phamplet- final

• Untreated chlamydial infections in women result in pelvic inflammatory disease in up to 40% of cases.

• Chlamycan increase HIV transmission if exposed to the virus.

.

Conclusion

Chlamydia is considered an sexually transmitted

disease (STD). It is caused by the bacteria called

chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is treatable and usually comes without any symptoms. It infects both

men and women and occurs in all age groups. If

someone believes they have been with a partner that has chlamydia it is important that they both get treated

to prevent permanent damage. If left untreated, there

have been cases where men and women can become

infertile.

Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual contact. If

someone had unprotected sex with an unknown partner

then they should be tested for the disease. It is more

common for younger women to have serious

complications. Women are tested once a year when they have their regular pap smear. For men to be tested

they can just give a sample of urine or if needed they

can take a swab from inside the penis. Chlamydia is treated by taking antibiotics. Using condoms can help

prevent being infected with chlamydia.

References

Keefe, A. (2012). Nurse-led management of gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Nurse Prescribing, 10(1),

10-40. Retrieved August 26, 2012 from UMUC Library

Database CINAHL

Mayo Clinic. (2011). Chlamydia. Retrieved August 27,

2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chlamydia/DS0017

3

Simon, C. (2008). Chlamydia screening. InnovAiT, 1(11), 737-742. doi: 10.1093/innovait/inn148

Stamm, C. A., Miranda, R. H., & McGregor, J. A. (2011). An evidence-based approach to managing

common STIs in adolescents. Contemporary OB/GYN,

56(9), 43-50. Retrieved August 26, 2012 from UMUC

Library Database CINAHL

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2012). Chlamydia.

Retrieved August 26, 2012 from, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/0013

45.htm

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted

infection that is curable if treated . It is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the

United States and may be one of the most dangerous

STD among women today, especially under the age of

25. It can damage a woman’s reproductive organs even causing her to be unable to have a child. Associated

risk factors include a new sexual partner and

inconsistent use of condoms. Sexual intercourse is the primary route of infection. Chlamydia can affect men

and women.

How common is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is among the most common infectious

diseases in the USA. More than 1 million cases were

reported in 2009, but the actual number of cases may be closer to 3 million. The subgroup of women most

affected is the mid-adolescent group (aged 15 to 19

years), followed by the older adolescent and early adult

subgroup (aged 20 to 24 years). Because many adolescents and young women at risk are unscreened,

the actual number of cases among females 15 to 44

years of age is more likely to be 3 million.

What are the symptoms?

Many people have no obvious symptoms, but, 25% of

women and 50% of men do develop symptoms from 1-

3 weeks after coming into contact with Chlamydia. It’s important to get screened, even if you feel fine and

have no symptoms just to make sure.

In Women: • abnormal vaginal discharge

• irregular vaginal spotting • painful sexual intercourse • abdominal pain

In Men: • pain during urination • urethral discharge • urethral irritation or itch

Who is at risk?

Sexually active men and women can be exposed to

chlamydia bacteria during sexual contact with an

infected person. The more sex partners a person has, the greater the risk of chlamydia infection. Babies are

at risk of receiving this infection from their infected

mother. Sexually active teenagers and young women

are especially at risk from the chlamydia bacteria because of the characteristics of the cells that form the

lining of the cervical canal.

What is the treatment?

Chlamydia is easily treated and cured with antibiotics.

There are two major groups of antibiotics that work. • Azithromycin is the most convenient treatment. It

only requires a single dose 1g.

• Doxycycle is a 100mg capsule and needs to be taken twice a day for 7 days.

• Immunization: no vaccine available

Adolescents and their partners should avoid intercourse

until 7 days after both partners have been treated or

until symptoms resolve.

How can chlamydia be prevented?

The safest way to avoid infection with any sexually

transmitted disease (STD), including chlamydia is to

practice abstinence.

Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of

chlamydia. However, condoms do not provide

complete protection from any STD. Infection can occur

in both males and females whether or not a condom is

used.

Considerations and Complications

If left untreated, it can cause longer term health

problems including infertility and pain, especially in the abdomen. If it spreads to the blood it might cause

more severe illness, for example arthritis.

In Women: In women, untreated infection can spread into the

uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This happens in about 10 to 15 percent

of women with untreated chlamydia. Chlamydia can

also cause fallopian tube infection without any

symptoms.

In pregnant women, there is some evidence that untreated chlamydial infections can lead to premature

delivery. Babies who are born from infected mothers

can get chlamydial infections in their eyes that may lead to blindness. A pregnant woman can be treated to

prevent transmission to the baby. All pregnant women

should be tested for chlamydia, even if they don't seem

to be at risk. Chlamydia infection can also affects an infant respiratory tract system and is the leading cause

of early infant pneumonia and conjunctivitis (pink eye)

in newborns.

In Men: Complications among men are rare. Infection

sometimes spreads to the epididymis (the tube that carries sperm from the testis), causing pain, fever, and

rarely sterility.

Facts and Statistics

• Most commonly reported nationally-notifiable disease

• Highest prevalence among adolescent females

• Estimated 2.8 million cases occur each year.

• Direct medical costs: $678 million/year