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

<http://www.cdc.gov/std/Chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm>

“Chlamydia (bacterium).” Wikipedia. 12/1/08

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_(bacterium)>

“How is Chlamydia transmitted?” WikiAnswers. 11/17/08

<http://wikianswers.com/q/How_is_Chlamydia_transmitted>

“Facts about Chlamydia.” Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Chlamydia. 11/17/08

<http://www.epigee.org/health/chlamydia.html>