What you need to know about chlamydia screening and treatment?

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). It is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, and it occurs mostly in sexually active teenagers. Genital Chlamydia infection can be contracted during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact. A Chlamydia-infected mother can pass it on to her infant. You can walk into any travel clinic in Hillingdon or Uxbridge for immediate treatment.

Signs and Symptoms

Chlamydia is usually called a 'silent disease' because infected people show no specific symptoms. This is the case with most of infected women and men. As a result, many infections go unnoticed in the beginning.

Symptoms to look for:

In women -

●     A burning sensation during urination

●     An abnormal vaginal discharge

●     Lower back pain

●     Lower abdominal pain

●     Nausea

●     Fever

●     Painful sexual intercourse

●     Bleeding between periods

In men -

●     A burning sensation while urinating

●     Abnormal discharge from the penis

●     Tenderness or pain of the testicles

Males and females may develop inflammation with redness of the eyes, Reiter syndrome with arthritis, and burning sensation during urination. If a newborn is infected, he/she may get conjunctivitis with swelling, redness, and discharge, with or without pneumonia.

What You Can Do?

Any sexually active female or male can be infected with C trachomatis. Firstly, ensure that your teenagers know about the dangers of a sexually active lifestyle and safe practice for sex. You can walk in to any sexual health clinics in your vicinity or even travel clinic in Heathrow or Middlesex.

When To Call Your Doctor?

Call your doctor if you or anyone experiences any of the above listed symptoms. If your newborn baby has a cough or an eye discharge, you should call your doctor immediately.

How Is the Diagnosis Made?

Your doctor can collect a specimen from the cervix or penis and have it tested in the lab for confirmation of the infection. A urine sample may also be tested. If a sexually active teenager is found positive for Chlamydia, he/she should also be tested for other STIs, including gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV.

Treatment

To treat chlamydial infection, your doctor will prescribe a few medicines such as azithromycin or oral doxycycline. A child with conjunctivitis or chlamydial pneumonia should be treated with oral medicines like erythromycin. Many times, patients with STDs shy away from going to the local chemists and getting the medicine. To avoid this, you can get medicines online and get them delivered directly at your doorstep.