Chlamydia- This is a group of similar infections found in animals and humans, which are caused by Chlamydia bacteria, i.e. chlamydia. These bacteria cause various diseases, but most often chlamydia affects the organs of the genitourinary system.
Medical statistics show that chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia affects 30-60% of women and about 50% of men.
Causative agents of chlamydia
At the moment, scientists know several types of chlamydia, two of them Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis are the cause of chlamydia in humans.
The bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia, acute respiratory infections, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and many other diseases of the human respiratory system. About 15 species of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis are known to be the cause of chlamydia.
Some of them can cause venereal lymphogranulomatosis and trachoma, while others affect the genitourinary system, causing urogenital chlamydia.
As a rule, chlamydia is combined with other infections that affect the human genitourinary system:
- papilloma;
- ureaplasmosis;
- gardnerellosis;
- mycoplasmosis;
- trichomoniasis.
Chronic chlamydia
Chronic chlamydia occurs with improper treatment. A specific feature of chronic chlamydia is a prolonged (more than 2 months) course of the disease.
Clinical signs in chronic chlamydia are usually absent and occur only during its exacerbation, and in 15% of cases, symptoms are not detected.
A patient with chronic chlamydia is a repository of infection, because he does not receive treatment, and thereby endangers his loved ones.
How is chlamydia transmitted?
In most cases, chlamydia is transmitted sexually, through unprotected sex, regardless of the type of sexual contact.
Another way of transmission of chlamydia is infection of the newborn from the mother when the child passes through the birth canal. Subsequently, the child may experience conjunctivitis, inflammation of the lungs, nasopharynx or third ear.
In addition, infection of the fetus can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and rupture of the amniotic sac.
Although chlamydia is rarely transmitted through household contact, it must also be remembered: these are personal hygiene products, underwear and bed linen, as well as visiting saunas and swimming pools.
In addition to the above answers to the question “how is chlamydia transmitted”, there is another one - at the moment, chlamydia is common in cats, which you can get from your pet who has caught the infection on the street.
Consequences of chlamydia
The consequences of chlamydia are dangerous for the complications that it causes.
Men
In men, chlamydia infection reaches the prostate gland and seminal vesicles, and can provoke the development of vesiculitis and chronic prostatitis.
The spread of the process to the epididymis can cause male infertility. In addition, chlamydia can cause cystitis and narrowing (strictures) of the urethra.
Women
In women, complications of the disease can be:
- ectopic pregnancy;
- obstruction of the fallopian tubes;
- post-abortion or postpartum endometritis.
Pregnancy in a woman infected with chlamydia often occurs with complications, and during childbirth infection of the child is possible.
In addition to the genitourinary system, lesions of other organs can also become the consequences of chlamydia. With Reiter's syndrome, it can be the eyes, joints, skin and internal organs.
Medical research shows that inflammation caused by chlamydia often leads to infertility, miscarriage and other pathologies of pregnancy.
Related Articles
The course of chlamydia may resemble other diseases of the genitourinary system, and sometimes for several months it occurs without obvious clinical symptoms.Questions and answers on the topic "Chlamydia"
Question:Is there a cure for chronic chlamydia?
Answer: It is being treated.
Question:Is there a possibility that chronic chlamydia is not sexually transmitted?
Answer: There is, minor.
Question:Hello. Is it possible to have chlamydia for more than three years without consequences?
Answer: Everything is individual.
Question:Can chlamydia cause a uterine or cervical polyp? Thanks for the answer.
Answer: Hello. The exact causes of the formation of polyps in the uterus have not yet been established. The disease is considered to be polyetiological, it is caused not by one, but by a complex of factors. One of the risk factors for the formation of polyps in the uterus are sexually transmitted infections.
Question:What tests should a man undergo if he is suspected of having chlamydia?
Answer: To date, there are 5 different tests for making this diagnosis: PIF diagnostics (scraping on glass), PCR diagnostics, seeding for chlamydia with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics, determination of antibodies in semen and determination of chlamydia antibodies in the blood (they are usually done 2) . It is not necessary to do all these tests at once, the diagnosis is carried out selectively after consulting a doctor.
Question:I was treated for bacterial vaginosis. But the disease did not go away. I was told that it could be a latent infection, like chlamydia. Can vaginosis be caused by chlamydia?
Answer: The concept of bacterial vaginosis and urogenital chlamydia are completely different processes occurring in the body. The factors that cause bacterial vaginosis are all those that cause oppression of the normal flora of the vagina. Sexual transmission is possible, but one transmission of chlamydial infection is not enough for the development of dysbiosis, the presence of predisposing factors is important. The strength of local and general immunity protects the woman's body from the development of bacterial vaginosis.
Question:They found chlamydia in me, but my partner does not, but as I understand it, he also needs to undergo treatment. Is it the same as mine? Or does he need to separately go to the doctor with my tests and find out what to drink?
Answer: You can take the same treatment with your partner.
Question:When I was tested for chlamydia, IgA was found in me, and in my partner IgM, IgG. We want to understand which of us was the first to encounter this infection? And about how much time has passed since the infection. We were prescribed treatment, but this issue is also fundamentally important to us. Thanks in advance.
Answer: If you do not have IgG antibodies, your partner is most likely the source of the infection. It is rather difficult to determine the duration of infection, for this it is necessary to know the antibody titer and their increase (or decrease) during repeated analyzes.
Question:An ELISA analysis showed the presence of chlamydia, but the doctor did not specify which ones, she immediately prescribed Levolet, and there was no question of the possibility of a false positive result and re-analysis. Could it be that I'm not sick?
There is a possibility that the results of the analysis were false positive, but it is also important which antibodies to chlamydia were detected: IgG (which indicate that the infection was in the past) or IgM (which indicate the presence of an acute infection). You should ask your doctor about these questions. There is another reliable analysis that allows you to get ahead of the presence of chlamydia in the body: PCR.
Question:My wife is 8 weeks pregnant, but she was diagnosed with trichomoniasis and chlamydia, and for another 6 weeks she was vaccinated against diphtheria. Is it worth it to keep the pregnancy (I could not get pregnant for almost 2 years).
Answer: Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can adversely affect pregnancy, but there are treatments for these diseases during pregnancy with minimal consequences for the fetus. Vaccination against diphtheria is undesirable during pregnancy, but there are no strict contraindications to it. You should additionally consult a gynecologist or infectious disease specialist about this.
Question:I went to the clinic with a preventive examination, the doctor looked, everything was fine, but advised me to take an analysis for an infection, without initially saying which one. When I received the results, everything was fine, except for an infection that was previously unknown to me - chlamydia. Nothing bothered me, no pain, no discharge described in the symptoms. As a result, she prescribed me treatment with frantic procedures in their clinic. According to the experience of acquaintances, in such clinics they often make incorrect diagnoses and treat them for them. Tell me, are there any obvious symptoms that I would believe? And what tests are better to pass for an accurate result, but already in a third-party clinic. I'm afraid for my health and the fraud of paid doctors!
Answer: Chlamydia is a rather insidious disease, as it is often asymptomatic and only in the distant future can lead to serious consequences (for example, infertility). If you do not trust the results of the tests, you can take the tests at another clinic. The most reliable analyzes are: PCR, serological analysis (ELISA, etc.)
Question:Hello! I am 32 weeks pregnant, when I took the last smears they found chlamydia, the doctor prescribed rovomycin 3mil. 3 times - 10 days, candles with Hyxicon No. 10 1 candle - 1 time, and Viferon No. 1 1 candle - 1 time. Can you please tell me if these medicines will harm the child? And should it be treated?
Answer: The medicines prescribed for you have minimal effect on the baby. We recommend that you take the prescribed course of treatment.
Hello, the situation is as follows: I was diagnosed with chlamydia. Then it was treated, then found again and treated again. Now history is repeating itself. The sexual partner has been alone for 2.5 years, nothing was found in him in two different clinics. I'm changing, he says:) During sex, they never used protection (only OK). I have a sore again and again, but he does not. Analyzes were done in different cities and laboratories. Could this be at all? He also claims that he did not walk and does not walk.
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I was diagnosed with chlamydia, but my partner did not, how is this possible? (there were no other sexual contacts)
No. 13 884 Venereologist 06/21/2014
I was diagnosed with chlamydia (PCR analysis), but my young man does not have it and does not have it in his blood. How is this possible? If I didn't have other partners.
Ivanova Ekaterina, Ufa
ANSWER: 06/21/2014 Aizikovich Boris Leonidovich Moscow 2.2 factory departments of pediatrics
Hello Ekaterina! Antibodies in the blood can be different. Yes, and it is quite difficult to fully diagnose the problem due to the instability of chlamydia outside the body. Since chlamydia can be found not only in the urine of the reproductive system, but also in the nasopharynx, the infection could be from there during cunnilingus, for example, in addition, though rare, there is a household transmission route, say, when using the same towel with an infected person. Do not strain so much and look for someone to blame, accept what happened and cure this problem
ANSWERED: 06/21/2014 Prutyan Grigory Valerievich St. Petersburg 0.0 Dermatovenereologist
Either way, both need to be treated. Chlamydia can be hidden for a long time, so you will not find the culprit. And the young man needs to perform a study of the secret of the prostate and seeding for chlamydia
Chlamydia in questions and answers
Commercialization of medicine, difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia, "sensational" press reports give rise to a large number of speculations about this disease. In the city it has become difficult to meet a patient with complaints of a urogenital infection who would not have been diagnosed with chlamydia in some medical center. It has become common for a patient to go around several laboratories and decide to start treatment based on the preponderance of “positive” or “negative” conclusions. In the treatment of chlamydia, the range of proposals is also quite wide: one doctor confidently treats chlamydia with a course of tetracycline, another prescribes a treatment of $200. People who are diagnosed with chlamydia show a natural desire to learn more about this disease, but often they either cannot get the necessary information, or it is very opportunistic. Almost from every patient we hear questions: is the information about almost universal infection with chlamydia correct? Are there reliable methods for diagnosing this disease? Is it necessary to be treated for chlamydia? Whether it is possible to recover from it in general?
The purpose of this booklet is to help the reader understand the “mysterious” disease. We selected the 30 most frequently asked questions and tried to answer them from the standpoint of modern ideas about chlamydial infection.
Etiology, epidemiology, clinic
What is chlamydia?
Urogenital chlamydia is an infectious disease caused by chlamydia, predominantly sexually transmitted, affecting the urogenital tract and other organs, with mild symptoms and a high tendency to become chronic.
Chlamydia has appeared only in recent years, or has it existed before?
Of course, chlamydia existed before, but the ability to diagnose this infection appeared only relatively recently. What used to be called simply “inflammation”, “urethritis”, etc. in a certain percentage of cases was associated with chlamydial infection. The prevalence of chlamydia in the population does not stand in one place. In particular, the liberalization of sexual relations, lowering the age of onset of sexual activity, and a low culture of using contraceptives contribute to an increase in the number of people infected with chlamydia among the population of a particular region (city, state).
Chlamydia of all types (C. trachomatis, C. psittaci, C. pneumoniae, C. pecorum) found in humans are pathogenic. They are not part of the normal human flora. Detection of chlamydia indicates the presence of an infectious process. The absence or blurring of the clinical symptoms of the disease is a characteristic sign of chlamydial infection and does not indicate the absence of a pathogenic effect of chlamydia on the body.
C. trachomatis is of the greatest practical interest from a therapeutic point of view, and in the following presentation we will talk about this type of chlamydia.
What is chlamydia persistence?
Persistence is a long-term association of chlamydia with a host cell, in which chlamydia are in a viable state, however, the protective mechanisms of the macroorganism do not allow chlamydia to move to the stage of active growth and reproduction.
What is the prevalence of urogenital chlamydia?
According to the latest data obtained using the most accurate method - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a large material, the proportion of chlamydial infection in the total spectrum of urogenital infections is 3-30%. The frequency of detection of chlamydia in gynecological patients is from 20 to 40%. Chlamydia is found in 5-10% of sexually active adults in a population-based screening study.
According to our data, the frequency of detection of chlamydia in the genitourinary tract in urogenital patients in Bishkek is 16%.
What other diseases can be confused with urogenital chlamydia?
Infections of the urogenital tract, such as ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, may have a clinical picture similar to chlamydia.
Is it possible to get infected with chlamydia at the same time as Trichomonas, ureaplasma, etc.?
Chlamydia can give mixed or mixed infections with a number of pathogens (Trichomonas, gonococci, ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas, gardnerella, etc.). Treatment of mixed infections has certain features, therefore, if chlamydia is detected, it is useful to conduct an examination for the presence of these pathogens.
What is the likelihood of infection with urogenital chlamydia through sexual contact with a person infected with chlamydia?
The risk of infection is estimated at an average of 60%. The probability of infection is determined by:
- virulence of the pathogen strain;
- localization and activity of the infectious process in the patient;
- the state of immunity and the genetic predisposition of the partner who had contact with the infected;
- the presence of other infections that create favorable conditions for infection with chlamydia (trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea, etc.);
- in women, the ratio of sex hormones that affect the condition of the vaginal mucosa, cervix and endometrium; Thus, taking hormonal contraceptives increases the likelihood of infection.
The risk of infection of a permanent partner is much higher.
How long after contact with an infected chlamydia can signs of the disease develop?
The incubation period is 1-4 weeks (average 3 weeks). However, obvious manifestations of infection may not develop. In this case, only laboratory diagnostic methods will reveal the infection.
How long does it take after chlamydia infection for laboratory tests to show a positive result?
PCR analysis allows you to detect chlamydia 1-3 weeks after infection. Acute-phase antibodies to chlamydia (IgM, IgA) appear in the blood on the 15-20th day, and IgG - on the 20-30th day from the moment of infection. Thus, if a month after contact with an infected person, laboratory tests give a negative result, we can assume that infection has not occurred.
Is it possible to get chlamydia non-sexually?
There is no consensus on the possibility of infection with C. trachomatis asexually. In favor of the possibility of a non-sexual route of infection, cases of familial chlamydia testify, when in a family where the husband and wife are sick with urogenital chlamydia, chlamydia is also found in representatives of the older and younger generations, causing damage to the genitourinary system, respiratory organs (tracheobronchitis, pneumonia), organs of vision (conjunctivitis), joints (arthritis).
How to protect yourself from infection with chlamydia?
The main role in the spread of chlamydia is played by casual sex. Using a condom during sexual contact with a person infected with chlamydia can prevent infection in most cases. To prevent infection of the newborn during childbirth, it is necessary to conduct antibiotic therapy in the third trimester of pregnancy. Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene will avoid the transmission of chlamydia through the household.
Is it possible to only be a carrier of chlamydial infection, but not be sick at the same time?
Chlamydia is asymptomatic in 46% of men and 67% of women. Thus, among those who consider themselves healthy, carriers of chlamydia inevitably occur, in which the infection proceeds in a latent form. The absence of clinical manifestations does not mean the absence of the harmful effects of chlamydia on the body. Especially great harm is caused by chlamydia to the reproductive system of women.
What is the mechanism of the pathogenic effect of chlamydia on the body?
The pathogenesis of urogenital chlamydia is based on a slow infectious process, accompanied by the formation of scars on the mucous membrane. If the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes, the scarring process can lead to tubal obstruction, which is often the cause of an ectopic pregnancy. Another unfortunate consequence of chlamydia can be infertility due to complete blockage of the tubes.
Are chlamydia dangerous for men?
The most common form of chlamydia in men - urethritis - may not cause much inconvenience to the patient, however, chlamydia can also cause more serious diseases - inflammation of the epididymis, prostate, joints, which can result in reproductive dysfunction, decreased ability to work.
What are the clinical signs of chlamydia?
Chlamydia mainly affects the cells of the columnar epithelium of the genitourinary tract, respiratory tract, and conjunctiva. For chlamydia, the clinical picture is blurred.
Among the most frequently occurring symptoms are the following:
- cervicitis:
- specific mucopurulent discharge from the genital tract, without a strong odor, swelling, hyperemia of the cervix;
- urethritis:
- dysuria, itching, scanty discharge;
- salpingitis:
- pain in the lower abdomen, increased whiteness before menstruation, infertility due to obstruction of the tubes;
- chronic prostatitis:
- pain in the perineum, frequent urge and pain when urinating,
- vulvovestibulovaginitis
- in prepubertal girls: frequent urination, itching in the genital tract, discharge;
- chronic recurrent diseases of the upper respiratory system:
- frequent colds with complications and prolonged cough.
- pneumonia
- in newborns: a chronic course without fever with bouts of whooping cough, shortness of breath and cyanosis, developing at 4-10 weeks after birth;
- conjunctivitis: in adults
- chronic catarrhal or follicular form with exacerbation 3-4 times a year, often passing without any treatment; in newborns: occurs 5-10 days after childbirth with an acute or subacute onset in papillary form with purulent discharge without corneal damage;
- Reiter's syndrome: characterized by a triad of symptoms - arthritis, urethritis, konktivit; develops in men aged 16-35 years; there is a hereditary predisposition;
- mucous discharge from the rectum, anorectal pain;
- inflammation of the epididymis - swelling of the testicles, pain in the scrotum, in case of acute infection - fever.
Diagnostics
What laboratory tests are used in the diagnosis of chlamydia?
Laboratory methods for diagnosing chlamydia in descending order of accuracy can be arranged in the following sequence: cultural method - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method - enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) - direct immunofluorescence method (DIF) - immunochromatographic (IC) and enzymatic methods - cytological method.
What laboratory tests are necessary and sufficient to make a diagnosis of chlamydia?
In most cases, it is necessary and sufficient to study by PCR or PIF the material from the place of possible localization of chlamydia (scraping from the urethra, cervix, pharynx, conjunctiva; urine, prostate juice, etc.) and determining the IgG titer in a blood sample from a vein. In the case of fresh acute urethritis or cervicitis, the use of express systems “Chlamigen”, “Chlami-Chek”, etc. is justified. It is advisable to study IgM, IgA in the case of an acute infectious process, when IgG gives weakly positive titers.
What does the titer of antibodies (IgG, IgA and IgM) against chlamydia indicate?
In chronic urogenital chlamydia, average IgG titers (1:200 - 1:400), moderate IgA (1:100 - 1:200) and low IgM titers (1:100 and below) are more common. High titers of IgM, IgA and low titer of IgG indicate an early stage of the infectious process. The titer value does not always indicate the intensity of the inflammatory process or the stage of the disease. There is an opinion that a high antibody titer during urogenital infection has a more favorable prognosis, preventing the spread of infection to the upper genitourinary system and reducing the risk of infection of the fetus during pregnancy.
Table 11. The level of specific immunoglobulins of various classes at various stages of chlamydial infection
Chlamydia in the analyzes of only one partner
in my private clinic they constantly found either ureaplasma or mycoplasma. I then sent my husband to the state diagnostic center, they did not find anything on him, although the doctor said that both should be treated, and you too. I was treated for some reason, my husband was not, then during the ber-ti in the clinic 2 times this analysis was taken (smear and blood) - nothing was found. And then I found out that in this private clinic they find something for everyone and diligently treat
oh. probably we went to the same clinic!: 001: we found even worse - my husband and I have different venereal diseases - I almost killed him. treatment - billed: 001:: 001:: 001: this alerted me. and no one had symptoms. rushed to the district police department - they didn’t find anything at all. I know. that chlamydia is difficult to diagnose - so if one has it, the other will have to be treated
chlamydia is difficult to diagnose - so if one has it, the other will have to be treated
Here! We had the same picture. They found him, I didn't. He was prescribed a full course of antibiotics, but I was still prescribed prophylactic treatment with hexicon suppositories plus a vitamin complex. Yes, besides this, they said to use these suppositories after each sexual intercourse for another month after the course of treatment. Analyzes are now normal, but it's better to play it safe once again - foreve prevention!
I agree with you - prevention foreve! My gynecologist also recommended Hexicon to me. He says that this is a good prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
chlorhexidine, that is, you were prescribed?))) hehe, well, well. But what about the normal vaginal flora, lactobacilli, which should protect you from infections, are they also chlorhexidine to die?))) I would have anointed them with peroxide!
Mari82, one found one thing, the other another, you can repeat the analysis and if everything remains the same, then both can be treated for two infections. :ded.
In a family where the husband and wife are sick with urogenital chlamydia, chlamydia is also found in representatives of the older and younger generations, causing damage to the genitourinary system, respiratory organs (tracheobronchitis, pneumonia), organs of vision (conjunctivitis), joints (arthritis).
Is it possible to get chlamydia from animals?
-Chlamydia can cause disease not only in humans, but also in animals, birds, fish, insects, and possibly some plants. But chlamydia, which affects the genitourinary organs, is common only among people.
What other diseases can be confused with urogenital chlamydia?
- With ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. They have the same clinical manifestations as chlamydia.
Is it possible to get infected with chlamydia at the same time as trichomonads, ureaplasma, etc.?
- Chlamydia can coexist peacefully with the pathogens of trichomonas, gonococci, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, gardnerella and others. Therefore, having discovered chlamydia, it would be nice to be examined for the presence of other pathogens.
How long after contact with a person infected with chlamydia can symptoms of the disease develop?
- 1-4 weeks after infection. If a month after contact, laboratory tests give a negative result, we can assume that infection has not occurred.
Can chlamydia be transmitted through non-sexual contact?
- There are cases of familial chlamydia, when in a family where the husband and wife are sick with urogenital chlamydia, chlamydia is also found in representatives of the older and younger generations, causing damage to the genitourinary system, respiratory organs (tracheobronchitis, pneumonia), organs of vision (conjunctivitis), joints (arthritis).
How to protect yourself from infection with chlamydia?
- It is necessary to exclude casual sex. The use of a condom during sexual contact in most cases prevents infection.
Is it possible to only carry a chlamydial infection and still not be sick?
-Chlamydia is asymptomatic in 46% of men and 67% of women. And they all consider themselves healthy. But this does not mean that chlamydia does not affect the body. They cause especially great harm to the reproductive system of women. Urogenital chlamydia provokes a slow infectious process, accompanied by the formation of scars on the mucous membrane. If the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes, the scarring process can lead to tubal obstruction, and this is often the cause of an ectopic pregnancy. Another unfortunate consequence of chlamydia can be infertility due to complete blockage of the tubes.
Are chlamydia dangerous for men?
- Chlamydia in men most often manifests itself in the form of urethritis. It may not cause great inconvenience to the patient, but it may cause serious diseases: inflammation of the epididymis and joints, prostate, and as a result, the inability to become a father and work fruitfully in production.
What organs can be affected by chlamydia?
- In men, chlamydia can cause inflammation of the urethra, prostate, testicles and their appendages.
In women, the cervix, urethra, glands of the vestibule of the vagina, uterine mucosa, fallopian tubes, liver capsule are affected. A life-threatening ectopic pregnancy may develop. If a woman is infected during pregnancy, the infection can cause premature birth and miscarriage. In both men and women, the formation of adhesions and scarring with chlamydial inflammation leads to infertility. In both men and women, chlamydia can cause inflammation of the joints, rectal mucosa, and eyes. In children born to mothers with chlamydia, pneumonia, inflammation of the eyes, pharyngeal mucosa, and inner ear are often detected.
What are the signs of chlamydia?
- The following symptoms often occur: cervicitis: specific mucopurulent discharge from the genital tract without a strong odor, swelling, redness of the cervix; urethritis: itching, scanty discharge; salpingitis: pain in the lower abdomen, increased whiteness before menstruation, infertility due to obstruction of the tubes; chronic prostatitis: pain in the perineum, frequent urge and pain when urinating; vulvovestibulovaginitis in girls: frequent urination, itching of the external genital organs, discharge; chronic diseases of the upper respiratory system: frequent colds with complications and prolonged cough; pneumonia in newborns: chronic course without fever with bouts of whooping cough, shortness of breath and cyanosis, developing on the 4-10th week after birth; conjunctivitis: in adults, a chronic catarrhal or follicular form with exacerbation 3-4 times a year, often passing without any treatment; in newborns, it occurs on the 5–10th day after delivery with an acute or subacute onset with purulent discharge without corneal damage; Reiter's syndrome characterized by symptoms of arthritis, urethritis and conjunctivitis, develops in men aged 16–35 years; epididymitis- inflammation of the epididymis: swelling of the testicles, pain in the scrotum, in case of acute infection - fever; proctitis- mucous discharge from the rectum, pain.
Can we cure chlamydia?
- Chlamydia is curable, especially acute forms. In the treatment of chlamydia, it is important to choose the right antibiotic and follow the prescribed treatment regimen: the frequency of administration, the duration of the course. Failure to follow these rules contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance in chlamydia and the transition of the infection to a chronic form, which is more difficult to treat. In the case of a chronic infection, one course of treatment may not be enough. A second course of treatment is usually carried out two months after the previous one. Such an interval is necessary for the transition of chlamydia from an inactive form to the stage of reproduction.
Is it necessary to carry out treatment if the tests for chlamydia are positive, but there are no complaints?
- Treatment is recommended if there are at least two positive answers to the following questions:
- the presence of clinical symptoms of chlamydia;
- antibody titer (IgG) to chlamydia< 1:100;
- antibody titer (IgM) to chlamydia< 1:100;
- positive result of PCR analysis;
- positive result of PIF-analysis;
- positive test result.
If there is only one positive result, dynamic observation is recommended, followed by laboratory control through
2–3 weeks.
One of the sexual partners was found to have chlamydia. Should the second partner be treated for chlamydia if he has no complaints?
- It is necessary because an untreated partner can lead to reinfection of a newly treated partner. Immunity after the transferred chlamydia does not develop. Repeated re-infection can create the illusion of a stubbornly incurable infection.
What antibiotics are most effective in treating chlamydia? Is it enough to use only antibiotics?
- Antibiotics of the macrolide group have the greatest activity against chlamydia: sumamed, vilprafen, macropen, rovamycin, erythromycin; groups of fluoroquinolones: ofloxacin (zanotsin, tarivid); tetracycline groups; doxycycline. Many doctors believe that for effective treatment of chlamydia, a course of antibiotic therapy should be at least 20 days. Usually, treatment with antibiotics alone is effective in acute fresh infections. In the case of chronic chlamydia, in which the activity of the immune system is reduced, treatment with an antibiotic alone may not give a positive result. With a combination of chlamydia with trichomoniasis, the treatment of chlamydia should be preceded by the elimination of the accompanying pathogenic flora (trichopolum).
How soon after the end of the course of treatment should a follow-up examination be carried out?
- You can finally remove the diagnosis of chlamydia 2 months after the end of the course of treatment, if the PCR and RIF tests give a negative result. As a rule, 2-3 months after the end of the course of treatment, in case of its effectiveness, the IgG titer decreases to 1:100 and below.
What complications can chlamydia cause in women during pregnancy and what effect can it have on the fetus?
- Intrauterine infection of the fetus from a mother with chlamydia, as a rule, leads to fetal death - miscarriage, miscarriage, stillbirth and death in the early neonatal period. However, it is more common for the fetus to become infected during childbirth while passing through the birth canal. With this type of infection in a newborn, the respiratory and (or) vision organs are usually affected. Signs of infection in the form of conjunctivitis usually appear on the 5-10th day after birth. Respiratory disorders - pneumonia, nasopharyngitis and others develop at a later date - 4-10 weeks.
What diagnostic methods are used to detect chlamydial infection in newborns?
- Scraping from the back of the pharynx, from the conjunctiva, from the vulva in girls can be used as a material for research.
Yu. V. Uvarova, gynecologist
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a microorganism called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia most often affects the genitourinary system (women uterus, men urethra), but can also affect other organs such as eyes, joints, etc.
How common is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Chlamydia affects 30% to 60% of women and up to 50% of men. Most often, chlamydia is detected in young sexually active women (15-25 years old). In recent years, there has been a pronounced increase in the frequency of detection of this infection, which, in part, may be due to the improvement of diagnostic methods.
How can you get chlamydia?
Infection occurs mainly through sexual contact (genital, anal, oral), less often through household contact, as well as when a child passes through the birth canal of an infected mother.
What are the manifestations of chlamydia?
Up to 80% of chlamydial infections are asymptomatic (no symptoms). In other cases, the infection may manifest itself:
- among women:
cramping pains in the lower abdomen (above the pubis),
an increase in the amount of spotting and increased pain during menstruation,
the appearance of bloody or other abnormal discharge between periods or during sexual intercourse,
pain or discomfort when urinating,
Pain during or after sexual intercourse. - in men:
the appearance of discharge from the urethra,
Pain or discomfort when urinating.
What are the possible complications of chlamydia?
- Infertility. Chlamydial infection contributes to the formation of scars and / or other damage to the fallopian tubes (through them the egg moves to the uterus and fertilization takes place in them), regardless of the severity of its manifestations. In men, infertility is the result of a chlamydial testicular infection.
- Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (chlamydial infection is the cause in 40% of cases). In this case, the fetus is located and grows in the fallopian tube itself, which, ultimately, can lead to its rupture.
- Long-lasting pain, including during sexual intercourse (about 20% of cases).
- Increased risk of complicated pregnancy (miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth).
- The development of Reiter's syndrome (inflammation of the urethra, joints and eyes).
In most cases, with timely diagnosis and a full course of treatment, complications do not develop. However, with an unsymptomatic course of infection or a complete absence of manifestations, a rather long time may pass from the moment of infection to its detection and treatment, which increases the risk of complications in the future.
How to detect chlamydia?
If chlamydia is suspected, a sampling and examination of the discharge from the cervical canal and urethra, as well as urine, is carried out to detect chlamydia, fragments of their cells or protective proteins of the human body.
What should I do if I have chlamydia?
- Do not self-medicate, consult a doctor!
- Complete the full course of treatment prescribed by your doctor.
- Avoid sexual intercourse until complete recovery.
- After the end of the course of treatment, go through all the examinations prescribed by the doctor on time.
- Be sure to notify your sexual partner so that he/she can be examined and treated.
- Take the course of treatment at the same time as your partner / partner, otherwise one of you may become a source of re-infection for the other.
Why is it necessary to be treated if there are no manifestations of infection?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection and must be treated because:
- the infection can spread in the body and lead to the development of severe complications months / years after infection,
- an infected person is contagious, regardless of whether the infection manifests itself or not.
How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia responds well to treatment. The duration and success of treatment depends on the timing of its initiation. In the treatment of infection, short courses of antibacterial drugs are used. Treatment of chlamydia must be carried out by a doctor. Do not attempt to treat chlamydia at home on your own, as this may result in the infection being suppressed rather than cured.
To be sure of a cure, it is necessary to undergo a full course of treatment and subsequent examinations by a doctor, preferably at the same time as a partner / partner. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant, as this information may influence your choice of drug.
Does the partner / partner need to undergo examination and / or treatment?
Yes, if you have been diagnosed with chlamydia, testing and, if necessary, treatment of all persons with whom you have had sexual contact within the past 6 months is recommended. If you have not been sexually active within the last 6 months, you should examine the last partner / partner, regardless of how long ago the contact was.
Even with a negative test result, treatment of partners is usually recommended because:
- Chlamydia is often asymptomatic
- examination for the detection of this infection is not 100% accurate,
- when in contact with an infected partner, the likelihood of re-infection is high,
- the passage of a course of treatment allows you to make sure that the partner / partner does not have an infection.
Can you get a chlamydial infection again after recovery?
Once transferred chlamydia does not protect against re-infection. After successful treatment, people are still susceptible to infection. See your doctor if you suspect you have been re-infected with chlamydia and get tested.
How to prevent chlamydia infection?
- The most effective way to prevent infection is to abstain from sexual contact.
- Be faithful to your partner/partner. Relationships in which both partners are healthy and maintain relationships only with each other are relatively safe in terms of contracting sexually transmitted infections.
- Use condoms for every intimate contact. Remember that using a condom does not provide 100% protection against infection, but only reduces its risk. Remember that the use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, etc. does not protect against infection with sexually transmitted infections.
- Refrain from using drugs and excessive amounts of alcohol.
- Get screened regularly for sexually transmitted infections. The earlier an infection is detected, the easier it is to treat.
- Be open with your doctor and sexual partner(s) if you or your partner has contracted a sexually transmitted infection.
- If you are pregnant, be sure to check with your doctor.
- Treatment of the genital organs with disinfectants (gibitan, cidipal, miramistin, betadine) during the first 2 hours after sexual contact reduces the risk of infection. Remember that these products are not intended for regular use, as their long-term use has a harmful effect on the mucous membranes.
What causes chlamydia in the body? Traditionally, chlamydia is considered a sexually transmitted infection - that is, a disease that is sexually transmitted. However, it is important to know that you can become infected with chlamydia not only through sexual contact.
There are different types of chlamydia and how they are transmitted. In this article, we understand how you can and how you can not get chlamydia and what it depends on.
Chlamydia invasion
Chlamydia live and multiply in human cells. Fortunately, they are not able to live in all types of our cells, but only in the cells of the cylindrical epithelium. This is a tissue (a type of mucous membrane) that lines the surface of various organs - the urinary tract, the conjunctiva of the eye, the cervix, the oral cavity, the intestines, and some others.
Because of this peculiarity, chlamydia can only enter the human body if they land directly on the columnar epithelium. In what specific ways this can happen, we will consider later in the article.
Chlamydia can only enter the human body if they land directly on the columnar epithelium.
When chlamydia gets on a layer of cylindrical cells, it first attaches to one of them, and then gradually penetrates through its wall and makes its way inside the cell. After that, the bacterium begins to multiply intensively, and moreover, for reproduction, it steals the energy of the captured cell. Having finished dividing, new chlamydia literally break through the cell (which kills it) and rush to look for new victims in order to repeat the reproduction cycle in them.
The described process takes 2-3 days - it depends on how quickly chlamydia moves through the body and how much the patient's immunity is ready to fight the infection. If the human immune system actively resists chlamydia, then the insidious bacteria take on a special form in which they wait out hard times. At the same time, their reproduction cycle is suspended. However, it is worth the immune system to weaken even for a short time, as pathogens again take up their destructive work: they infect more and more new cells and rapidly multiply.
Is it easy to get chlamydia?
The likelihood of contracting chlamydia depends on where and how got an infection, and also from a variety of pathogen.
For example, if the risk of contracting the most common type of chlamydia - Chlamydia trachomatis - is very high through sexual contact, then the risk of catching pneumonia due to another type of these bacteria - Chlamydia pneumonia, on the contrary, is very low.
Other circumstances directly affect the likelihood of infection: 
- the state of the human immune system and its hormonal background (that is, how much the immune system is ready to repulse the invaders);
- genetic predisposition (the immune system of some people is initially more vulnerable to chlamydia);
- virulence (infectiousness, activity) of a group of bacteria that "got" the infected;
- additional infections (gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis and others, as well as non-venereal diseases), which reduce immunity, create fertile ground for the invasion of chlamydia and significantly increase the likelihood of infection at times;
- nature of contact with an infected person. If a single sexual intercourse leads to a urogenital infection in 30-60% of cases, then with each subsequent act with the same partner, the risk of infection increases. And with regular contact with a person with chlamydia, the probability of infection is almost 100%.
Methods of infection with chlamydia
Where chlamydia comes from in a person's body depends on the way they got it. Doctors identify several mechanisms (or routes) of transmission of chlamydial infection.
Consider in order the ways of infection with chlamydia in women and men.
Sexual transmission of chlamydia
Doctors consider the most important and common route of infection sexual. Unprotected intercourse is the most common cause of chlamydia in both men and women.
While chlamydia is transmitted in the same way for both sexes, women are more likely to get infected than men. It so happened because in the genital tract of a woman there is more cylindrical epithelium, which chlamydia loves so much.
Sexual transmission of chlamydia is considered not only classic sex, but anal and oral. Therefore, the answer to the question “is it possible to get chlamydia orally” will be in the affirmative - it is possible.
Even in successful countries with well-developed medicine, the number of carriers of urogenital chlamydia obtained sexually is up to 10-15%. Fortunately, the use of a condom creates a reliable barrier to infection.
Sexual transmission of chlamydia is considered not only classic sex, but anal and oral
Infection with chlamydia by contact-household way
Is it possible to get chlamydia through dirty hands? Is chlamydia transmitted through food, shaking hands, and other means?
Unfortunately, chlamydia can also be transmitted non-sexually. The domestic route of infection is also possible, although it occurs less frequently.
With household infection, chlamydia enters the mucous membranes of a person (eyes, genitals, throat):
You can get chlamydia through personal hygiene items. - from contaminated hands;
- from wet things;
- from linen;
- with personal hygiene items;
- rarely through food - raw poultry meat, street fruits;
- from the rim of the toilet bowl, door handles and other objects that are touched by a lot of people.
This route of transmission is equally dangerous for both children and adults. Therefore, the question of whether chlamydia is transmitted to children by household means has an unequivocal answer: yes, it is transmitted.
I must say that different types of chlamydia are transmitted by these methods. Some are transmitted only from person to person, some - through animals. For example, human chlamydia is very rarely transmitted by shaking hands:
if the carrier of the infection did not wash his hands after the toilet, and the infected shook his hand and then rubbed his eyes. Then, after a while, the person begins chlamydial conjunctivitis (you can get infected in a public shower, the cold part of the sauna or in the pool).
Birds can infect humans with psittacosis Or if chlamydia got on the rim of the toilet, and from there - on the damaged mucous membrane of the genital organs. At the same time, mainly other types of chlamydia, birds are transmitted through fruits and meat of birds - they cause ornithosis in humans.
It is important to understand: although the reported cases are actually described in the medical literature, infection by any of these routes occurs much less frequently than sexual transmission. Outside the human body, chlamydia trachomatis can survive up to 48 hours - and even then, in a humid environment and a temperature of about 20 ° C. For example, for some time she lives on damp linen and wet personal items, but there are very few bacteria there - therefore the risk of infection is small. Some types of chlamydia can survive up to 5 days under the described conditions. Most practitioners believe that the likelihood of contracting chlamydia in this way is extremely small.
Unfortunately, there are no exact signs of infection with chlamydia in the household way. Chlamydia manifests itself in the same way - regardless of the way in which chlamydia entered the human body.
airborne way
In this case, chlamydia can enter the body when an infected person "throws" them into the air - when sneezing or coughing. Transmission of chlamydia by airborne droplets is especially characteristic of the subspecies Chlamydia pneumoniae (chlamydia pneumoniae), which causes chlamydial pneumonia.
The airborne route is not considered very dangerous: for infection, the sputum of a sick person must contain a lot of chlamydia with high activity - and this is rare.
Infection of the fetus
the likelihood of transmission of chlamydia to the child from the mother during childbirth
Many women are concerned about whether chlamydia is transmitted in utero. Unfortunately, this happens. Transmission from mother to infant as it passes through the birth canal is possible for most urogenital diseases.
The cause of chlamydia in newborns is an infection from the mother, when during childbirth the child is in very close contact with the mucous membrane of the birth canal. This leads to infection with chlamydia in a large number of cases. According to some reports, the probability of a child contracting chlamydia during childbirth reaches 70%.
Most often, when a fetus is infected with chlamydia, the mucous membrane of the baby's eye, as well as the membranes of the rectum and genitourinary organs, suffer. A particularly vulnerable target for chlamydia is the child's respiratory tract, which is also lined with columnar epithelium. If the bacterium gets there, the newborn develops chlamydial pneumonia.
Whether chlamydia is transmitted through breast milk can be read in the special material "Chlamydia in children".
Chlamydia - ways of infection in real conditions
In different life situations, the probability of catching chlamydia will also be different. Is chlamydia transmitted through kissing, through a condom, or through the household route, through saliva or blowjob? And how can you get chlamydia if your partner is permanent? All these risks worry people.
Summing up the results of the article, we answer the most popular questions about how people get chlamydia.
- unprotected intercourse
- Sexual intercourse with a condom
- Close contact with sick pets
- anal intercourse
- oral-genital contact
- With saliva and with kisses
- Can you get chlamydia through blood?
- With artificial insemination with sperm
- Household risks: towels, items and common places for personal hygiene, linen
- Swimming in ponds and pools
Is chlamydia sexually transmitted? Definitely yes. The likelihood of getting sick in this way is very high. The more contact with the carrier of the infection, the higher the risk. But even after one act, you can get chlamydia from the first time.
Questions are popular on the Internet: is it possible to become infected with chlamydia during menstruation, if not to finish, and even without penetration. The answers to the first two questions will also be positive - yes, without a condom, chlamydia is transmitted during menstruation, and even if the sperm does not enter the partner.
In a situation where a couple practices caresses without penetration, it is still possible to infect a person - either through oral sex, or if the external genitals of the partners are in contact and are not protected by a condom.
Is it possible to get chlamydia through a condom - does it protect against chlamydia?
If the condom is of high quality and used correctly, then the probability of contracting chlamydia with a condom is practically zero.
The chance of contracting chlamydia arises only if the condom breaks or flies off the penis. In this case, transmission of chlamydia through a torn section of the condom can occur. Therefore, if a person became infected using condoms, it means that he either used them incorrectly, or the products turned out to be of poor quality.
Animals can also cause chlamydia. Some types of chlamydia (Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydophila felis, Chlamydophila abortus) can be transmitted to humans from animals. In these cases, there are conjunctivitis, pneumonia and chlamydia during pregnancy, because of which it can be interrupted.
The probability of getting infected from animals is not the same every time: chlamydial pneumonia from birds is a rather dangerous and contagious disease, but getting chlamydial conjunctivitis from cats is much more difficult. You can read more about this in the article on the causative agents of chlamydia.
Can you get chlamydia through anal sex?
The probability of such infection is as high as with classical sexual contact. The mucous membrane of the rectum is one of the favorite places for the “settlement” of chlamydia. With the sperm of a partner during anal sex, chlamydia easily get on the cylindrical epithelium of this zone and are introduced into it.
Can you get chlamydia through oral sex? Is chlamydia transmitted from a woman during a blowjob and vice versa - from a man during cunnilingus?
Theoretically, chlamydia is transmitted orally, but with different probability during blowjob and cunnilingus. So, the probability of infection with chlamydia during a blowjob is higher: together with the sperm of a partner, chlamydia can get on the pharyngeal mucosa and gain a foothold there. This risk should always be considered with unprotected oral sex.
In the opposite situation - through cunnilingus - infection with chlamydia is almost impossible, because there are very few bacteria in the female secretions. In addition, even if they get into the partner's mouth, they will not be able to get to the pharynx, where there are tissues suitable for their survival.
Is it possible to get chlamydia through a kiss or saliva if chlamydia has settled in the mouth?
For infection in this way, you need a lot of bacteria in saliva, and this happens only with severe general chlamydia, when the disease has reached an advanced form. Today, the transmission of chlamydia through saliva is extremely rare.
In addition, chlamydia do not feel well in the oral cavity, and if swallowed, they quickly die in the stomach. As a result, the probability of contracting chlamydia through a kiss or saliva is virtually zero.
Is chlamydia transmitted through the blood and what causes chlamydia in the blood?
Modern medicine knows no reliable cases of chlamydia infection through donated blood. Chlamydia can spread through a person's own circulatory or lymphatic system, reaching new organs that have a suitable lining. For example, anal sex may be the cause of chlamydia entering the bloodstream. During anal sexual contact, chlamydia can get not only into the tissues of the mucous membrane, but also into the blood, if microcracks appear in the rectum. By the same principle, chlamydia can become ill after surgery - if you accidentally bring bacteria from the site of infection into the bloodstream.
If the sperm donor is infected with chlamydia and the doctors somehow overlooked this fact, then this route of transmission is quite possible. Chlamydia have the ability to attach to spermatozoa and, together with them, are transferred to the uterine cavity. There they are introduced into the uterine mucosa - the endometrium - and begin to actively multiply. In the same way, some bacteria can invade the lining of the vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes if infected semen comes into contact with these areas.
It is not always clear what belongs to the household method of infection and what does not. In the previous section, we have already found out whether chlamydia is transmitted through a towel, whether it is possible to pick it up in a bath or through food.
But can a child get chlamydia from their parents, or a virgin can get chlamydia? Yes - in these cases there is a possibility of infection with chlamydia in the household way. The reason for all household methods of infection is one: from an infected animal or person, chlamydia gets on clothes, food, dishes, linen or plumbing - and from there they are transferred to themselves by a new “victim”. Therefore, theoretically, chlamydia can also be contracted from a gynecologist (if the instruments and surfaces are poorly processed), and even through a drinking bottle.
It is comforting that the risk of domestic infection is not very high, although it exists. Therefore, it is better to never forget about the rules of hygiene: use only personal belongings and underwear, make sure that damaged mucous membranes or code do not come into contact with unchecked objects.
The most common questions about chlamydia in the water: is it possible to get chlamydia in a pond or sea, and also on the beach?
Let's just say that it is impossible to get infected in this way. It is almost impossible to get chlamydia through water, because the number of chlamydia that can be in water is too small to be transmitted to humans. Also, bacteria are hindered by the long distance that must be overcome in the water to get into the human body. As for not natural reservoirs, but pools, the water in them is also disinfected, so chlamydia are not able to survive there.
The risk of contracting chlamydia on the beach is also almost zero. The environment around is not very favorable for these bacteria: bright sun, dry sand or pebbles, hot surfaces of bedspreads and deck chairs. There, however, if a person wants to minimize this probability, it is enough to simply use personal towels, bedspreads and not sit directly on the sand or pebbles without an additional “layer”.
