Analysis of Chlamydia - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women. This article covers the cause, signs and symptoms, treatment and diagnosis, complications, prevention, and risk factors of Chlamydia. It also highlights the prevalence of Chlamydia in Australia and worldwide.

Running head: ANALYSIS OF CHLAMYDIA
Analysis of Chlamydia
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Introduction
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects
both men and women. Chlamydia was estimated to be prevalent among 4.2% women and
among 2.7% of men, worldwide (Bautista et al., 2016). According to the Australian Annual
Surveillance Report, it is the most prevalent STD in Australia that affects about 260,000 15 to
29 years old people, each year (Chow et al., 2015). Most of the affected people do not
experience any relevant symptoms and thereby spread the disease without knowing.
Chlamydia can result in permanent damage to the women reproductive system and is a
potential risk factor for ectopic pregnancy.
Cause
Transmission of the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis thorough the infected person’s
semen or vaginal fluid to a healthy individual causes the disease to spread. Having sex
without condom, oral or anal sex, touching genitals can lead to spread of the infection.
Having unprotected sex with multiple people is considered as a significant risk factor for the
disease. Young women are more likely to get the infection, due to the fact that the immature
cervical cells are more prone to infection. Even it has been reported that new-born babies can
acquire the infection from their mother during birth (Redmond et al., 2015). Therefore,
pregnant women must go through the pre-natal check-up of chlamydia test. Rarely a few
people have developed the infection in the eye due to oral or genital contact.
Signs and symptoms
Chlamydia does not usually show any symptoms in most people. About 50% men and
about 80% women tend not to show any signs of the infection. In other people, the symptoms

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are only expressed after several weeks of having intercourse with the affected person.
Burning sensation while urination, abnormal discharge from genitals with foul smell and
lower abdominal pain are few common symptoms noticed in both men and women. Along
with these, women experience painful intercourse or dyspareunia and if the infection spreads
upto their fallopian tubes it results in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which causes
abnormal vaginal bleeding, while men experience pain and swelling in the testicles and
itching around the opening of the penis (Papp et al., 2014). Infection in the rectum results in
rectal pain, abnormal discharge and bleeding. People may have the bacteria in their throat
without realizing it. Oral sex with the affected person, resulting in the infection in throat
causes sore throat, cough and fever.
Treatment and diagnosis
Chlamydia can be effectively diagnosed by taking swabs from vagina in women and
by testing the urine in men. Infection in throat or anus can also be detected by swab tests.
Chlamydia is usually treated with a short 7-day course of antibiotics such as azithromycin or
doxycycline (Kong et al., 2015). The patients are instructed to follow the dosage properly and
strictly avoid having sex during the treatment to avoid the risk of exposure. Even sex is
prohibited for 7 days after the antibiotic dosage completes. To avoid chances of repeated
infection, patients should be tested three months after the treatment.
Complications
If left untreated, the infected person has a higher chance of developing AIDS and till
date there is no cure for HIV infection. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to the
uterus and fallopian tubes of women and result in PID which can permanently damage the
reproductive system of women leading to long-term pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic

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pregnancy in which the embryo is attached to the external part of the uterus (Musil et al.,
2016). Getting repeated infection results in increased risk of complications in women. Men
are usually not as affected by the infection as women. Although if the infection reaches up to
the epididymis, it can cause severe pain, fever and even sometimes infertility. Development
of reactive arthritis due to the infection in both the sexes has been reported quite frequently.
Chlamydia may also result in early birth of the child. New-born babies of infected mothers
may develop the infection in their eyes or express signs of pneumonia.
Prevention
In order to prevent chlamydia, the people are suggested not to get involved in having
vaginal, oral or anal sex and use latex condoms properly, every time having sexual
intercourse. Although these greatly reduces the potential chances of getting the infection but
do not entirely eliminate the risk of catching the infection or even spreading the disease
(Torrone, Papp & Weinstock, 2014). Until it is confirmed that the other person does not
possess the infection, it is safe to keep using the protections. If oral sex is not avoided it
should be done with sufficient protection until it is ensured that the partner is not affected by
chlamydia. It is also suggested to not have multiple sexual partners. Using proper guards with
every new partner can help with avoiding the disease. It is advised to check for chlamydia or
any other STIs in between different sexual partners.
Risk factors
Young people are mostly at risk of getting chlamydia, especially the young women
rather than men. Chlamydia is more prevalent in people who avid using a condom while
having sexual intercourse or the ones who have multiple sexual partners. It has been
recommended by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention that all the sexually active

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women who are aged 25 years or less, should get tested for chlamydia every year. Having an
infection previously lowers the power of resistance and increases the risk of getting
chlamydia. Any act of sexual assault puts the victim at an increased risk of getting STIs. It is
advised to get tested after any kind of sexual assault including rape or sexual abuse (Last et
al., 2014).
Conclusion
Chlamydia is the most prevalent STI among both men and women. It is a bacterial
infection that does not show the symptoms in most cases. Unprotected sexual intercourse,
ambiguity in having sexual partners and giving birth while being affected are the ways of
spreading the infection. This bacterial infection can be treated with the help of antibiotics.
Although it is quite easily transmitted, the infection can be effectively managed by specific
antibiotic treatment. To avoid further infections or getting repeated infection, people are
advised to get tested regularly, since the symptoms may not be quite expressive in most
cases.

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