Definition of Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an infection caused by a bacteria known as chlamydia

trachomatis that is transmitted during sexual contact.

Children can also be infected by mothers at birth

Prevention

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Life cycle of chlamydia

The chlamydia bacteria are obligated intracellular parasites.

There are two stages in its life cycle these are:

Elementary stage - which is where the bacteria encounters the host and is

taken up by phagocytosis. The bacteria acts in such a way that it prevents

fusion of the phagolysosome and lysosome which normally kills pathogen.

Once this occurs, the bacteria secretes glycogen and transform into the

reticulate body.

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Reticulate body -these bodies obtain their energy by sending forth straw

like structures into the host cell cytoplasm and divide by binary fission.

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 Symptoms of chlamydia
Usually occurs within 5 to 10 days after infection.

Men:

Pus or watery discharge from the penis

Pain or burning feeling while urinating
Swollen or tender testicles
Swelling around the anus
Itching and bleeding of the anus

Women:

Abdominal pain
Viginal discharge
Bleeding between menstral periods
Low grade fever
Painful intercourse
Pain or burning feeling while urinating
Swelling inside vagina or around the anus
Urge to urinate more than usual
bleeding after intercourse

Diagnosis of chlamydia

Chlamydia can be diagnosed through :

1. testing the urine for the presence of the bacteria

2. Use of swab to take samples from the cervix or penis which is later sent to

the lab to be analyzed

Treatment of chlamydia
Chlamydia is usually treated with oral antibiotics usually:

azithromycin/ Zithromax
Doxycycline.
Tetracydines
Sulfonamides
Erythromycin - drug of choice for pregnant women and neonates

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 In severe cases intravenous antibiotics

If the disease is left untreated, the following can be developed:

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Ectopic pregnancy
Premature births
Reactive arthritis
Conjunctivitis
Blindness
Trachoma
Pneumonia
Lymphogranuloma
Venereum
Nongonococial urethritis
Epididymitis
Proctitis

Individuals that is sexually active are at risk of developing this disease .

References
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/.../chlamydia

http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm

http://www.healthline.com/health/std/chlamydia#Causes2

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 Sexually Transmitted
Infections and HIV/AIDS
Assignment 3
Nickacy Hodge
1016835
Chlamydia

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