Question

name and briefly describe the two typical adult chlamydial infection

Answer 1

Genital disease

Inflammation of the cervix in a female from chlamydia infection characterized by mucopurulent cervicaldischarge, redness, and inflammation.

Male patients may develop a white, cloudy or watery discharge (shown) from the tip of the penis.

Women

Chlamydial infection of the cervix (neck of the womb) is a sexually transmitted infection which has no symptoms for 50–70% of women infected. The infection can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Of those who have an asymptomatic infection that is not detected by their doctor, approximately half will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a generic term for infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. PID can cause scarring inside the reproductive organs, which can later cause serious complications, including chronicpelvic pain, difficulty becoming pregnant, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, and other dangerous complications of pregnancy.

Chlamydia is known as the "silent epidemic" as in women, it may not cause any symptoms in 70–80% of cases,and can linger for months or years before being discovered. Signs and symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, abdominal pain,painful sexual intercourse, fever, painful urination or the urge to urinate more often than usual (urinary urgency).

For sexually active women who are not pregnant, screening is recommended in those under 25 and others at risk of infection. Risk factors include a history of chlamydial or other sexually transmitted infection, new or multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condomuse. Guidelines recommend all women attending for emergency contraceptive are offered Chlamydia testing, with studies showing up to 9% of women aged <25 years had Chlamydia.

Men

In men, those with a chlamydial infection show symptoms of infectious inflammation of the urethra in about 50% of cases. Symptoms that may occur include: a painful or burning sensation when urinating, an unusual discharge from the penis, testicular pain or swelling, or fever. If left untreated, chlamydia in men can spread to the testicles causing epididymitis, which in rare cases can lead to sterility if not treated. Chlamydia is also a potential cause of prostatic inflammation in men, although the exact relevance in prostatitis is difficult to ascertain due to possible contamination from urethritis.

Eye disease

Conjunctivitis due to chlamydia.

Chlamydia conjunctivitis or trachoma was once the most important cause of blindness worldwide, but its role diminished from 15% of blindness cases by trachoma in 1995 to 3.6% in 2002.The infection can be spread from eye to eye by fingers, shared towels or cloths, coughing and sneezing and eye-seeking flies Newborns can also develop chlamydia eye infection through childbirth (see below). Using the SAFE strategy (acronym for surgery for in-growing or in-turned lashes, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvements)

Joints

Chlamydia may also cause reactive arthritis—the triad of arthritis, conjunctivitis and urethral inflammation—especially in young men. About 15,000 men develop reactive arthritis due to chlamydia infection each year in the U.S., and about 5,000 are permanently affected by it. It can occur in both sexes, though is more common in men.

Symptoms of Chlamydia

Usually, chlamydia has no symptoms. Most people are not aware that they have the infection — especially women.

• 70-95 percent of women with chlamydia have no chlamydia symptoms.
• 90 percent of men with chlamydia have no chlamydia symptoms.

If you do get chlamydia symptoms, they may begin in as little as 5 to 10 days after you got the infection.

When women have chlamydia symptoms, they may experience

• abdominal pain
• abnormal vaginal discharge
• bleeding between menstrual periods
• low-grade fever
• painful intercourse
• pain or a burning feeling while urinating
• swelling inside the vagina or around the anus
• the urge to urinate more than usual
• vaginal bleeding after intercourse
• a yellowish discharge from the cervix that may have a strong smell

When men have symptoms, they may experience

• pain or a burning feeling while urinating
• pus or watery or milky discharge from the penis
• swollen or tender testicles
• swelling around the anus

In both women and men, chlamydia may cause the anus to itch and bleed. It can also result in a discharge and diarrhea. If chlamydia infects the eyes, it may cause redness, itching, and a discharge. If chlamydia infects the throat, it may cause soreness.

Chlamydia symptoms may only appear in the morning and may be mild, especially for men. That's why many people do not realize they have an infection. If you or your partner has any of the symptoms listed above, get checked by a health care provider. This is especially important if you are pregnant.

Complications of Chlamydia

Because chlamydia has few or no symptoms, it can sometimes go untreated for a long time. If chlamydia is not treated, it can become a serious threat to your health. Chlamydia may cause PID — pelvic inflammatory disease — in up to 1 out of 5 women who do not get treatment. If PID is not treated, it may affect a woman's ability to get pregnant. Testing and treatment for chlamydia significantly reduces the risk for PID.

In men, if chlamydia is not treated, it can result in a condition called epididymitis. If epididymitis is not treated, it can lead to sterility. Rarely, it leads to a condition called reactive arthritis. Reactive arthritis causes a variety of conditions, including swelling and pain in the joints that can be disabling.

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