What is a Chlamydia Infection?
Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium that causes a common sexually transmitted infection that affects young women and men worldwide. Chlamydia infection can pass undetected and cause serious complications if left untreated. However. Very effective treatment is available when the proper diagnosis is made.
Chlamydia Infection Signs and Symptoms
Most cases of Chlamydia infection cause few or no symptoms at all and in cases where symptoms are present, they are usually mild and can be confused with some conditions. However, the following signs and symptoms could be present in case of Chlamydia infection:
- Abnormal genital discharge
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Painful urination
- Occasional bleeding after sex
- Testicular pain and swelling in men
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is caused by the presence of the bacterium in the mucosal of the genitals, spread during sexual intercourse. Additionally, and more common in poorer countries, Chlamydia can also spread from pregnant women to their children during delivery, causing a very serious eye infection called trachoma.
Chlamydia Infection Diagnosis
In case you show the typical symptoms associated with Chlamydia infection or have one or more risk factors, your doctor might request some of the following diagnostic tests to confirm the infection:
- Urine test. A small amount of your urine is taken for laboratory analysis and search for the presence of the bacteria.
- Swab test. During this procedure, a small amount of the genital discharge is taken for culture or direct identification under the microscope. In the case of women, the swab sample is taken during a Pap test. For men, a tiny slim swab is placed at the end of the penis, into the urethra, to take the sample.
Chlamydia Infection Treatment
Chlamydia trachomatis treatment is quite simple and involves using antibiotics. Most cases can be solved within one or two
It’s important for you to know that during your treatment, you must abstain from sex and that your sexual partner also needs to be treated, even if he or she doesn’t have any signs or symptoms.
Completing the proper treatment is very important, as a way to prevent you developing serious complications related to fertility or pelvic inflammatory disease.
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