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Description
of the Disease
Chlamydia is a very
common sexually transmitted infection. It is also one of the most serious.
Chlamydia is caused by bacteria (germs) passed from one person to
another during sex or from mother to baby during birth. It
should be treated once a diagnosis is made.
If
it is not treated, both men and women risk becoming sterile.
The tiny tubes of the reproductive system can become scarred and
blocked as the body fights this infection.
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Related Health
Department Web Links
Related
Outside Websites
Washington
State Department of Health websites
Center
for Disease Control Website Links
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Transmission
Chlamydia can be
transmitted during vaginal, anal and oral sex, and can be passed
from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth.
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Populations
at Risk
Any
sexually active person can be infected with chlamydia. Teenage
girls and young women are particularly at risk.
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Symptoms
Symptoms are typically
absent or minimal. If symptoms in women are present, they may include
abnormal vaginal discharge, a burning sensation while urinating,
lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, nausea, fever, pain during
intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Men
generally do not have symptoms or complications from this type of
STI. Male symptoms, if present, consist of
discharge from the penis or a burning sensation while
urinating.
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Potential
Complications
Untreated infection
in women can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to
chronic pain, infertility or a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.
Having
multiple infections increases a woman’s risk of serious health
complications, including infertility. No treatment can also
lead to premature delivery. It can also cause early infant pneumonia
and conjunctivitis.
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Prevention
The
surest way to
avoid chlamydia is to abstain
from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous
relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known
to be uninfected. Latex condoms, when used
consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk
of transmission. Annual screening
is highly recommended for all sexually active women 25 years of age
or younger and for pregnant women.
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Diagnosis
& Treatment
Chlamydia is
diagnosed by laboratory analysis of a urine sample, or culture from an infected
site. Antibiotics easily treat this common illness.
All sexual partners
should be evaluated, tested and treated if necessary. Persons
infected with chlamydia should abstain from sex until they and their partners have
completed treatment. There is a high probability of
re-infection if partners are sexually active during treatment.
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