Chlamydia Health Article

Chlamydia

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, is more common than gonorrhea, affecting 35% and 8% of sexually active adolescents, respectively. Adolescent girls are at especially high risk for infection with chlamydia. Because chlamydia causes no symptoms in half of infected adolescents, it often goes untreated. For this reason, screening for chlamydia should be routine for all sexually active adolescents.

Symptoms

Symptoms of chlamydia may occur in many different parts of the body. In addition to symptoms affecting the genital and anal area, chlamydia is also associated with conjunctivitis and arthritis. In either sex, chlamydia can cause pain and/or inflammation of the throat, liver, upper abdomen, back, and shoulder. In females, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. The treatment for chlamydia is prescription of oral antibiotics for one to two weeks.

Books

Daugirdas, John T., M.D. STD, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Including HIV/AIDS. Hinsdale, IL: Medtext, 1992.

Organizations

National Sexually Transmitted Disease Hotline
Telephone: (800) 227-8922
(Free information and clinic referrals)

—Gail B. Slap, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine