Table of Contents
Unapparent infection- silent disease
Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about 75% of infected women and about 50% of infected men have no symptoms and even if the symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.
Symptoms in women
The localization of infection in women is the cervix and the urethra. When women have symptoms, the most common ones are:
- an abnormal vaginal discharge
- a burning sensation when urinating
Of course, when the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes symptoms could be a bit more serious and accompanied with:
- lower abdominal pain
- low back pain
- nausea
- fever
- pain during intercourse
- bleeding between menstrual periods
- spreading to the rectum
Symptoms in men
Although there are often no symptoms, men also might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. They might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon. Homosexual men may acquire Chlamydia infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. This bacterium can also be found in the throats of women and men which had oral sex with an infected partner.
Complications if left untreated
If untreated, chlamydia infections can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems. It is proven that these problems can have both short-term and long-term consequences.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a serious infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes. Although it may cause no signs or symptoms, it could be very dangerous because it can damage the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus and cervix, and it may lead to infertility. Other possible long-term consequences include chronic pelvic pain and lingering infection.
Incidence:
Each year, about 1 million U.S. women develop PID. Experts estimate that 100,000 women each year become infertile due to PID.
Epididymitis
Chlamydia infection can also inflame the epididymis - a coiled tube located beside each testicle. This infection is accompanied with fever, scrotal pain and swelling. Chlamydia causes more than 250,000 cases of epididymitis in the USA each year.
Prostatitis and rectal inflammation
The chlamydia can also spread to prostate gland causing inflammation called prostatitis. The most common symptoms are pain during or after sex, fever and chills, painful urination, and lower back pain.
Eye infections
Touching your eye with a hand moistened with infectious secretions can cause an eye infection, such as pinkeye. If left untreated, the eye infection can result in blindness.
Reiter's Syndrome
Chlamydia may also cause Reiter's Syndrome, a form of arthritis, especially in young men. It is estimated that more then 15,000 men get Reiter's Syndrome from chlamydia each year in the USA, and about 5,000 are permanently affected by it.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Women infected with chlamydia are at greater risk of acquiring HIV.
Lymphogranuloma venereum
This condition isn't as common as the common genital chlamydia infection, it is caused by a variety of the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium). Initial signs include:
- genital sores,
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes in the groin area
The greatest prevalence of LGV is in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America and Caribbean nations.
Screening and diagnosis of Chlamydia infections
Risk groups for developing chlamydia infections:
- Those who have multiple sexual partners
- Those who don't use a condom during sex or have other sexually transmitted diseases
- Those who have a sexual partner who has had a sexually transmitted disease
Screening and diagnosis of chlamydia is relatively simple. Tests include:
A culture swab
In most cases for women, the doctor may take a culture swab of the discharge from cervix. It is very similar to routine Pap test. In some cases, the doctor may also swab the anus to test for the presence of chlamydia.
A urine test
A sample of the urine analyzed in the laboratory may indicate the presence of this infection.