Chlamydia is common sexually transmitted disease. It is a genus of pathogenic bacteria. This bacteria is eukaryotic and gram negative. It depends on the host for ATP and energy metabolism, therefore an obligate intracellular organism. Chlamydia has three species, namely, C.pneumoniae, that causes a type of pneumonia, C.psittaci, that causes psittacosis and C.trachomatis that causes various diseases such as trachoma, inclusion conjunctivitis and nongonococcal urethritis. Chlamydial infections are spread by either direct contact or by inhalation of aerosols. C.trachomatis is spread by direct contact with infected secretions. Humans that are infected act as reservoirs. Engelkirk mentions it is also “spread by flies serving as mechanical vectors”
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The ocular diseases include trachoma and conjunctivitis. C.trachomatis is “the most common reportable communicable disease in the United States, and is a major cause of genital tract and ocular infections worldwide”(American Journal of Nursing, 2015). Trachoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world. It is a highly contagious infection and is prevalent in Africa and Asia. Trachoma causes conjunctivitis that results in scarring of the conjunctiva as well as the cornea. It also results in deformed eyelids and blindness. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva. It is also known as pink eye. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include itchy and watery eyes, pink or red color in white area of the eye, discharge from eyes and crusting of the eyelids. Inclusion conjunctivitis in newborns has the same symptoms. It appears 5 to 12 days after birth. Complications of trachoma and conjunctivitis are vision loss and blindness. C.trachomatis is also considered to be the most common sexually transmitted pathogen. It causes various genital infections and are “the most common nationally notifiable infectious diseases in the United States” (Engelkirk, p. 202). The infections are common in women as well as men. In men, genital chlamydial infections lead to nongonococcal urethritis and epididymitis. In women, cervicitis, urethritis, salpingitis and pelvic inflammatory disease. The symptoms of these genital infections are usually asymptomatic. They are mostly detected during screening of other genitourinary infections. Symptoms in women may include fever, dysuria, abnormal vaginal discharge, painful sexual intercourse. In men, urethral discharge, testicular pain and swelling, and dysuria. Complications in men related to chlamydial genital infections are “unusual and rarely result in reproductive problems”(AJN, 2015). However, in women, serious complications occur such as infertility, chronic pelvic
The ocular diseases include trachoma and conjunctivitis. C.trachomatis is “the most common reportable communicable disease in the United States, and is a major cause of genital tract and ocular infections worldwide”(American Journal of Nursing, 2015). Trachoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world. It is a highly contagious infection and is prevalent in Africa and Asia. Trachoma causes conjunctivitis that results in scarring of the conjunctiva as well as the cornea. It also results in deformed eyelids and blindness. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva. It is also known as pink eye. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include itchy and watery eyes, pink or red color in white area of the eye, discharge from eyes and crusting of the eyelids. Inclusion conjunctivitis in newborns has the same symptoms. It appears 5 to 12 days after birth. Complications of trachoma and conjunctivitis are vision loss and blindness. C.trachomatis is also considered to be the most common sexually transmitted pathogen. It causes various genital infections and are “the most common nationally notifiable infectious diseases in the United States” (Engelkirk, p. 202). The infections are common in women as well as men. In men, genital chlamydial infections lead to nongonococcal urethritis and epididymitis. In women, cervicitis, urethritis, salpingitis and pelvic inflammatory disease. The symptoms of these genital infections are usually asymptomatic. They are mostly detected during screening of other genitourinary infections. Symptoms in women may include fever, dysuria, abnormal vaginal discharge, painful sexual intercourse. In men, urethral discharge, testicular pain and swelling, and dysuria. Complications in men related to chlamydial genital infections are “unusual and rarely result in reproductive problems”(AJN, 2015). However, in women, serious complications occur such as infertility, chronic pelvic