Saturday, March 16, 2024

Can Chlamydia Be Treated With Antibiotics

How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia

Chlamydia Infection Symptoms and Treatment (Antibiotic)

If you suspect you have chlamydia, your doctor may want to test cervical or penile discharge or urine using one of several available methods.

In most cases of chlamydia, the cure rate is 95%. However, because many women don’t know they have the disease until it has caused serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, sexually active women under age 25 and others at higher risk should be tested for chlamydia once a year during their annual pelvic exam even if they dont have symptoms.

Pregnant women should also be tested as part of their routine lab work.

Who Can And Cannot Take Azithromycin

Azithromycin can be taken by adults and children.

It isnt suitable for some people. To make sure azithromycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • had an allergic reaction to azithromycin or any other medicines in the past
  • liver or kidney problems
  • heart problems, including irregular heartbeats
  • had diarrhoea when you have taken antibiotics before
  • myasthenia gravis azithromycin can worsen the symptoms of this muscle-weakening illness
  • diabetes azithromycin liquid contains sugar

How Does Chlamydia Spread

Chlamydia is spread when a person has unprotected sex with an infected person.

Because chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, many people do not realise they have the infection.

Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI, because people can look healthy and still have chlamydia.

Remember, you can get chlamydia and other STIs from a new sexual partner who has in the past had sex with someone who is infected.

It can also be spread from a long-term partner who has had sex with other people.

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How Can You Be Sure Youre Experiencing A New Bout

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, usually azithromycin or doxycycline.

In order to make sure chlamydia is cured, you need to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. You need to take every single dose dont stop taking the antibiotics until there are none left.

If youve taken all your antibiotics but you still have symptoms, contact your doctor or another healthcare professional.

According to the Center for Disease Control , youll need a follow-up test three months after treatment to ensure that the infection is cured.

There are a few reasons why you might contract chlamydia a second time:

  • The initial infection wasnt cured because the course of antibiotics wasnt completed as directed.
  • A sexual partner transmitted chlamydia to you.
  • You used a sex toy that was contaminated with chlamydia.

A 2014 study suggests that chlamydia can live in the gastrointestinal tract and reinfect the genitals, causing chlamydia symptoms to reappear after the genital infection went away.

However, this study only looked at animal models of chlamydia. Research on human participants is needed.

The symptoms of chlamydia typically disappear once you finish your antibiotics. This can vary in time, as some chlamydia antibiotic courses are one dose taken on one day, while others last longer.

Youre Not Immune To Chlamydia Once Youve Had It

Azithromycin Chlamydia &  Gonorrhoea Treat

Once youve had some diseases, you cant catch them again. Unfortunately, this isnt true for chlamydia. Repeat chlamydia infections are common.

If youve had chlamydia in the past, you have no immunity against the infection. If youre sexually active with somebody who has the infection, you could catch it again. Since reinfection is common, you should get tested for chlamydia about three months after being treated for the infection.

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Which Is Worse Chlamydia Or Gonorrhea

Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are highly contagious and can cause long-term damage to your health without treatment. You should avoid both infections as much as possible by practicing safer sex. Get treated immediately if you learn that you or your partner is infected.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

The best way to avoid gonorrhea is to use a condom or dental dam during any sexual activity. Safer sex is especially important with gonorrhea since it often doesnt cause symptoms. If theres a chance youve been exposed, dont let embarrassment prevent you from scheduling a visit with your healthcare provider. Get tested immediately. Untreated gonorrhea can cause long-term damage to your health. You shouldnt have to experience these complications, especially when a simple course of antibiotics can cure your infection.

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Do I Need To Have A Test To Check That The Chlamydia Has Gone

If you take the treatment according to the instructions, you wont usually need a test to check the chlamydia has gone.

If youre aged under 25, you should be offered a repeat test 3 months after finishing the treatment. This is because youre at a higher risk of getting chlamydia again.

Whatever your age, you may need a repeat test or more treatment if:

  • you think youve come into contact with chlamydia again
  • you had sex without a condom with a partner before the treatment for both of you was finished
  • you didnt complete the treatment or didnt take it according to the instructions
  • the signs and symptoms dont go away
  • your test was negative but you develop signs or symptoms of chlamydia
  • youre pregnant.

A repeat test can be done 56 weeks after the first test.

If the chlamydia was in your rectum , you may need another test around 3 weeks after finishing the treatment. Your doctor, nurse or clinic will let you know if you need another test.

You can go back to the doctor, nurse or clinic if you have any questions or need advice on how to protect yourself from infection in the future.

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Your Partner Didnt Get Treated

If you have a consistent sexual partner, itâs important to tell them about your infection. They likely will need to get treated too.

Once youâve both gotten treated, you have to wait until the treatment has had time to work before you start having sex again. This is especially true of unprotected sex.

You want to avoid passing the STD back and forth between the two of you. Without taking these important steps, itâs possible for this to happen. Such a cycle would prolong the STD and its symptoms.

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Does Chlamydia Cause Cervical Cancer

Sneaky Chlamydia | Do You Have It & Not Know It?

No, chlamydia doesn’t cause cervical cancer.

It’s possible to get a sexually transmitted infection by having sex with someone who has an STI, even if they have no symptoms.

The following measures will help protect you from most STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV.

If you have an STI, they’ll also help prevent you from passing it on to someone:

  • Avoid sharing sex toys. If you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.

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What Can You Do To Relieve Your Symptoms

No home remedy for chlamydia can replace antibiotics. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, so you need to take antibiotics to cure it.

However, there are a few ways you can soothe symptoms while you wait for the antibiotics to get to work. For example:

  • Use pain medications, such as ibuprofen to reduce pain
  • Use a cold pack to soothe inflammation.
  • A herb called goldenseal might reduce inflammation and other symptoms.
  • Use an echinacea supplement aid your immune system.

Remember that these home remedies might soothe the symptoms of chlamydia, but they dont actually cure chlamydia in itself. The best way to soothe the symptoms is to use antibiotics.

What Happens If Chlamydia Isnt Treated

Only some people who have chlamydia will have complications. If chlamydia is treated early, its unlikely to cause any long-term problems. But, without proper treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. The more times you have chlamydia the more likely you are to get complications.

  • If you have a vulva, chlamydia can spread to other reproductive organs causing pelvic inflammatory disease . This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility and ectopic pregnancy .
  • In people with a vulva, chlamydia can also cause pain and inflammation around the liver, though this is rare. This usually gets better with the correct antibiotic treatment.

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How Will I Get My Results

If you donât have chlamydia, we will let you know the result by text.

If you do have chlamydia and need treatment, we will call you to arrange an appointment at a clinic of your choice.

You should return for a repeat test/treatment if:

  • you think you have come into contact with chlamydia again
  • you and your partner had any form of unsafe sex within seven days of taking the chlamydia treatment
  • you didnât finish taking your treatment or didnât take it according to the instructions
  • the signs and symptoms dont go away.

You should also get tested at a GUM clinic if your original test was negative but you then develop symptoms of chlamydia.

If your symptoms dont improve, you should contact a clinic or on 0808 802 1221. This includes any pelvic pain that doesnât improve or any pain when having sex.

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How Common Are These Stds In General How Common Are The Antibiotic

Doxycycline for Chlamydia

The CDC estimates there are 820,000 cases of gonorrhea in the United States each year. Klausner says that less than 1% fail to respond to the currently recommended treatment. However, he says, resistance to older, less expensive antibiotics is much higher.

Chlamydia is the most common STD in the United States, with nearly 3 million cases occurring annually. So far, no treatment-resistant cases have been reported.

In 2019, nearly 130,000 cases of syphilis were reported in the U.S., with the most infectious types increasing 11% from 2018 to 2019, according to CDC statistics.

The numbers for these three STDs, which are the most common, are at a record high, according to the CDC.

âWeâre absolutely seeing an increase in overall rates of STDs, particularly in younger patients,â says Englund. âHalf of cases are diagnosed in patients aged 15 to 24.â

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The Costs Of Infertility

Treating chlamydia is easy, but for those who do not get treated or get treated too late, living with the damage caused by the infection can be hard.

Rabin has treated many women who never knew they had had chlamydia until they couldnt get pregnant due to blocked fallopian tubes. These women often wind up trying in vitro fertilization , which does not always succeed.

There are all kinds of costs involved for these women, says Rabin. There are emotional costs and physical costs. There are also financial costs with IVF. Its much better to not let the tubes get damaged, she says, and get pregnant the old-fashioned way.

What Happens If I Get Chlamydia When Im Pregnant

  • Chlamydia during pregnancy has been associated in very rare cases with problems such as premature birth, and infection of the uterus lining after the birth.
  • It can be passed to the baby during the birth and before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the babys eye and/or pneumonia.
  • You may be offered a chlamydia test as part of your antenatal care.
  • Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when youre pregnant and when youre breastfeeding. The antibiotics wont harm the baby, but do tell the doctor or nurse that youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Youll be advised to have another test after you complete your treatment.

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When To Contact A Doctor

If you have any of the symptoms described, you should go see a doctor. In general, if you are sexually active and have any usual discharge, burning sensations, or pain while having sex you may have an STD and should get tested.

Additionally, if you are a woman, you should contact a doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms as they can be a sign of a serious complication of chlamydia called pelvic inflammatory disease:

  • Fainting or signs of shock
  • Serious lower abdominal pain
  • Temperature that is higher than 101 F

Should any of these symptoms arise or if you suspect you may have an STD, it is very important to get tested.

Even if you have no symptoms as do the vast majority of those with chlamydia but are sexually active, you should be getting tested regularly, so you do not unknowingly spread the disease.

You can make an appointment with your primary care physician or order STD testing online here.

Milly DawsonSanjai Sinha, MDShutterstock

Chlamydia is easy to cure. If you test positive for chlamydia, basically you take an antibiotic, says Jill Rabin, MD, cochief in the division of ambulatory care for womens health programs and prenatal care assistance program services for Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York.

Your partner must take an antibiotic, too, to keep them from reinfecting you, she says.

Chlamydial Infection Among Adolescents And Adults

Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chlamydia | Infectious diseases | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy

Chlamydial infection is the most frequently reported bacterial infectious disease in the United States, and prevalence is highest among persons aged 24 years . Multiple sequelae can result from C. trachomatis infection among women, the most serious of which include PID, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Certain women who receive a diagnosis of uncomplicated cervical infection already have subclinical upper genital tract infection.

Asymptomatic infection is common among both men and women. To detect chlamydial infection, health care providers frequently rely on screening tests. Annual screening of all sexually active women aged < 25 years is recommended, as is screening of older women at increased risk for infection . In a community-based cohort of female college students, incident chlamydial infection was also associated with BV and high-risk HPV infection . Although chlamydia incidence might be higher among certain women aged 25 years in certain communities, overall, the largest proportion of infection is among women aged < 25 years .

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How Likely Is It That Treatment Will Fail Twice

Research suggests that treatment failure with azithromycin may occur between 5% and 23% of cases.

It is very common to have repeat infections of chlamydia. In the first few months following treatment for initial infection, as many as 1 in 5 people will experience reinfection.

If people experience reinfection after antibiotic treatment resulting in a negative test result, it is usually due to reinfection from a sexual partner.

If people have repeated positive test results after treatment, it may be due to false-positive results or treatment failure. Resistance to antibiotic treatment is rare in chlamydial infections.

Repeat infections may occur at any time, but research suggests that most reinfections happen within the first 6 months after treatment.

Treating Newborns And Infants

Chlamydia infections in newborns and infants are far less common today due to the routine screening of STIs in people with pregnancy. If an infection occurs, it typically happens during childbirth as the baby passes through the mother’s birth canal.

Chlamydia in newborns is most often recognized when the child develops conjunctivitis , typically five to 12 days after birth. Some babies may have no such symptoms and instead develop pneumonia with fever between the ages of one and three months.

If a chlamydia infection is confirmed, the baby would be treated with an antibiotic called erythromycin, The dose is calculated in milligrams per kilogram of the baby’s body weight.

In cases of chlamydial pneumonia, oral azithromycin can be used as an alternative.

Treatment Recommendations for Newborns and Infants
Regimen
50 mg/kg per day delivered by mouth in four equally divided doses over 14 days
Alternative Azithromycin 20 mg/kg per day delivered by mouth in a single dose over three days

Erythromycin, while safer for newborns and infants, is only around 80% effective in clearing C. trachomatis. As a result, a second round of antibiotics may be needed to fully clear the infection.

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How Soon Do Signs Show Up

In men, signs and symptoms usually show up two to 7 days after infection however it can take as long as one month for symptoms to start. Commonly, there are no signs for people infected with gonorrhea 10 to 15 percent of men as well as about 80 percent of ladies might have no symptoms.

Individuals with no signs and symptoms go to risk for developing issues to gonorrhea. These people also spread this infection unwittingly.

How Can I Prevent Getting Chlamydia

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Anyone who is sexually active can catch chlamydia. Youâre most at risk if you have a new sexual partner or donât use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, when having sex. You can help to prevent the spread of chlamydia by:

  • using a dam to cover the female genitals during oral sex or when rubbing female genitals together
  • not sharing sex toys. If you do share sex toys, wash them or cover them with a new condom between each person who uses them.

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How To Help Partners Get Treatment

If you are not sure whether your sexual partner will seek treatment, ask your doctor for extra chlamydia medication . You can give it to them so they can be treated as soon as possible.

This is known as patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia. Talk to your doctor to see if PDPT is right for you and your sexual partner.

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