomfort for victims.3 Chlamydial bacteria can also be viable in the rectum for men and women. This can be possible through anal sex or, in women, through the spreading of the bacteria from the cervix or vagina.3 Rectal infections caused by chlamydia are likely to lack symptoms, but can cause pain for people who are symptomatic (showing symptoms). Symptoms for rectal infections may include bleeding and/or diarrhea.3

Since an immunity does not exist for chlamydia, people can get infected more than once.4 Women who are infected multiple times have a higher chance of having reproductive health problems. About 20 percent of younger women are infected more than once because of sex partners that did not adequately treat the infection themselves.1 Due to the commonality of reinfection, young women are usually required to have a check-up three months after the treatment. Young women should be tested regularly regardless of whether they have been diagnosed in the past or not because of the susceptibility of this demographic to be infected with chlamydia.5

Chlamydia can be diagnosed by a sample of vaginal or penile discharge, where the bacteria can be examined.1 Sometimes samples can also be taken from urethral discharge. In cases which rectal infections are involved, samples from the rectum would also be tested. These tests will specify whether patients have chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis. These diseases can simultaneously infect one person. Often people are under the impression they have one of the diseases without being sure, so tests are useful.

One of the issues that might occur is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).5 PID is often serious and should be treated as soon as possible to prevent severe impairment to the reproductive organs of women. PID can be caused when women are infected with the bacteria of chlamydia or gonorrhea.1 These are the most common cases of PID, chlamydia accounting for at least a third of the cases. PID can also go unnoticed and, therefore, is disregarded by the victim until pain becomes occurrent and actual damage has taken place. When symptoms are apparent, lower abdominal pain, pelvic pain, and burning urination are among the irritations reported.5 However, symptoms of PID can vary greatly and the pain of some women might be mild whereas others have more severe pains. PID can lead to even further issues when bacteria is left to linger.

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is the next step for the bacteria after PID and is caused by inflamed fallopian tubes, ovaries, or other reproductive organs.1 TOA can be detrimental when the victim does not get the anticipated reaction to antibiotics. Damaged organs can sometimes be surgically fixed or at least mitigated. The damage caused by PID and TOA is based on how quickly the woman seeks treatment.1 Antibiotics are provided to cure both PID and TOA, but any scarring caused cannot be so easily undone. In recent years, the rates of women with PID have not been increasing, likely due to more women getting screenings for chlamydia.

Birth control pills for women may help to stop bacteria from spreading to upper genital tracts which can be effective in preventing PID. Pills function by creating a thicker vaginal discharge which works as a barrier against the bacteria.2 While this tactic can help reduce the risk of PID, antibiotics are still necessary to cure the infection and eliminate bacteria. Women with STDs should not use douche because unnatural substances within the vagina can increase the risk of bacteria.

Pregnant women with chlamydia may have different symptoms than other women. Symptoms include bleeding after sexual intercourse, itchiness after urination, and abnormal vaginal discharge.1 Chlamydia can infect infants when the women are still untreated at the time they give birth. Often times, the newborns are underweight and premature. These infants are at a risk of being diagnosed with pneumonia, lung infections, or conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye.4 These infections can be cured with antibiotics.

While chlamydia can seem like a minor infection for some, especially when symptoms are not present, there are high stakes when bacteria is left to flourish. After the infection spreads to a woman’s uterus and fallopian tubes, PID can develop, damaging the victim perpetually and leaving her with incessant pains. There is also a possibility of infertility or ectopic pregnancy.4 Ectopic pregnancy, or pregnancy outside of the uterus, is often fatal for both the mother and fetus. This happens when the fallopian tubes of a woman is damaged or scarred and allows an egg passing from the ovary to the uterus to be misplaced and fertilize outside of the uterus.1 Men with chlamydia also have a risk of infertility, although it is more rare for men to become infertile because of this STD than women. Men can develop epididymitis which can damage the reproductive process and cause pain and fever.3 Both men and women who fail to treat their infection in a timely manner increase the probability of getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and transmitting it.1

Prevention and cure for chlamydia is fairly simple, at least for first-time victims. For people who have been infected more than once, depending on the situation, they could be already damaged or more prone to permanent scarring. For prevention, a faithful monogamous relationship involving two uninfected people can prevent chlamydia. Condoms are usually an effective way to avoid getting infected as well. However, condoms are not 100% guaranteed to prevent chlamydia. Similarly to any STD, abstinence is the safest way to avoid contracting an infection. However, people who need treatment can kill chlamydial bacteria efficiently using antibiotics in the early stages of the infection. Antibiotics can be prescribed by a certified doctor after confirmed diagnosis. The biggest problem of chlamydia is that people who have the disease are initially unaware because of its lack of symptoms, so yearly testing is necessary to be certain that there are no signs of harmful bacteria.2 Young women and MSM should especially be aware of their susceptibility to chlamydia and seek frequent screenings to be safe.

Once patients receive medicine for their infection, it is imperative that they complete the dosage specified on the prescription. They should also refrain from performing sexual activities until they have completed their treatment and are certain that they are no longer infected. It is also important for the infected people to inform their sexual partners of the STD and encourage them to visit a clinician. Even if sexual partners do not show symptoms or are not diagnosed with chlamydia, they should still take medication to be completely certain. Some people may be able to receive expedited partner therapy (EPT), in other words, the patient’s sexual partner also receives medicine or prescriptions for chlamydia.1 EPT is permitted in most states in the U.S. including California.

Since symptoms are scarce among those who have chlamydia, many times the only way to discover the infection is to get tested. The treatment of this infection is relatively simple, depending on how early the patient takes action. As long as victims are aware that they are infected and act promptly on the matter, complications will either be minimal or absent. Caution is highly recommended for people who have been diagnosed with chlamydia in the past and check-ups should continue even after treatment has completed. Chlamydia is an easy infection to cure with the right amount of caution.