Chlamydial Infections - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Chlamydial Definition

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacteria that may cause pelvic infection and atypical pneumonia. Chlamydial are the genus of microorganisms. The genus Chlamydia, especially C. psittaci and C. trachomatis, that are pathogenic to humans and other animals, causing conjunctivitis in cattle and sheep and trachoma and and proctitis in humans.

A mother may also pass the infection to her newborn during delivery. It is generally thought that in a population of 15 million, there are up to 300,000 cases of chlamydia each year.

Chlamydial Causes

Chlamydial infection may be caused proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the lining of the eye). Chlamydia infection is caused by the organism Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is transmitted through unprotected sex. Chlamydia may also cause Reiter's Syndrome. Barrier methods of contraception, especially condoms, thwart the transmission of chlamydia.

Chlamydia trachomatis may be caused the following conditions:

• Genital infections
• Conjunctivitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pneumonia
• Urethritis
• Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome
• Reiter's syndrome
• Lymphogranuloma venereum

Chlamydial symptoms

In women, chlamydia may not be caused any symptoms. Only approximately 30% of women will have symptoms due to chlamydia.

The symptoms of chamydial may be included:

• unusual vaginal bleeding
• discharge
• fever
• pain in the abdomen
• discharge from the penis
• burning sensation during urination
• painful sexual intercourse
• rectal discharge or pain
• painful urination

Chlamydial treatments

The treatments for chlamydia is very safe, effective and inexpensive. Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth.

chlamydia may be effectively cured with antibiotics. Antibiotics may be included doxycycline, azithromycin, ofloxacin, and erythromycin.

For pregnant women with chlamydial infections, zithromax, in a single dose for both the male and female partners, is the treatment of choice.

The other treatments for chlamydial may be included::

• Azithromycin 1 gram oral per day
• Doxycycline 100 milligrams two times in a day for seven days