Introduction
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women. A microorganism known as Chlamydia trachomatis causes the disease. It infects reproductive organs such as the cervix, penis, vagina, and other body organs such as the eyes (Belland et al, 2004). Transmission occurs during any form of sexual intercourse. In addition, it can be transmitted to children during childbirth. The symptoms of the disease depend on the organ infected. A great percentage of women with cervitis do not show symptoms of infection (Moss & Woodland, 2007). Therefore, many of them do not seek treatment even though the disease is present in their bodies. Chlamydia causes different symptoms in men and women. In men, symptoms appear in case of urethral infection. If the disease is untreated, it causes damaging reproductive problems that have severe consequences on the health of victims (Belland et al, 2004).
Transmission
Chlamydia is transmitted from one person to another during sexual intercourse. This involves transfer of vaginal fluids or semen from an infected person to a healthy person. Transmission occurs mainly through unprotected sex and sharing sex objects (Beigi, 2012). If infected vaginal fluids or semen flashes into the eyes, infection occurs. Transmission of Chlamydia could also occur during birth. Infection cannot occur through kissing, hugging, or sharing objects such as cups and towels.
Signs and symptoms
According to research, 70 % of women and 50% of men do not show symptoms of Chlamydia infection (Belland et al, 2004). Signs and symptoms appear 7 to 21 days after infection, and are different in men and women. In women, they include pain when urinating, strange vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, and bleeding after sexual intercourse (Hiebach & Burton, 2007). In men, symptoms include testicular pain and unusual discharges from the reproductive organs. Some men experience severe pain when passing urine. Strange discharges and irritation are the most common symptoms observed in cases where Chlamydia infection spreads to the eyes (Moss & Woodland, 2007).
Diagnosis
Several tests are used for diagnosis of Chlamydia. They include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA strand displacement amplification (SDA), and transcription mediated amplification (TMA) (Hiebach & Burton, 2007). These tests are types of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). NAATs are accurate because they have a sensitivity of about 90% and specificity of 99% (Breguet, 2007). The tests have received scientific approval for testing urogenital specimens only. However, research has shown that they show some degree of accuracy on rectal specimens.
Treatment
The most effective treatment for Chlamydia is the use of antibiotics that have been shown to be 95% effective. Treatment involves administration of either a single dose or multiple doses over an extended period. Additional medication may be administered in case the disease causes other complications. Treatment is different for pregnant women because antibiotics interfere with pregnancies and breastfeeding (Breguet, 2007). Antibiotics such as erythromycin and amoxicillin are recommended during pregnancy because they have few side effects. For men, recommended antibiotics include ofloxacin, doxycycline, azithromycin, and erythromycin (Beigi, 2012). Research has not yet proved whether complementary therapy can be used to treat the disease.
Epidemiology
Research conducted in 2010 revealed that the disease affected approximately 215 million people around the world (Moss & Woodland, 2007). This number represented 3.1% of the world’s population. This implied that it is not very common compared to other infectious diseases. In 2010, the disease caused approximately 1,200 deaths. This was a drop from the 1,500 death cases reported in 1990 (Hiebach & Burton, 2007). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2.8 million cases are reported every year in the United States alone. On the other hand, Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United Kingdom.
Pathophysiology
Chlamydiae reside and get nourishment from the cells of patients. When the host cells fail to receive essential nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins, the bacteria start to die. Research has revealed that many infections take a long time to clear because the bacteria can stay inactive for long periods (Breguet, 2007). They enter a persistent stage of rest during which reproduction ceases and the bacteria become aberrant by enlarging. They begin to reproduce and multiply when the environment of the host cells becomes conducive (Beigi, 2012).
Conclusion
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that infects both men and women. It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The microorganism is found in semen and vaginal fluids. Transmission occurs during any form of sexual contact between two people, one of whom is infected. Symptoms vary depending on the type of organ that is infected. Common symptoms observed in men and women include unusual discharges from the reproductive organs and pain when passing urine. NAATs are used for diagnosis of the disease. Chlamydia is effectively treated using antibiotics. The choice of medication is different for breastfeeding and pregnant women. Pregnant women use erythromycin and amoxicillin because they have fewer side effects compared to other antibiotics. Early treatment is important for the management of the disease. However, if untreated, the disease causes reproductive problems that have severe consequences on the health of victims.
References
Beigi, R. (2012). Sexually Transmitted Diseases. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Belland, R., Ojcius, D., & Byrne, G. (2004). Chlamydia. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2(7), 530–531.
Breguet, A. (2007). Chlamydia. New York: Rosen Publishing group.
Hiebach, N., & Burton, R. (2007). Principles of Ambulatory Medicine. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Moss, T., & Woodland, A. (2007). Chlamydia: the Silent Disease. Chicago: Merit Publishing International, Incorporated.