The Chlamydia Trachomatis Disease - Essay Example

You're 14 October 2006 Chlamydia Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most widespread and infamous bacterial infection affecting the genital tract. This STD is spreading around the globe at an alarming pace. In the United States, there is a 4 million per year case rate of Chlamydia which costs the US approximately $2 billion dollars in consequences and treatments. (Korenrump, 91-101) Persons who suffer from Chlamydia in underdeveloped countries and have no means of seeking treatment may become blind because Chlamydia has the potential of causing trachoma.

It is becoming a global interest to control and restrain this budding disease. In order to do so it is essential to recognize the symptoms of Chlamydia, diagnose the victim, and provide treatment immediately. Chlamydia is spread by having unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected person. A person remains infected until they have finished their treatment regardless of whether they have or not have symptoms. It can spread from a woman to her fetus during pregnancy. When the baby is born it might have an eye infection or pneumonia due to Chlamydia.

Chlamydia is diagnosed for men by a urine sample. (Cates, 1771-1781) This can take up to more than ten samples because it is harder to find a test that has the germ in it. This can mean they have Chlamydia ,but the test says they do not. A diagnosis for women is by taking a swab of MPC out of the cervix. The most likely ways of getting Chlamydia is people who have a number of different sex partners, people who have sex partners who have a number of different sex partners, people who don't use condoms, and people who have a history of other STDs.

Chlamydia can only be prevented by protected sex or total abstinence. Chlamydia isn't a typical pathogen. It is very small in size like a virus and has some characteristics like a bacteria. The only problem with this microorganism is that it cannot make energy for itself like the way a virus and bacteria can. Instead it acts like a parasite by entering into cells and feeding off of their strength. Chlamydia can infect the urethra, opening of the cervix, fallopian tubes, anus, rectum, the lining of the eye lids and rarely the patient's throat.

If this disease is not treated in females, it will cause P.I.D. (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). P.I.D. can scar and block the fallopian tubes, which can make the infected woman infertile. (Sweet, 308-315)Fertilized eggs may not reach the uterus because tubes are blocked. If they develop in the tubes, this is called an Ectopic pregnancy. The Chlamydia Trachomatis disease is on the rise so further studies and research is quite necessary to maintain a tight grip on this epidemic. Innovative diagnosis will assist persons infected with Chlamydia to identify the disease in early stages to help reduce further complications and cost concerns.

Advancement in treatments will evidently be beneficial for those with acute and chronic stages of Chlamydia which will also reduce costs as well as grief to those infected. Works Cited Cates W, Wasserheit JN. Genital Chalmydial infections: epidemiology and reproductive sequelae. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001; P.1771-1781. Korenrump EL, Sudaryo MK, de Vlas SJ, et al. What proportion of episodes of Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia becomes symptomatic International Journal of STD and AIDS. 2002; Pg. 91-101. Sweet RL. Pelvic Inflammatory disease: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Journal of Sex Transmitted Diseases. 2000;(suppl 4): Pg. 308-315.