A Family Doctor's Tale - CHLAMYDIA

DOC I HAVE CHLAMYDIA

Recently I have a patient who was tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The result came back as positive for chlamydia. He was treated for Chlamydia for 10 days as well as his wife and girl friend. After 1 month he was again tested for sexually transmitted disease. His results came as negative for all venereal disease including HIV and Chlamydia. He was happy with the results. Chlamydia is a disease which can be treated easily.Having his wife and girlfriend treated was the right thing to do as chlamydia can be spread easily through sexual intercource.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection which is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.

It used to be called lymphogranuloma venereum because of the typically enlarged lymph nodes at the groins.

It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), as well as sterility and pregnancy problems.


Chlamydia is highly contagious.
It spreads by sexual contact with an infected partner.


It can also be transmitted from mother to child during birth.
This may lead to an infection of the eyes and lungs in the infant.


It is also be transmitted through casual sexual contact with other people.


About 80% of women and 10% of men display no symptoms.


For the rest the symptoms often appear 7-14 days after transmission in the following ways:


For men:

1.Discharge from a papule on the penis

2.Burning pain and itching when urinating.

3.lymph nodes enlargement at inguinal regions

4. Anal infections in homosexuals

Symptoms present early a few days after exposure, go away, only to return.

Advanced Chlamydia infection may lead to inflammation of the sperm duct (epididymitis), proctitis (anal region) and sterility.

For women:

1.Vaginal itching or discharge.

2.Abdominal pain,

3.Bleeding between menstrual periods

4.Low grade fever

5.Anal infections

The disease can also cause cervicitis, endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease which can result in sterility.


For infants:

1.Fever

2.Pneumonia

3.Conjunctivitis

Symptoms usually show up one week to one month after exposure.


Besides the above symptoms, headache, conjunctivitis, skin rashes, nausea and vomiting can be present.


Women may be tested through the insertion of a swab into the cervix during a pelvic exam.


Men can be examined by inserting a swab into the urethra to take a specimen.


Urine testing can also be done for both sexes.


Blood test for chlamydia can also be done.


Early treatment is important as it can protect against problems like pelvic inflammatory disease as well as sterility and pregnancy problems.

Patients typically undergo antibiotic treatment (usually tetracycline or sulphonamides) for a week.
The medication can be taken orally.
This treatment must be followed through even when symptoms of Chlamydia disappear.

Alcohol should be avoided when taking antibiotics, as well as milk and other dairy products.


Where Chlamydia has been transmitted through sexual contact, it is essential that both sexual partners are treated for the disease.


It is recommended that both partners abstain from sexual activity from the time of diagnosis until they have completed treatment.


Follow-up treatment is also important, as doctors need to make sure the infection has been cured.


The best way to prevent Chlamydia is through improved hygiene standards and lifestyle changes.


Sexually active persons should use condoms.


Abstinence is recommended for those infected and on antibiotic treatment.

One's risk for Chlamydia, or any other sexually transmitted disease, increases with the number of sexual partners.
Prevention is always better than cure!