Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease. Its most usual symptom is the discharge of fluid from the genitals. Usually, this fluid is cloudy and thicker than water or urine, but not as thick as pus. In both men and women, chlamydia has no immediate symptoms in 50% of infections. In these cases, the infected person usually is unaware of the need for medical attention, and the bacteria will persist in the body for months, leading to other illnesses including joint inflammation, genital inflammation, and conjunctivitis (an eye infection). It is readily and inexpensively treatable by antibiotics.
symptoms
At least half the people with chlamydia are asymptomatic for weeks after infection, but are disease carriers who can still give the bacteria to other people. Of the people who have symptoms, these usually become apparent within 2 weeks of infection. Both males and females have pain in the genitals when urinating and their urine tract regularly drips unusual fluid.
After some period of time - possibly years - chlamydia progresses to inflame internal genital organs, potentially causing permanent damage. Also, the bacteria which cause chlamydia have the potential to cross-infect the eyes during routine self-care when a person touches their genitals and then at some point later touches their eyes. Chlamydial infection of the eyes is a major cause of preventable blindness in the developing world.
spread
Chlamydia can spread through contact with contaminated blood, but it almost always spreads through sexual fluids. Any sexual fluid - vaginal secretions, pre-ejaculate, or semen - which touches a mucous membrane in the vagina; on the tip of the penis; on the anus; or rarely, in other places; can cause the spread of chlamydia from one person to another.
Chlamydia can infect eyes in ways unrelated to sexual activity, but this is unusual. Chlamydia causes conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) and this condition is contagious to the eyes of other people. Chlamydia can travel from genitals to eyes, from eyes to other eyes, but it does not spread from the eyes to the genitals.
Persons with chlamydia are at greatly increased risk for both contracting and spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Having any other STD greatly increases the risk of contracting chlamydia.
treatment
At any time, chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics.
An inexpensive blood test is the most definite way to diagnose chlamydia. Chlamydia is a dangerous disease and requires medical attention.
