Chlamydia Infection - Causes, Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Chlamydia infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections around the world.
It is a bacterial infection, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Transmission of the disease can occur in several ways, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone with the infection;
From mother to baby during childbirth;
And children, by sexual abuse.

Risk factors for getting the infection include unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex, such as not using condoms;
Having multiple sex partners, which is common among commercial sex workers;
And males having sex with males.

Signs and symptoms may vary according to the sex. Chlamydia infection commonly involves genital organs, such as urethra, and endo cervix.
However, it can involve other areas in the body as well. Including the rectum; Pharynx; And conjunctiva of the eye.
Up to 80% of the females & 50% of the males with the disease are asymptomatic. So, it is frequently unrecognized and therefore left untreated. In women, the initial most common site of infection is the cervix. This may cause signs and symptoms of cervicitis, such as mucopurulent vaginal discharge; and easily induced cervical bleeding.
Infection in the urethra can cause signs & symptoms of urethritis. These include polyuria; Painful urination; And frequent urination.
In men, chlamydia infection will manifest as urethritis with mucopurulent urethral discharge; Painful urination; And testicular tenderness, pain, & swelling.

Untreated chlamydia infection can lead to several complications. Spread of the infection to uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which leads to chronic pelvic pain; Infertility; Ectopic pregnancy; And fitz hugh Curtis syndrome, which is characterized by inflammation of the liver capsule, leading to adhesion formation. Chlamydia infection in pregnant mothers can lead to preterm delivery; And pneumonia and conjunctivitis of the newborn. Reactive arthritis is another complication of chlamydia infection. Finally, untreated chlamydia infection may increase the risk of HIV infection.

The mainstay of diagnosing chlamydia infection is nucleic acid amplification tests, which can be performed on urethral, endo cervical, oropharyngeal, and rectal specimens. If pelvic inflammatory disease is suspected, CT, or MRI scan is indicated.
Chlamydia infection can easily be treated with antibiotics. Azithromycin, and doxycycline are the first line agents for the treatment of chlamydia infection.

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