BROWARD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

 

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The Facts on Chlamydia

 

What is chlamydia?  Chlamydia is an infection caused by a bacterium, chlamydia trachomatis, and is transmitted during vaginal or anal sexual contact with an infected partner.

 

Who gets chlamydia?  Men and women, both young and old, who are sexually active and engage in unprotected sex, are at risk of becoming infected if they have sex with an infected partner.  Young females aged 15-19 account for 43% of the reported cases in Broward County. 

Text Box: Chlamydia is the most frequently reported sexually transmitted disease in the U. S.

How is the disease spread?  Chlamydia is transmitted during sexual activity with an infected partner.  A pregnant woman, however, may also pass the infection to her newborn during delivery, which may result in neonatal eye infection or pneumonia.  Treatment delays and multiple sex partners make chlamydia the most frequently reported sexually transmitted disease in the United States.

 

What are the symptoms?  Early symptoms may be painful urination, genital discharge, or no symptoms at all.  Untreated chlamydia infections can lead to PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) in women.  This is a serious infection of the reproductive organs which oftentimes leads to infertility.  Men may develop painful swelling in the scrotal area, referred to as epididymitis, which may also lead to infertility.

 

When do symptoms appear?  Symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after exposure.  Seventy-five percent (75%) of infected women and 25% of infected men are asymptomatic (have no symptoms).  As a result, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed, leading to further complications.

 

How is chlamydia diagnosed?  Most recently, the gen-probe(trade name) has become the most practical test for diagnostic purposes. This test is inexpensive, rapid, and can be performed during a routine examination.  One specimen is collected for each potentially infected area and then sent to a laboratory to identify both chlamydia and gonorrhea infection simultaneously.

 

What is the treatment?  A 7 day course of antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxcycline is recommended, or a single dose of azithromycin.  The entire course of therapy must be completed.  All sex partners must be treated to prevent re-infection and potential spread to other partners.

 

How can chlamydia be prevented?  All sexually active individuals having more than one sexual partner, especially women under 25 years of age, should be tested for chlamydia infection regularly.  Consistent condom use may help reduce the transmission of chlamydia.

 

For further information, contact the Broward County Health Department at 954/788-6095.

 

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