Chlamydia infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Sexually active individuals and individuals with multiple partners are at highest risk.
Symptoms
As many as 1 in 4 men with chlamydia have no symptoms. In men, chlamydia may produce symptoms similar to gonorrhea. Symptoms may include:
Burning sensation during urination
Discharge from the penis or rectum
Testicular tenderness or pain
Rectal discharge or pain
Only about 30% of women with chlamydia have symptoms. Symptoms that may occur in women include:
The diagnosis of chlamydia infection involves sampling of the urethral discharge in males or cervical secretions in females. If an individual engages in anal sexual contact, samples from the rectum may also be needed. The sample is sent for a fluorescent or monoclonal antibody test, DNA probe test or cell culture. Some of these tests may also be performed on urine samples.
You can get chlamydia with gonorrhea or syphilis, so if you have one sexually transmitted disease you must be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases as well. All sexual contacts should be screened for chlamydia.
Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth.
Chlamydia infections in women (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease. This article discusses chlamydia infections in women.Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.Different strains of chlamydia cause genital, eye, lymph node, and respiratory infections.A...Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2008
Culture - endocervix (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Endocervical culture is a laboratory test that examines samples from the endocervix(opening to the uterus) to isolate and identify infection-causing organisms in the female genital tract.Vaginal culture; Female genital tract culture; Culture- cerv...Reviewer: Arnold L. Lentnek, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/12/2007
Trachoma (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Granular conjunctivitis; Egyptian ophthalmia; Conjunctivitis- granular.Trachoma is caused by infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.The condition occurs worldwide, mostly in rural settings in developing countries. It frequently affects ...Reviewer: Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/22/2008
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