Treatment for Chlamydia

Chlamydia, a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), affects both men and women. If diagnosed early, chlamydia is treated by administering proper antibiotic course.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused due to the infection by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Though it can affect both men and women, adolescent girls and young women are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia infection, as the cervix is not fully developed. The transmission of bacterium occurs through vaginal, anal or oral sex. An infected mother can also transmit the disease to the newborn through vaginal childbirth. As per statistics, chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria.

In general, chlamydia symptoms are totally absent or mild. It is estimated that about three quarters of infected women and half of infected men do not manifest any symptoms. In fact, some women are not even aware of chlamydia infection. The symptoms of chlamydia, if manifested, are observed about 1-3 weeks after an exposure to the bacterium. Some noticeable symptoms in women include cystitis, alteration in vaginal discharge, burning sensation during urination, back pain and mild abdominal pain. Chlamydia in men causes burning sensation during urination and abnormal discharge from the penis.

Treatment for Chlamydia

Since chlamydia is usually asymptomatic, early detection is very rare. The diagnosis of chlamydia in both men and women is done by conducting various laboratory investigations such as urine tests for the presence of bacterium. For women, vaginal swab can also be tested for the detection of infection. It is advisable that women who are under 24 years should undergo annual screening test to check for chlamydia infection.

After a correct diagnosis, the physician may prescribe oral antibiotics such as azithromycin, doxycycline, ofloxacin and erythromycin. Antibiotics may be recommended as one-time dose or a daily dose for about 7-10 days. Both doses are equally effective. However, if the patient tends to forget daily administration of antibiotics, then it is advisable to opt for the single or one-time dose. One-time dose is more expensive in comparison to the daily antibiotic regimen. More than 95 percent cases of chlamydia infection are cured with the antibiotic course.

A person suffering from chlamydia infection can consult the concerned physician about the appropriate and/or effective antibiotic regimen. Whatever be the treatment option, it is essential to complete the recommended antibiotic dose. While treating chlamydia infection, it is necessary that both the partners should administer antibiotic course, even if the symptoms are not manifested in the other partner. Otherwise, there is a possibility of recurrent infection. During the antibiotic treatment course, it is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse.

Early treatment of chlamydia is necessary, as an untreated condition can lead to severe complications. In women, the infection may spread to the upper genital tract, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. In severe cases, it can lead to irreversible damage in the female reproductive system. Women with chlamydia are at higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, in which the fetus develops in the fallopian tubes, rather than inside the womb. Severe complications are generally rare in men; at times, it can lead to epididymitis that causes pain and swelling in the testicles. In order to prevent chlamydia infection, it is advisable to screen regularly for any sexually transmitted disease.