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Everything You Need To Know About Chlamydia
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Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can affect anyone who is sexually active and may not cause symptoms. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics and recommend other measures to treat it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were around 1.8 million cases of chlamydia in the United States in 2018. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the U.S.
Chlamydia often produces no symptoms, but it can lead to fertility problems. However, effective treatment is available.
In this article, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of chlamydia.
Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms. According to research cited by the CDC, only around 10% of males and 5–30% of females experience symptoms.
It is also unclear how long it takes for symptoms to appear, but it may be several weeks.
In femalesIn females, symptoms of chlamydia may include:
If chlamydia spreads to the uterus and the fallopian tubes, it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This, too, may not produce symptoms. However, it can affect fertility.
In malesIn males, symptoms may include pain, tenderness, and swelling in the testicles or the urethra, the tube that carries urine.
Males and femalesBoth males and females may develop symptoms in the rectum and anus. The virus can infect these areas during anal sex or by spreading from the reproductive organs.
Symptoms include:
Contact with infected secretions can also lead to chlamydial conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Laboratory tests have found chlamydia in the throat of people who have had oral sex with someone who has the infection. However, this does not usually produce symptoms.
Anyone who has or suspects they have chlamydia must seek treatment to prevent long-term health consequences, including infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Doctors will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat chlamydia. A person will usually take antibiotics as a pill.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend retesting at least every 3 months after treatment, depending on the individual's risk factors.
AntibioticsExamples of antibiotics for chlamydia include:
Other medication options include erythromycin and amoxicillin. A doctor may prescribe one of these during pregnancy.
Adverse effects can sometimes occur, including:
Doxycycline can sometimes trigger a skin rash if a person spends time in the sun.
In most cases, the side effects will be mild. Anyone who experiences severe adverse effects should contact their healthcare provider. Do not stop taking the medication without first checking with a doctor.
According to one source, a course of antibiotics resolves chlamydia in 95% of cases. However, it is essential to follow the doctor's instructions and complete the whole course of treatment.
Other aspects of treatmentThe CDC recommend that people with chlamydia refrain from sex for 7 days:
If a person has a diagnosis of chlamydia, they should inform any partners they have had sexual contact within the previous 60 days so that they, too, can seek testing and treatment.
If one partner does not receive treatment or does not complete the course of treatment, there is a risk of reinfection or transmitting the virus to someone else.
Sometimes, a doctor may also be treated for gonorrhea because the bacteria that cause the two infections often occur together.
To diagnose chlamydia, a doctor may carry out an examination to look for physical symptoms such as discharge.
They will also take either a urine sample or a swab sample from the penis, cervix, urethra, throat, or rectum.
Chlamydia screeningAs chlamydial infection frequently presents no symptoms, health authorities often recommend screening for some people.
The USPSTF recommend screening for:
A person can test for chlamydia at home or in the lab. They can take either a urine sample or a swab.
A doctor can advise individuals on the best option. They may also recommend rectal or throat testing, especially for people who are living with HIV.
Home screening tests are available, but it is not always easy to do them correctly at home. A healthcare provider will usually recommend following up on any home tests by visiting a doctor's office.
The person will likely need to provide a urine sample for a test to confirm a diagnosis. After treatment, they will need to retake the test to ensure that the treatment has worked.
If anyone wishes to try home testing, chlamydia screening test kits are available for purchase online.
Chlamydia is an infection by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (C. Trachomatis).
Chlamydia infection can affect several organs, including the penis, vagina, cervix, urethra, anus, eye, and throat. It can cause severe and sometimes permanent damage to the reproductive system.
A person can pass on chlamydia through unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex or through genital contact.
As chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, a person may have the infection and pass it on to a sexual partner without knowing.
It is not possible to pass on chlamydia through:
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a mother who has chlamydia infection can pass it on to her baby during childbirth.
Sometimes, the infection leads to complications for the infant, such as eye infections or pneumonia.
A female who has a diagnosis of chlamydia during pregnancy will need a test 3–4 weeks after treatment to ensure the infection has not returned.
Ways of preventing chlamydia or reducing the risk of infection include:
Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of complications.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)This is an infection of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. It can lead to infertility.
According to the CDC, if chlamydia is left untreated, around 10–15% of females will develop PID.
This could lead to:
In some cases, chlamydial PID can lead to an inflammation of the capsule that surrounds the liver. The main symptom is pain in the upper right side of the abdomen.
Pregnancy complicationsThe CDC also indicate that pregnant women who have chlamydia or their baby may experience:
This is an inflammation of the neck of the womb.
SalpingitisThis is an inflammation of the fallopian tubes. It increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
UrethritisThis is an infection of the urethra. The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Chlamydia can inflame the urethra, resulting in pain and difficulty urinating.
Sometimes this occurs alongside conjunctivitis and reactive arthritis, which is a chronic type of inflammatory arthritis.
EpididymitisThis can affect males. It is an inflammation of the epididymis, a structure inside the scrotum.
Signs and symptoms include red, swollen, and warm scrotum, testicle pain, and tenderness.
Chlamydia is a common, sexually-transmitted bacterial infection. It often produces no symptoms, but screening can show if a person needs treatment.
Without treatment, it can lead to complications that may have permanent effects. For this reason, treatment and screening are essential for those who may be at risk.
Seven Deadly Stroke Symptoms That Women Should Never Ignore
The most recognisable stroke symptoms are listed in FAST, but Dr Hera Kamdar has warned women about the more subtle signs that can be overlooked
Hiccups can be an easily-missed stroke symptom in women(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Health experts have warned women about the easily-missed symptoms of a stroke, as some unlikely warning signs could suggest a medical emergency.
While most people recognise slurred speech and weakness in the face as tell-tale symptoms to watch out for, some stroke signs in women are easier to brush off because they are more subtle.
Vascular neurologist Carolina Vivar from Geisinger explained: "What complicates strokes in women is that they may have some unusual nonfocal neurological symptoms, which means that they may see early signs as something much less serious."
Around 100,000 people have strokes every year in the UK, and nearly half of all strokes (45%) in women happen past the age of 80, notes the Stroke Association. The devastating condition is one of four leading causes of death for women in the UK.
Assistant professor of neurology Dr Hera Kamdar, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has highlighted the seven subtle signs of a stroke that can strike in women, these include:
Severe headache
Generalised weakness
Fatigue
Shortness of breath and chest pains
Nausea and vomiting
Brain fog
Hiccups.
It's important to remember the main stroke symptoms using the acronym FAST. The NHS explains this further:
Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped
Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them
Time – it's time to dial 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms
The health body adds that it's important to phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you or someone else is having stroke symptoms. While weakness on one side of the body is a common warning sign, Dr Hera Kamdar claims that it might not be confined to one area in women.
A study from 2019 suggests that women get hiccups when they're experiencing a stroke as it's a sign of brain damage to the areas, such as the medulla oblongata, which controls breathing, and the supratentorial cortex, which is involved in the control of movement.
It doesn't necessarily mean you're having a stroke if you experience hiccups or a severe headache, however you should be concerned if the symptoms make it difficult for you to do anything. This can include physically being unable to get out of bed due to extreme tiredness. When it comes to hiccups, you should only be worried if they're hurting your throat or they are combined with other symptoms, such as vomiting.
Stroke risk factors for womenScientists believe that hormones affect how men and women experience a stroke differently. Expert in nutritional and metabolic diseases Dr. Adil Maqbool, from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Pakistan, told Healthline that oestrogen has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective effects, which could contribute to a reduced risk of stroke.
He added: "However, it's important to note that oral contraceptives, which contain synthetic forms of oestrogen, have been associated with an increased risk of stroke in some cases." Birth control and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) both contain synthetic oestrogen.
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However, research from 2003 found that around 8.5 out of every 100,000 women will experience a stroke because of birth control. Speaking to CNN, neurologist Dr Eliza Miller, at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said: "It's not that people shouldn't take birth control, it's that people with other [stroke] risk factors shouldn't use this type of contraceptive."
As women age, they make less oestrogen which means they face a higher risk of a stroke as they get older - with almost half happening in those aged over 80. Dr Miller pointed out that young women are also at risk, as pregnancy can triple the chances of a stroke.
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This has been linked to pre-eclampsia, which is a blood pressure condition that occurs every one in 25 pregnancies in the UK, highlights the British Heart Foundation. Symptoms of pre-eclampsia can include severe headaches, vision problems and swelling of the face, hands or feet.
Those who experience blood clots during their pregnancy also face a heightened risk of the medical emergency. The NHS has also highlighted other symptoms to keep an eye on, these include:
Complete paralysis of 1 side of the body
Sudden loss or blurring of vision
Being or feeling sick
Dizziness
Confusion
Difficulty understanding what others are saying
Problems with balance and co-ordination
Difficulty swallowing
A sudden and very severe headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before
Loss of consciousness.
Phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you suspect someone is having a stroke. If symptoms pass, you should still visit the hospital for an assessment.
How To Recognize Strep Throat
Symptoms of strep throat can include irritation, pus buildup, white patches, and small red spots in the throat.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that results from contact with the A Streptococcus bacteria. This bacteria can be present in a person's nose and throat and transmits via airborne droplets in their breath. Step A infections are typically easily treatable with antibiotics.
This article details the symptoms, causes, and treatments of strep throat.
Strep throat can cause many uncomfortable symptoms. Examples include:
When a person with strep throat opens their mouth and looks inside, they will likely see:
Below are pictures of strep throat.
A 'sore throat' is an umbrella term encompassing many conditions and causes. A person's throat may be sore due to injury, burns, infections, and irritation from acid reflux or allergies. Strep throat is a singular form of the latter, and doctors can perform tests to differentiate it from other causes.
A visual examination and a strep test can typically diagnose strep throat. A strep test involves using a swab to take a saliva sample from the back of the throat. Doctors can test this sample for the presence of strep bacteria.
In addition to a visual exam and quick strep test, there are a few symptoms that could indicate that it is strep throat rather than another illness. For example, a strep infection is more likely to involve a fever than a viral infection.
Another difference is that strep throat usually doesn't cause a cough, runny nose, or watery eyes. Viral infections and mucus in the throat from allergies or other conditions are more likely to cause a cough.
After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics, usually penicillin or amoxicillin.
Antibiotics can shorten the time that symptoms last, reduce the risk of transmitting the bacteria to others, and lessen the chance of further conditions, such as rheumatic fever, developing.
If the sore throat is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not work and they will not be prescribed.
The bacteria that cause strep throat are group A Streptococcus. This bacteria can live in the human body without causing any symptoms but can still transmit at this stage.
Droplets in a person's breath can carry infectious bacteria. Sneezing, sharing utensils, or touching an object after a person with strep throat has touched it can all spread the infection.
People with weakened immune systems, open wounds, and those already experiencing viral infections such as colds and the flu may be more likely to get strep throat.
Anyone with a fever greater than 101 F and other strep throat symptoms should see their doctor. The presence of a fever can signal a bacterial infection that antibiotics may be able to treat.
In severe instances, strep throat can cause infections in areas other than the throat. Examples include any peritonsillar abscesses, ear, and blood. For this reason, it is important to seek treatment and to get a definitive diagnosis.
Peritonsillar abscesses are areas of pus-filled tissues at the back of the throat, next to the tonsils.
Antibiotics won't treat other causes of an irritated throat, and taking medicines that aren't needed can mean they work less well when someone really does have a bacterial infection.
Strep throat will usually go away without treatment.
However, the risk of some complications increases without treatment:
A doctor may recommend treatment with antibiotics to prevent these. Recurrent episodes may require tonsillectomy.
Strep throat is a bacterial respiratory infection that can cause inflammation, soreness, and discoloration in the throat.
The infection can be transmitted between people through airborne vapors and through contact with the bacteria on surfaces.
Serious complications are uncommon, and people may carry the infection without symptoms. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics to treat the underlying infection, and recovery is typically quick.
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