Chlamydia

Chlamydial infection is the most common disease transmitted through sexual contact.

Chlamydiae are bacteria that are responsible for various diseases as pathogens (especially Chlamydiae trachomates):

- In industrialized countries as the main cause of urethritis and its complications e.g. inflammation of the fallopian tubes etc.

- for trachoma. An inflammatory eye disease in countries with poor sanitary conditions that can lead to blindness. Trachoma is considered the most common cause of blindness in developing countries.

- Lymphogranuloma venereum, a sexually transmitted disease.

Infections caused by chlamydia are easily treatable with antibiotics. They must be taken seriously and treated immediately, especially in younger women, as complications (massive abdominal infections) can have serious consequences. If left untreated, chlamydia infections can lead to infertility.

Transmission routes

- Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted pathogen.

- Children can be infected by their infected mother during birth. Eye infections and in rare cases pneumonia can be the result. Incubation period is 7 to 21 days.

- In men, the most common symptom is urethritis: increased urination (polyuria), itching and burning during urination; subsequently, there may be a pulling pain in the urethra and purulent, mucous discharge.

- Women may experience greenish-yellow discharge and burning during urination (dysuria). This can lead to inflammation of the urethra, the lining of the uterus and the fallopian tubes.

- Adhesions in the abdomen, as a result of infection can lead to pulling pain with increased bowel activity.

- Chlamydia infections of the rectum cause pain, possibly diarrhea and mucopurulent discharge.

- During pregnancy, there is an increased risk of preterm labor and premature birth. After delivery, uterine infections are more common due to infection.

However, an infection in both men and women is often accompanied by only minor symptoms or none at all!

Particularly at risk are people with frequently changing sexual partners who practice unprotected sexual intercourse.

Urethral swab, in women also cervical swab.

It is imperative that both/all partners are treated! The antibiotics of choice are tetracyclines, which are usually administered for two weeks. In pregnant women, antibiotics from other groups must be used, e.g. erythromycin.

Chlamydia infection is easily treatable with antibiotics at an early stage and can be completely cured.

However, if left untreated, the infection can spread and cause

- lead to pelvic inflammation with resulting adhesions and thus to infertility in women,

- in men, to inflammation of the epididymis.

- and, as a very rare complication, to the so-called Reiter's disease. The symptoms range from joint swelling (especially in the foot and knee joints), rashes on the skin and mucous membranes to inflammation of the eyes and urinary tract. This condition mainly affects young men and the predisposition is probably genetic. It can also be triggered by intestinal infections, which also cause this exaggerated immune response.

Condoms are the only essential protection