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Surgery => Gynecology => Chlamydia
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, group of bacteria that cause various infectious diseases in humans and animals. There are three species of chlamydia:Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci.
Perhaps the most common chlamydia illnesses are diseases caused by many strains of the trachomatis species. One strain of Chlamydia trachomatis causes conjunctivitis, an eye infection marked by redness and swelling, sensitivity to light, and pus discharge. A strain of fly-borne Chlamydia trachomatis causes a severe form of conjunctivitis called trachoma. More common in developing countries, untreated trachoma may result in blindness.
Each year in the United States, Chlamydia trachomatis causes 3 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in both men and women, including nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), an infection of the urinary tract. Lymphogranuloma venereum, a lymphatic tissue disease that is rare in the United States, occurs more commonly in tropical regions.
In both men and women symptoms of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis may include a watery discharge and pain when urinating; in women Chlamydia trachomatis also causes inflammation of the vagina, cervix, uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Women may also experience vaginal discharge, fever, abdominal pain, and pain in the genital area. In as many as 50 to 70 percent of Chlamydia trachomatis infections, however, women experience no symptoms. As a result, the infection remains untreated and may develop into more serious conditions, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Pregnant women with chlamydia infections can also pass it to their babies during birth.
Chlamydia pneumoniae commonly causes upper respiratory tract infections including bronchitis, pneumonitis, and pharyngitis. It is the second leading cause of pneumonia in the United States in individuals from 5 to 35 years old. Spread by person-to-person contact, symptoms of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection may be mild, often consisting only of a cough, fever, and increased production of sputum, a mixture of saliva and other mucus from the respiratory passages. Scientists have also found evidence that Chlamydia pneumoniae may play a role in coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
In rare cases, Chlamydia psittica causes a flulike illness known as psittacosis or parrot fever-commonly named because the organism is carried mostly by parrots, parakeets, and lovebirds. It may also be found in other birds, as well as in cats, and occasionally in humans. Pet shop workers, bird owners, poultry processing plant employees, and other individuals who work around birds are most likely to develop psittacosis.
All three types of chlamydia infections are diagnosed with tests consisting of cell cultures used to exclude other illnesses with similar symptoms, such as gonorrhea, herpes, trichomoniasis, and candidiasis. More recently, immunoassays are typically used for diagnosis. These blood tests identify the presence of a specific antibody formed by the body's immune system to fight off chlamydia infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all sexually active women under the age of 20 and women over 20 years with risk factors that include having multiple sex partners should receive annual screening for chlamydia.
Chlamydia infections are easily treated with antibiotics. In infections involving sexually transmitted diseases, all sexual partners of the affected individual must be treated to prevent reinfection; latex condoms should also be used during intercourse to prevent transmitting or receiving chlamydial infection.
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