Chlamydia
Chlamydia are intracellular parasites that
have many of the same physical
characteristics of viruses. They cause
inflammation of the urethra, vagina,
cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, anus,
ovaries and epididymis. This is a common
sexually transmitted disease among
young adults and teenagers. About 75% of
women and 50% of men with chlamydia
have now signs of infection. Symptoms of
this disease are vaginal discharge,
urethral discharge, anal swelling, pain or
discharge, reddening of the vagina
or tip of the penis, abdominal pain, fever,
discomfort on urinating, genital
discomfort or pain. The risk of contracting
this disease increases with
unprotected sexual activity, sexual activity with
multiple partners, and the
use of oral contraceptives or an intrauterine device.
Infection with
chlamydia can also lead to other health problems such as:
sterility in
female, infecting one’s sexual partner, secondary bacterial
infections in
pelvic organs, genitals or rectum., pelvic inflammatory disease,
liver
infection, reiter’s syndrome. Chlamydia can also cause early labor
and
delivery and can be passed from mother to baby during birth. Chlamydia
infection
in newborns can cause neonatal conjunctivitis, which is an
infection in the
baby’s eyes, and pneumonia. The baby’s eyes can be
permanently damaged.