Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Chlamydia

Chlamydia is sexually transmitted diseases. It's most common in women and men under age 25. Chlamydia, if not treated, then it may cause serious problems in men, women, and neonates of infected mothers. The Centers for this disease control and prevention estimates that more than 3 million people each year become infected with chlamydia. It's estimated that 20% to 50% of children born to infected women will be infected.

Causes of Chlamydia

Chlamydia infection is caused by the organism Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Sexually active individuals and individuals with multiple partners are at highest risk.

Chlamydia may be acquired jointly with gonorrhea and/or syphilis, so individuals with one sexually transmitted disease must be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases as well. Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic infection and infertility.

Chlamydia is transmitted from bacteria carried by humans. Chlamydia is usually passed from person to person through sexual activity. The infection is transmitted during contact with the genital or rectal area of an infected person. It can also be transmitted from a mother to her baby during birth. Chlamydia is not transmitted through casual contact (toilet seats, hot tubs, saunas, or swimming pools).

Symptoms of chlamydia

When they occur, symptoms of chlamydia usually appear within one to three weeks of exposure. In women, signs can include unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding, burning during urination, or lower abdominal pain. Men may also have pain during urination, or they may notice a burning and itching around or discharge from the penis or pain and swelling in the testicles.

More often, though, chlamydia lives up to its reputation for silence. Experts estimate that up to 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men with chlamydia have no symptoms or symptoms so mild that they don't seek medical attention.

About three-quarters of infected women and about half of infected men, however, may have no symptoms at all. This is one reason chlamydia is dangerous: Asymptomatic individuals do not seek treatment and therefore can pass the infection on to others. Untreated individuals also can develop complications from the infection.

Treatment for Chlamydia

A short course of an antibiotic usually clears chlamydial infection. Even if you have no symptoms, treatment is strongly advised to prevent possible complications. Tell your doctor if you are (or may be) pregnant. This may affect the choice of antibiotic. Do not have sex until you and your sexual partner have finished treatment (or for seven days after treatment with a 'single dose' antibiotic which is sometimes used).

Chlamydia treatment involves antibiotics, either a single dose of azithromycin (Zithromax®) or a week of doxycycline (twice daily). Or, you might get a prescription for another antibiotic, such as erythromycin or ofloxacin.

Chlamydia treatment with antibiotics generally cures the chlamydial infection. HIV-positive people with chlamydia should receive the same chlamydia treatment as those who are HIV-negative.

Chlamydia can be treated with a variety of antibiotics, including azithromycin, tetracyclines, quinolones, and erythromycin. Erythromycin and amoxicillin are safe in pregnant women.

Both sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth between them, even though both may not have symptoms.

Since gonorrhea often occurs along with chlamydia, treatment for gonorrhea is often given at the same time.