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Chlamydia Information - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Although you may not have heard its name, chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Chlamydia infection is very common among young adults and teenagers. Chlamydia trachomatis is believed to be twice as common as gonorrhea. This infection can be transmitted or contracted during anal, oral, or vaginal sex with an infected partner. Each year, some 4 million new cases are diagnosed and an estimated 50,000 women are rendered sterile by the disease.

Women who have been infected with chlamydia may have three to five times the risk of becoming infected with HIV if they are exposed to it. Babies born to mothers with chlamydia may suffer from pneumonia or conjunctivitis (an eye infection).

Chlamydia Symptoms and Signs

Usually, 50 percent of the men and 75 percent of the women who have chlamydia experience no symptoms at all, or symptoms so mild that they do not seek treatment. However some of the common symptoms are :-

• genital inflammation
• vaginal or urethral discharge
• difficulty in urinating
• a burning sensation during urination
• painful intercourse
• itching around the inflamed area

The symptoms appear within one to three weeks of contact with an infected partner. These symptoms can appear in both men and women.

Information on the causes of chlamydia

Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis. The chlamydia infection is transmitted in 2 ways:-

1. From one person to another by sexual intercourse.
2. An infected mother can pass chlamydia to her baby during childbirth. Babies born to infected mothers can get pneumonia or infections in their eyes, also called conjunctivitis.

Diagnosis and testing information

Diagnosis of chlamydia infection is made on the basis of bacteriologic examination of urine or vaginal or urethral discharge. There are also a number of tests available today that can supplement or even replace the traditional culture.

Vitamins and nutrients to cure chlamydia

Chlamydia treatment

• Astragalus, echinacea, goldenseal, pau d' arco, and red clover aid in healing. Caution: Do not take goldenseal on a daily basis for more than one week at a time, and do not use it during pregnancy. If you have a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or glaucoma, use it only under a doctor's super­vision.
• Doxycycline or azithromycin are most common antibiotics uses in chlamydia treatment.
• Eat a diet consisting mainly of fresh vegetables and fruits, plus brown rice, raw seeds and nuts, turkey, white fish, and whole grains.

Considerations and prevention tips

• Avoid having any sexual activity while you are being treated for chlamydia.
• Drink only steam-distilled water, sugar-free juices, and herbal teas.
• Use condoms and before you stop using them, make sure you and your partner get checked out for STDs by your local GUM clinic or GP.
• If you are under thirty-five and have more than one sexual partner, you should be tested for infection yearly.
• If you have symptoms of chlamydia infection, do not delay seeking treatment. The danger of complications increases as time passes.