Chlamydia:

What is it?

Chlamydia is a group of bacteria belonging to the family of gram-negative microorganisms that grow intracellularly. Chlamydia is the most sexually transmitted disease and is particularly common among young people.

There are two genera of Chlamydia: the genus Chlamydia, whose principal representative is the Chlamydia trachomatis, and the genus Chlamydophila chlamydophila (pneumonia, Chlamydophila Psittaci-psittaki).

Different organs of the body can be affected depending on their type. They occur in the genitals, pharynx, mouth, neck, urethra, fallopian tubes, epididymis and eyes (conjunctivitis).

Chlamydia trachomatis is very common especially among young people up to 25 years of age who are sexually active. Chlamydia enter the cytoplasm and begin to multiply.

About 80% of women and 50% of men remain asymptomatic when they contract the infection.

Failure to treat them in a timely manner can lead to serious complications, the main of which being infertility.
 
Symptoms

Men

More than half of men who eat chlamydia show no symptoms. If symptoms occur, this will happen about 1-3 weeks after the infection. The most common symptoms in men are:
 

1.     Urinary Pain

2.     Weakness and Fatigue

3.     Pain in the penis and testes

4.     Swelling of the testicles

5.     Low abdominal pain

6.     Secretion of yellow or milky fluid

If someone develops chlamydia on the anus, symptoms include pain and blood from the anus. Oral sex with a suffering person increases the risk of chlamydia in the mouth. Symptoms in this case include fever, cough and sore throat.

Women

Chlamydia is considered a silent disease as very often, ie 80%, are asymptomatic. This is why regular check-ups are necessary, because if left untreated, the disease progresses and can cause tuberculosis and infertility.

Symptoms usually occur about 1-3 weeks after transmission. The symptoms are:
 

1.     Sex Pain (Discomfort)

2.     Increased vaginal discharge

3.     Unusual Texture

4.     Feeling pain or burning

5.     Low abdominal pain

6.     Motion sickness

7.     Fever

8.     Bleeding in the middle of the cycle

9.     Bleeding during intercourse

10.     Tuberculosis

11.     Cervicitis

Oral sex with a suffering person increases the risk of chlamydia in the mouth. Symptoms in this case include fever, cough and sore throat.

If the infection is not treated, about 30% of cases will spread to the pelvic organs, leading to a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease. Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include pelvic pain, intercourse pain, fever, cramps and abdominal pain. Inflammatory pelvic disease can cause scarring and damage to the reproductive organs, which can lead to infertility.
 

How to deal with it?

Chlamydia can be easily treated with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics may be given as a single dose or over a week.

Women should refrain from intercourse during these 7 days or for 7 days after one dose treatment, in order not to transmit the infection to others.

Azithromycin and doxycycline are the main antibiotics commonly used to treat chlamydial infection.

When one of the two sex partners is diagnosed with the disease, the other must do the exams in order to avoid re-infection and further spread.