CHLAMYDIA

With our life style in the 21st century, it has become very common to sustain sexually transmitted infections. Chlamydia Tracomatis is one such infection. It is extremely common in the western world.

In 2017 in the USA, almost 529 cases per 100,000 population were reported. It is commonest in the age groups 15 – 24. Both men and women suffer from it. It also affects same sex couples. In fact they are affected more often. Many of them do not have any symptoms; this often leads to many serious complications. It produces sebum and greasy sweat which is not connected with it. This is the body’s general reaction to any infection. Men often experience pain on passing urine, swelling of the testes and pain around the groin area. There is more pain if epididymis is involved especially if both sides are involved. In women it can cause discharge, bleeding on intercourse, and in between periods. There is constant lower abdominal pain. This infection can then spread to the tubes and the uterus causing severe sepsis infertility and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the tube). This can be life threatening. I Have personally removed tubes full of pus as big as tennis balls and many ectopic pregnancies. Treatment now has changed, it is more conservative and we can save women, their tubes and ovaries by conservative surgery. The diagnosis of Chlamydia is simple by taking a swab from the cervix or the vagina for culture.  In fact the women can take this swab themselves. It is wise to look for any other STI’s, if a woman has one. It is very simple to save yourself from these sad problems if you always have safe sex. The treatment for Chlamydia is even simpler, in the early stages a woman requires single dose treatment of a drug called Azithromycin. The other treatment is Tetracycline for one week. The same treatment is offered to a woman’s partner and a script can be given to her with his consent. If a woman is very sick she requires hospitalization, intravenous drugs, and may require a laparoscopy and any other required surgical treatment. So always have safe sex and if you haven’t go and have screening done for any STI’s. During pregnancy Erythromycin is used for treatment, as Tetracycline can cause discolouration of the unborn baby’s teeth. There is a risk of premature birth, a baby with a small weight, conjunctivitis and even pneumonia.
If an individual has oral, or anal sex ,Chlamydia can occur in the throat and anus . Doctors can take swabs from these areas and treatment remains the same. 

There are two other infections related to Trachomatis, these are Lymphogranuloma Inguinale and Trachoma Psittacosis. These are common in developing nations and cause enlargement of lymph nodes in the groin area, and in advanced cases they ulcerate and produce abscesses. The treatment again is simply by antibiotics and sometimes requires surgery.

Chlamydia Trachomatis is a serious cause of blindness in endemic areas especially in young children due to poor hygiene. The World Health Organisation is looking into this to see how to  prevent this happening? Teach hygiene and prevent infection.

For women to save this serious problem from Chlamydia Trachomatis, safe sex is the only answer.