Chlamydia Research

Chlamydia Research 12/2/2008 Matthew Jorgensen

Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD that can affect the reproductive organs. There are three species of Chlamydia; Chlamydia Trachomatis that affects only humans, Chlamydia Suis that affects only swine—or pigs, and Chlamydia Muricarum that affects only mice and hamsters. Chlamydia is the most often reported bacterial STD in the United States. In 2006, 1,030,911 chlamydial cases were reported to the CDC from 50 states including the District of Columbia. An estimated 2,291,000 non-institutionalized U.S. civilians ages 14—39 are infected with Chlamydia based on the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Women are often re-infected if their partners are not treated. Chlamydia can be transferred by vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse. Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. Chlamydia is often referred to as the “silent” disease because no symptoms show. A person can have Chlamydia and not know that s/he has it. If symptoms do occur, they can appear 1 to 3 weeks after exposure and can include genital discharge or painful urination. Some women can have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, and fever. Left untreated, Chlamydia can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems with both short and long-term consequences. Chlamydia can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease or PID. PID can cause permanent damage to the reproductive organs and surrounding tissues. Rarely, genital Chlamydial infection can cause arthritis that can be accompanied by skin lesions and inflammation of the eye and urethra.

There is some evidence that in pregnant women, Chlamydial infections can lead to premature delivery. Chlamydia is a leading cause of early infant pneumonia and conjunctivitis—or pink eye—in newborns. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics Doxycycline and Azithromycin. Doxycycline is used to treat chronic prostatis, sinusitis, syphilis, Chlamydia, PID, ace and rosacea. Azithromycin is used to treat certain bacterial infections, most commonly those that cause middle ear infection, tonsillitis, throat infections, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis. Azithromycin is also effective against certain STDs such as cervicitis and Chlamydia. Recent studies have also indicated Azithromycin to be effective against late-onset asthma, but these findings are controversial and not widely accepted yet.

Mary H. Bronson, Ph.D.. “Common STDs.” Teen Health. Woodland Hills: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 422—425. “STD Facts – Chlamydia.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 12/1/08 “Chlamydia (bacterium).” Wikipedia. 12/1/08 “How is Chlamydia transmitted?” WikiAnswers. 11/17/08 “Facts about Chlamydia.” Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Chlamydia. 11/17/08