Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis is a unique microorganism. It has its own life cycle. Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of urogenital chlamydia. It exists both in the infectious extracellular form of ET (elementary body) and in the reproductive (replicative) intracellular form of the RT - reticular (reticular) body. Chlamydia trachomatis are prone to a latent (latent) existence or have the capacity for prolonged survival in the body (persistence).

Infection with urogenital chlamydia occurs directly from a person who has severe manifestations of the disease or with an asymptomatic course. As a rule, Chlamydia trachomatis penetrate with unprotected sexual intercourse. Household contamination can occur in case of gross non-observance of hygiene rules, both personal and general. Infection of the newborn comes from a sick mother. Infection occurs directly during childbirth when the fetus passes through the birth canal. As a result, a newborn can develop pneumonia and conjunctivitis.

Due to the fact that the way of transmission of urogenital chlamydiosis is identical to other sexual infections, it is often detected in combination with them (gonococci, trichomonads, mycoplasmas and others). It should be noted that with the development of trichomoniasis (trihomonadonositelstva), the causative agent (Trichomonas), being an insensitive microorganism to antibiotic therapy, is often a kind of "container" for chlamydia. This infection is capable of absorbing the causative agents of many sexually transmitted diseases. In such cases, the use of antibiotic alone can be ineffective. In detecting chlamydia, additional studies are needed that are aimed at detecting and eliminating other sexual infections.

In chlamydia, the incubation period (time from the moment of infection to detection of the first signs) is from one to three weeks.

Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms

In both women and men, the disease proceeds without pronounced manifestations. This fact (asymptomatic course) contributes to later diagnosis and treatment. In this regard, the probability of complications increases significantly.

The manifestation of symptoms can begin after the expiration of the incubation period (in 1-3 weeks) or several months with the development of complications.

For men, a characteristic sign of the disease is inflammation in the urethra (urethra). Then the prostate gland, the duct, the epididymis and seminal vesicles are involved in the inflammatory process .

The early stage of chlamydia can be accompanied by urethritis, which lasts from one week to a month. Common symptoms of the disease include burning, pain, itching with urination, frequent urges, clear, purulent, watery, milky-foamy discharge from the penis.

In the later period (in chronic form), tension, pain, discomfort in the perineal region, tenderness near the anus, pain and prostate enlargement, erection weakness and pain, frequent urge to urinate, change in color, semen volume, etc. are often manifested.

In women, infection often provokes inflammation in the cervix (cervicitis). To general symptoms, this includes soreness in sexual contact, mucous or with an admixture of pus, vaginal discharge, with a characteristic yellowish tinge and unpleasant odor. Prolonged inflammation contributes to the development of erosion of the uterine neck, accompanied by bloody discharge, in particular, after sexual contact.

Chlamydia trachomatis DNA is determined by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method . This technique is considered the most accurate (sensitive and specific) among other diagnostic methods.