What is chlamydial infection?

It is one of the commonest sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis.

This bacteria spreads through sexual intercourse or oral-genital contact and can also spread from mother to her newborn during delivery.

How would you know you have chlamydial infection?

• You might not realize that you have the infection as there may be no symptoms.
• Once contracted, you may develop the symptoms and signs after 1 to 3 weeks.

These include:

• Vaginal or urethral discharge.
• Painful urination.
• Lower abdominal pain in females.
• Pain during sexual intercourse in females.
• Intermenstrual bleeding (bleeding in between your periods).
• Testicular swelling in males.
• Fever associated with headahe and body pain.
• Eye infection, if the body fluid touches the eyes.

If untreated:

• It can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in females which can lead to infertility
• In males, it can cause inflammation of the urethra and epididymis
• Infection may spread from mother to baby at birth  
• Newborn infection may present as pneumonia and or conjunctivitis

How can this be treated?

If you suspect you may have Chlamydia infection, consult a doctor.

• The doctor will examine you and take a vaginal or penile swab. This will then be analyzed.
• If it is positive, the doctor can then prescribe oral antibiotics for a week.