Chlamydia: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

x

Definition of chlamydia

Chlamydia or chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a named bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

This disease can attack both men and women through sexual contact.

Bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis can infect the cervix (cervix), anus, urethra, eyes, and throat.

This disease is actually not that difficult to treat if it is treated right from the start.

However, if left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious health problems.

The reason is, chlamydia disease can cause problems in the female reproductive system.

As a result, women who get chlamydia are at risk of having difficulty getting pregnant.

How common is chlamydia?

Reporting from the Planned Parenthood page, most people affected by this disease are usually aged 14-24 years.

In addition, chlamydia is 3 times more common than gonorrhea (gonorrhea) and 50 times more common than syphilis.

If you feel that you may be infected or are quite at risk consult a doctor immediately.

Chlamydia signs and symptoms

Chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted infection that is rarely realized.

The reason is, this disease often does not show signs and symptoms at the beginning of its appearance.

Chlamydia signs and symptoms usually appear 1-2 weeks after exposure to the infection.

However, the symptoms are often mild and go away so they are not really ignored.

The various signs and symptoms that usually appear will differ in men and women, as follows:

Symptoms of chlamydia in women

It is quite difficult for a woman to know whether she has chlamydia or not. This is because chlamydia disease in most women does not cause any symptoms.

However, if symptoms are present, they will usually include:

• Lower abdominal pain.
• Leucorrhoea that is much more than usual with a color that tends to be yellow and has a foul odor.
• Bleeding that occurs between menstrual cycles.
• Mild fever.
• Pain during sex.
• Bleeding after sex.
• Burning feeling when urinating.
• Urinating more frequently.
• Swelling in the vagina or around the anus.
• Irritation in the rectum.

Symptoms of chlamydia in men

A man may also have difficulty recognizing the symptoms of this disease.

When symptoms appear, here are the signs that can be seen from a man's body:

• Pain and burning when urinating.
• The penis secretes a fluid that is pus, watery, or white and thick like milk.
• The testicles are swollen and painful when pressed.
• Irritation of the rectum.

These symptoms do not always appear in people who are infected with chlamydia. Some people don't even have symptoms.

If you experience one or more symptoms, including those not mentioned above, consult a doctor immediately.

When should I see a doctor?

Check with your doctor if you experience unusual discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum.

In addition, consult a doctor immediately if you often feel pain when urinating.

Do not delay to consult a doctor if you or your partner experience various signs and symptoms of chlamydia as previously mentioned.

Try to see a doctor if you feel you are at high risk for venereal disease.

No need to hesitate or embarrassed to have it checked because the sooner it is known, the sooner the disease is treated.

Causes of chlamydia

Here are some of the causes of chlamydia:

1. Through sex

Chlamydia is a disease caused by bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

This infection can spread easily through vaginal, oral, and anal sex.

A woman can still get this disease even if her partner does not ejaculate during sex.

The reason is, not only through semen, but bacteria are also present in the pre-ejaculation fluid.

In addition, if you have had this infection before, the risk of getting it back is very likely.

This usually occurs when you have unprotected sex with an infected person.

Because the disease is often asymptomatic, people who have been infected without realizing it can easily pass it on to their partners.

2. Through pregnancy

If you are a pregnant woman who has chlamydia, you can also pass this infection to your baby during childbirth.

This disease can later cause pneumonia or serious eye infections in your baby.

Therefore, if a mother has chlamydia during pregnancy, a test 3-4 weeks after treatment is necessary to confirm the condition.

Things that can't transmit chlamydia

There are still many people who believe that sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia can be transmitted through casual physical contact, such as shaking hands or touching patients.

This is not entirely true. It is important to remember that this venereal disease cannot be transmitted through:

• Toilet seats that have been used by an infected person.
• Sharing a sauna with an infected person.
• Sharing the same pool with infected people.
• Share the same food and drink.
• Kisses, hugs and handholds.
• Surface previously touched by an infected person.
• Stand near infected people and breathe air after they cough or sneeze.

Chlamydia risk factors

Chlamydia can affect anyone. However, you will be at higher risk for chlamydia if:

• Be sexually active before 25 years of age.
• Frequently changing sex partners.
• Not using a condom every time you have sex with a different partner.
• Have a history of venereal disease.

To reduce your risk, it's best to practice safe sex and get tested regularly.

Chlamydia complications

Apart from causing infertility, chlamydia can also cause several complications, such as:

1. Inflammation of the pelvis

Pelvic inflammation or pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when bacteria spread and cold infect the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

Pelvic inflammation can make a person infertile, experience chronic pelvic pain, and become pregnant.

2. Epididymitis

Epididymitis is when the back of the testicle that carries sperm to the urethra becomes inflamed.

This inflammation occurs due to infection with the chlamydia bacteria which eventually causes fever, swelling, and pain in the scrotum.

3. Prostatitis

Prostatitis or infection of the prostate gland is a condition when chlamydia bacteria begin to enter and attack the prostate.

This results in a person feeling pain during sex, fever, chills, pain when urinating, and low back pain.

4. Other sexually transmitted infections

People who have been exposed to chlamydia are usually at a higher risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.

Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you are indeed at high risk and have experienced various unusual symptoms in recent times.

5. Infertility

Chlamydia can cause scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes.

This condition makes it difficult for a woman to have children.

Therefore, early treatment is needed to prevent this from happening.

6. Reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis is a condition when the joints are painful and swollen due to infection in other parts of the body.

This disease, known as Reiter's syndrome, also attacks the eyes and urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of your body.

Diagnosis of chlamydia

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

Annual screening tests are necessary if you are under 25 years of age and sexually active.

However, if you are over 25 years of age, it is necessary to get tested if you have more than one sex partner and other risk factors.

The following are various screenings and tests performed to diagnose chlamydia, namely:

1. Urine test

A urine test is done by taking a urine sample, then analyzing it in the laboratory.

If you have chlamydia, the test will come back positive.

2. Tests swab

Test swab (swab) is usually performed on men and women to detect venereal disease.

In women, this test is done by taking a sample of fluid from the cervix to see the presence of bacteria in it.

Meanwhile, in men, the doctor will usually take a sample of fluid from the tip of the penis.

This fluid can be investigated because it comes from the urethra, a place where chlamydial bacteria usually infect.

In addition, in some cases, the doctor will also take a sample of fluid from the anus.

If you have had the initial treatment for chlamydia infection, you should have another test in about 3 months.

Chlamydia treatment

Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. The doctor will adjust the dose of the drug to the severity of your condition.

Usually, antibiotics are given in pill form. The dose given can be once a day or several times a day for 5-10 days.

Here are some types of drugs to treat chlamydia:

1. Doxycycline

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that is usually prescribed by doctors to patients. Make sure to take the antibiotics as directed by your doctor.

This is done to prevent re-infection and bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

Apart from doxycycline, doctors usually have several alternative antibiotics, especially for pregnant women.

This is because doxycycline or tetracycline can cause problems with the development of bones and teeth in babies.

Azithromycin is one of the drugs proven safe and effective for pregnant women.

In some cases, doxycycline can cause side effects in the form of a skin rash when exposed to sunlight.

2. Other antibiotics

Here are some alternative antibiotics that are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to treat chlamydia, namely:

• Erythromycin
• Levofloxacin
• Ofloxacin

Some people will usually experience a variety of mild side effects after taking antibiotics, such as:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach ache
• Digestive problems
• Nausea

In most cases, the infection usually clears up within one to two weeks.

3. Avoid having sex for a while

During that time of treatment, you may not be allowed to have sex to prevent it from spreading.

The doctor will also advise your partner to get the same treatment even if he has no symptoms.

If not, the infection can appear back and forth on you and your partner.

However, even though chlamydia has been treated, the body is not immune to this bacteria.

This means that after recovering, you can still be infected again in the future if you continue to do things that risk causing chlamydia.

Home treatment of chlamydia

As previously explained, chlamydia is caused by a bacterial infection.

That is why, the only drugs suitable for treating chlamydia are antibiotics.

However, there are some alternative treatments that are thought to help relieve symptoms.

Here are various home remedies that you can try to relieve chlamydia symptoms:

1. Have a healthy diet

Although it has not been proven, you can reduce the symptoms of chlamydia by having a healthy diet.

Usually, the foods recommended in the treatment of this disease are fruits, vegetables, and probiotics.

These foods will not cure chlamydia.

However, eating these foods is expected to keep the immune system strong to fight infection.

In addition, foods that contain probiotics also help protect the intestines and minimize the side effects of antibiotics on your digestive tract.

Therefore, there is nothing wrong with having a healthy diet for a better body condition.

2. Take echinacea supplements

Echinacea is a plant that is widely used to help boost the immune system.

In addition, this plant is also able to overcome various infections from colds to skin wounds.

However, the anti-inflammatory properties in it are believed to help reduce symptoms of chlamydia.

However, be sure to consult a doctor first.

Chlamydia prevention

Here are various ways that you can do to prevent infection due to chlamydia:

1. Using a condom

Condoms are one of the things that can protect you from the spread of venereal diseases, including chlamydia.

Condoms function to prevent the transfer of bacteria through vaginal fluids and semen between partners.

Therefore, try to use it properly every time you have sex.

2. Limit the number of sex partners

Having multiple sex partners puts you at increased risk of contracting genital infections.

For that, try to commit yourself to being loyal to only one partner.

3. Avoid douching

Douching is a technique of washing the vagina by spraying a special solution into the vaginal canal.

This technique is usually done with a special tool in the form of a bag and hose.

Solution used in douching it is made from a mixture of water, vinegar, and baking soda.

However, today many douche solutions contain perfume and other chemicals.

Douching is not recommended because it can reduce the number of good bacteria in the vagina.

This makes the vagina more susceptible to infection.

4. Perform regular tests

If you are at high risk for this sexually transmitted infection, for example, you are very sexually active, get tested regularly.

That way, you can continue to monitor your condition and initiate early treatment if needed.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.