The most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States is chlamydia and the disease may cause serious damage to an individual’s body (Pommerville, 2014). Many individuals are usually unaware that they are a carrier of the disease due to unnoticeable symptoms. Chlamydia may be passed through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, and may me passed from mother to her fetus. No individual is immune to this sexually transmitted disease. Knowing the characteristics of the microorganism, the pathogenic factors, transmission, symptoms, and current treatment for chlamydia is a good way to understand this sexually transmitted disease. According to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, chlamydia is caused by an organism called trachomatis which causes
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Few women may show signs and symptoms when the bacteria initially infect the cervix where the infection of cervicitis may be present such as mucopurulent endocervical discharge and easily induced endocervical bleeding. In the urethra, signs of urethritis may show such as dysuria, pyuria, and frequent urination. Chlamydia infection in women can spread from the cervic to the upper reproductive tract which can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In contrast, more than 75% of infected men show signs and symptoms similar to gonorrhea which is painful urination and pus discharge from the penis (Bauman, 2014). Infection of chlamydia may cause inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) and inflammation of the testis (orchitis) which can both lead to sterility. When newborns are infected, an eye disease called trachoma develops which is the leading cause of nontraumatic blindness in humans worldwide. Lymphogranuloma venereum is a severe form of chlamydial sexually transmitted disease which is characterized by an impermanent genital wound at the site of infection on the penis, urethra, scrotum, vagina, cervix, or external female genitalia. This is then followed by the development of a painfully inflamed lymph node called bubo causing groin, chills, …show more content…
Physicians prescribe doxycycline or erythromycin to eliminate genital infections in adults. HIV-positive individuals with chlamydia will receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative. Trachoma strains of C. trachomatis infecting the eyes of newborns are initially treated with erythromycin cream and with oral erythromycin for 2 weeks (Bauman, 2014). Surgical correction of eyelid deformities may prevent the scratching, scarring, and blindness that typically result from eye infections. After treatment, individuals with chlamydia should abstain from any sexual activity for one week to prevent spreading the infection to partners. It is crucial to take all the prescribed medication to treat chlamydia and medication should not be shared with anyone. The medication will cure the infection, however, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. If an individual’s symptoms continue after receiving his or her treatment, he or she should return to their doctor for reevaluation. Repeated infection of chlamydia is very common. Sex partners who has not received appropriate treatment are at high risk for re-infection. In women, risk of serious reproductive health complications increases when she is exposed to multiple chlamydial infections. Individuals with chlamydia are highly recommended to be retested three months after treatment of chlamydia, regardless if they believe that their partners
Few women may show signs and symptoms when the bacteria initially infect the cervix where the infection of cervicitis may be present such as mucopurulent endocervical discharge and easily induced endocervical bleeding. In the urethra, signs of urethritis may show such as dysuria, pyuria, and frequent urination. Chlamydia infection in women can spread from the cervic to the upper reproductive tract which can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In contrast, more than 75% of infected men show signs and symptoms similar to gonorrhea which is painful urination and pus discharge from the penis (Bauman, 2014). Infection of chlamydia may cause inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) and inflammation of the testis (orchitis) which can both lead to sterility. When newborns are infected, an eye disease called trachoma develops which is the leading cause of nontraumatic blindness in humans worldwide. Lymphogranuloma venereum is a severe form of chlamydial sexually transmitted disease which is characterized by an impermanent genital wound at the site of infection on the penis, urethra, scrotum, vagina, cervix, or external female genitalia. This is then followed by the development of a painfully inflamed lymph node called bubo causing groin, chills, …show more content…
Physicians prescribe doxycycline or erythromycin to eliminate genital infections in adults. HIV-positive individuals with chlamydia will receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative. Trachoma strains of C. trachomatis infecting the eyes of newborns are initially treated with erythromycin cream and with oral erythromycin for 2 weeks (Bauman, 2014). Surgical correction of eyelid deformities may prevent the scratching, scarring, and blindness that typically result from eye infections. After treatment, individuals with chlamydia should abstain from any sexual activity for one week to prevent spreading the infection to partners. It is crucial to take all the prescribed medication to treat chlamydia and medication should not be shared with anyone. The medication will cure the infection, however, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. If an individual’s symptoms continue after receiving his or her treatment, he or she should return to their doctor for reevaluation. Repeated infection of chlamydia is very common. Sex partners who has not received appropriate treatment are at high risk for re-infection. In women, risk of serious reproductive health complications increases when she is exposed to multiple chlamydial infections. Individuals with chlamydia are highly recommended to be retested three months after treatment of chlamydia, regardless if they believe that their partners