Chlamydia — How is chlamydia, symptoms and effective treatments

Chlamydia – an infectious disease caused by chlamydia. Is one of the more common diseases which can be transmitted sexually, the number of infected is even ahead of gonorrhea. On the one hand, the risk of Contracting chlamydia during unprotected sex is not the highest (gonorrhea is transmitted more often). The other route of transmission of chlamydia varied: from mother to child, through household objects, kissing, airborne. So to know about how chlamydia is transmitted, is necessary for everyone who cares about their health.

The insidiousness of the disease consists in the fact that, first, it is often asymptomatic – microorganisms can parasitize in the organism, and secondly, affects not only the urogenital system, joints, lungs, throat, eyes. For women, chlamydia is especially dangerous: they often provoke infertility and miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women and those who are planning to become a mother, it is extremely important to know what is chlamydia and what are the ways of transmission. The method of infection can depend on the behavior of and treatment of disease.

Sexual transmission of chlamydia

The main route of transmission of chlamydial infection through unprotected sex. Women also have higher risk of infection than men because the female genitourinary system the larger the area of cylindrical epithelium, necessary for the bacteria to reproduce. To live in a healthy organism, chlamydia desired contact with mucous membranes, that occurs during unprotected sexual intercourse. If the woman's vagina gets semen of infected men, this facilitates the spread of infection in the body. The same role can play and the intrauterine device. The only way to avoid infection is to use a condom. And, of course, do not have sex with casual partners. The spread of the disease in the female body contribute to such factors as surgery on the genitals and urinary system.

To settle the infection in their body with any kind of sex. Chlamydia is easily transmitted during anal intercourse: bacteria are localized and multiply in the rectum. Transmission of chlamydia is possible in the oral sex in this case, they are able to strike the throat. The probability of contamination is higher if the relevant damaged mucous membranes – in this case, the microorganisms are opened almost a direct path into the body. To diagnose the diseases in this case it is particularly difficult examination and testing in the office of a gynecologist or urologist can detect chlamydia transmitted not only sexually. The risk of chlamydial infection also lies in the fact that, along with this nasty infection you can catch other sexually transmitted diseases.

Infection through kissing unlikely, however, chlamydia is transmitted, if the immune system is weakened, the mucous membrane of the mouth has a wound, crack or other damage, and the presence of gingivitis (bleeding gums) and stomatitis.

Household intrusion method

Chlamydia is one of the few STIs for which there are other possible methods of transmission. Chlamydial infection is easy to settle into the body with a weakened immune system. Bacteria have a fragile shell, collapsing under the influence of the external environment, but despite this, is able to remain viable under certain conditions: in a wet environment and at temperature of air of 18-20 degrees Celsius. It makes possible the transmission is domestic. Towels, washcloths, underwear, sheets, and napkins if these items were used by a sick person, they may dwell chlamydia. If bacteria from everyday objects fall on the hands of a healthy person, and through them – in the eye may occur chlamydial conjunctivitis – the defeat of the mucous membrane of the eye with chlamydia, accompanied by acute or chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva. This disease can lead to serious complications and even blindness. If you have long and unsuccessfully treat purulent and inflammatory diseases of the eye, and the disease disappears only for a short period may have to be tested for the presence of chlamydial infection.
Infection through the water in the pool or bath, many experts rule out, because infection requires a significant amount of microorganisms. But do not forget about such factor as is weakened immunity – the man who recently was seriously ill, took antibiotics, suffered stress, may be "enough" of those bacteria that remain viable in comfortable moist and warm environment.

Airborne route of infection

Quite a rare way of infection is by airborne droplets. However, infection is not eliminated by contact with sick chlamydial pneumonia. When sneezing and coughing into the airstand out bacteria that can trigger the transmission of the disease.

Antenatal and intrapartum transmission of chlamydia

Especially attentive to their health should be the future parents. Before conceiving, it is advisable to conduct a full examination of the body as a fetus can get an infection which occurs in the parent body completely asymptomatic. This is true for chlamydia – its effects on the child can manifest in the form of severe pathologies, lesions of the throat, eyes, lungs, reproductive system, rectum.

There are two ways of transmission of chlamydia from mother to child, antenatal, and intrapartum.
With the way the antenatal infection of the fetus takes place in utero – through the placenta or amniotic fluid. If a woman is a carrier of chlamydia, probability of fetal infection is about 70 %. Even if the child is lucky enough to somehow avoid getting infected in utero, it is highly likely during childbirth when the baby's body contact with the mucous membranes of the genital organs of the mother, the most vulnerable to infection. This way of transmission is called intrapartum and typical of many sexually transmitted diseases.

Infection from animals

Perhaps the most rare and quite exotic way to transmit chlamydia is the infection from the animals. Cases of chlamydial conjunctivitis were recorded by the owners of domestic cats.

Diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia and its complications makes it difficult is the fact that the disease may for many years practically does not manifest itself. However, the reason to be wary of are the diseases of the joints, the lungs, the throat, the genitourinary system (e.g., bronchitis, pharyngitis, cystitis), which returns periodically, despite access to a doctor and treated.

Because tract infection with chlamydia there are many and its consequences can be very sad for health, should be wary not only of the main routes of transmission – sexual, but also to prevent other infections: use only personal hygiene items, to strengthen the immune system, to avoid public baths and swimming pools. This advice is especially relevant for pregnant women and those who are just planning to conceive. This insidious disease can not only deliver serious troubles to a woman but also make her infertile or to damage the health of the baby. Therefore, everyone needs to know what chlamydia dangerous as the disease being transmitted and to pay attention to their health.