Medicine for Africa - Medical Information Service

HLAMYDIA

Definition:
 
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis and is probably the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world today. It is also THE most common cause of sterility in women, as well as of extra-uterine pregnancies and chronic pelvic pain. The organism can be transmitted during any sexual contacts between two people. 'Sexual contact' does not only imply sexual intercourse, it also includes any close bodily contact, that is oral as well as anal contact and intercourse. In women, the infection is often accompanied by the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans. In pregnant women, the organism can be transmitted from mother to baby during delivery, when the baby passes through the birth canal.
 

Symptoms:
 
Indications are most of the time 'silent', especially in men, or they can be similar to the symptoms of gonorrhea. Vaginal discharge and pain during sexual intercourse as well as itching of the genital area and burning during urination are common. If not treated adequately or too late, the infection can extend from the cervix into the womb and the tubes and ovaries (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, PID) with subsequent inflammation and scarring of the tissue leading to an 'extra-uterine pregnancy' (pregnancy that occurs elsewhere than in the womb) with the potential of shock and death to the mother. Even if this does not occur, the scarring can prevent any egg from entering the womb and make it impossible for the woman to ever again become pregnant. Pain in the lower abdomen and during sexual intercourse may make it nearly impossible for the woman to have intercourse at all.
 

Diagnosis:
 
The organism cannot be clearly identified under the microscope or by staining the discharge. A culture test can identify the bacteria present in the discharge or urine. The most reliable test is to identify the organism's DNA by special very sensitive methods such as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This test is, however, expensive and needs to be performed by specially trained personnel Vaginal discharge and pain during sexual intercourse as well as itching of the genital area and burning during urination are common. If not treated adequately or too late, the infection can extend from the cervix into the womb and the tubes and ovaries (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, PID) with subsequent inflammation and scarring of the tissue leading to an 'extra-uterine pregnancy' (pregnancy that occurs elsewhere than in the womb) with the potential of shock and death to the mother. Even if this does not occur, the scarring can prevent any egg from entering the womb and make it impossible for the woman to ever again become pregnant. Pain in the lower abdomen and during sexual intercourse may make it nearly impossible for the woman to have intercourse at all.

Recently, a so-called Rapid Diagnostic Test has also become available. These tests are rapid immunochromatographic assays, performed on uncut cards, with dipsticks, or on strips or cassettes, and therefore also called 'dry tests'. For diagnosing chlamydia, a swab will be taken from the infected area. Dry tests are easy to perform and usually provide results within less than one minute. Because of their easy handling and reading of the results, they can be performed by nursing staff and even less well trained medical personnel. This makes these tests ideally suited for less developed countries where physicians and well trained medical personnel are often a rarity. The price for dry tests is low for developed country standards - usually around US-$ 1.00 - 2.00 per test - but still relatively high for less and least developed countries in Africa and elsewhere.
 

Therapy:
 
Antibiotic treatment is available either by injection or by mouth.
 

Prevention:
 
Prevention of all sexually transmitted diseases lies primarily in avoiding and eliminating sexual contact with an infected person. Since one cannot always be assured of the sexual hygiene of a partner, prevention is best achieved, with a relatively high degree of success, by using a latex condom. Non-latex condoms are not as certain to prevent contact with the infected person's organisms, since some organisms can penetrate non-latex materials and infect the partner. In addition to the condoms used by men, there are now also condoms for women who can take the initiative if the man does not. A condom should never be used more than once, because contamination with or leaking of semen occurs frequently upon repeated usage of any kind of condom. If a person knows that he/she is infected by one of these diseases, he/she should take responsibility and abstain from sexual contacts with anybody during the time of contagion.

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DISCLAIMER: The above article is only intended to provide general information regarding this topic. It is not intended and does NOT replace the need to consult a medical or other professional person, if you have or believe to have this disease/disorder. While the article was researched, written and reviewed by medical professionals, and Medicine for Africa, its staff and publisher made every effort to assure accuracy and correctness, it does not claim to be complete, correct or to reflect the very latest stand of medical/scientific knowledge in the disease’s/syndrome’s pathology, diagnostic and/or therapeutic development. Medicine for Africa, its founder, management, staff, writers, reviewers or publishers may NOT be made responsible or legally bound to any information provided above, and cannot be held liable to any conclusions or decisions the reader may draw after reading this article. The reader is explicitly advised to consult a licensed physician and to present his/her specific situation before making any health related decisions.