Chlamydia

Chlamydia

A genus of bacteria that are obligate intracellular parasites. Most of the Chlamydia species, which include Chlamydia trachnomatis, Chlamydia suis (affects only swine), and Chlamydia muridarumis, are pathogenic. Therefore, Chlamydia infections are the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in humans. They are also the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, oral or anal sex, and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth. It is known as a “silent” disease because half of infected men and three quarters of infected women have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, this appears within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Symptoms of Chlamydia in women include abnormal vaginal discharge and/or burning sensation when urinating, lower abdominal pain, low back pain, fever, nausea, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Men might experience discharge from their penis or burning sensation when they urinate. They also may experience burning and itching around the opening of the penis. If left untreated, Chlamydia diagnosed in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus and surrounding tissues.

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