1) What
is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia
is a bacterium that can cause a sexually transmitted disease. Its full
name is Chlamydia trachomatis. It can infect mucus membranes in the penis,
vagina, cervix, urethra, anus or eye. Chlamydia is transmitted throught
sexual contact with an infected person.
2) What
are the symptons of Chlamydia?
Chlamydia usually has no symptoms but when ocurr, they may begin in as
little as five to 10 days after infection.
In women,
symptoms of Chlamydia may include an unusual vaginal discharge, bleeding
between menstrual periods, painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse,
abdominal or pelvic pain, painful urination and abnormal vaginal discharge.
In men,
pus or watery dicharge from the penis and burning with urination.
3) What
is the impact of Chlamydia on pregnancy?
Chlamydia can
be passed from mother to baby during birth. Chlamydia can cause neonatal
conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Chlamydial infections may also associated
with miscarriage, stillbirth, or low infant birthweight. Symptoms usually
begin within four weeks of birth. The infantīs eyes can be seriously
and permanently damaged.
4) Is
Chlamydia a common disease?
Chlamydia
is 4 times as common as gonorrhea, more than 30 times as common as syphilis
and most common among women and men under 25.
5) How
is Chlamydia diagnosed and treated?
There are a
variety of laboratory tests that can be used to diagnosed chlamydial infection.
Test are done with either a urine sample or a sample obtained from manīs
urethra or a womanīs cervix, using a cotton swab.
Chlamydia can
be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia have
similar symptoms. It is important to tell them apart because penicillin
has no effect on Chlamydia but it can kill gonorrhea. Other sexually transmitted
infections may also mask the symptoms of Chlamydia.
