Chlamydia Essay, Research Paper

Chlamydia are intracellular parasites that have many of the same physical

characteristics of viruses. They cause inflammation of the urethra, vagina,

cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, anus, ovaries and epididymis. This is a common

sexually transmitted disease among young adults and teenagers. About 75% of

women and 50% of men with chlamydia have now signs of infection. Symptoms of

this disease are vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, anal swelling, pain or

discharge, reddening of the vagina or tip of the penis, abdominal pain, fever,

discomfort on urinating, genital discomfort or pain. The risk of contracting

this disease increases with unprotected sexual activity, sexual activity with

multiple partners, and the use of oral contraceptives or an intrauterine device.

Infection with chlamydia can also lead to other health problems such as:

sterility in female, infecting one?s sexual partner, secondary bacterial

infections in pelvic organs, genitals or rectum., pelvic inflammatory disease,

liver infection, reiter?s syndrome. Chlamydia can also cause early labor and

delivery and can be passed from mother to baby during birth. Chlamydia infection

in newborns can cause neonatal conjunctivitis, which is an infection in the

baby?s eyes, and pneumonia. The baby?s eyes can be permanently damaged.