Chlamydial infections are very common but often neglected, despite the fact that they can cause serious he alth complications. What do you need to know about Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci? What diseases can chlamydia cause, how are they treated and can infection be avoided?

Chlamydiaare gram-negative intracellular bacteria, which means that after entering the human body, they penetrate inside the cells and multiply there, and then spread with the blood. There are three known species of bacteria, each of which causes diseases with different symptoms. The most common isChlamydia trachomatis , which is sexually transmitted. Another one isChlamydia pneumoniae , which spreads by airborne droplets. Third -Chlamydia psittaci , we get infected from birds.

Chlamydia pneumoniae

Chlamydia pneumoniaeis airborne, but its form differs antigenically from other types of this bacterium. Symptoms of infection may include laryngitis, bronchitis, paranasal sinusitis or pneumonia. The consequence of the infection is damage to the ciliary epithelium in the bronchi, and sometimes allergic re-tuning of the body, which promotes asthma, chronic catarrh, chronic pharyngitis or chronic sinusitis. Joint pain and arthritis may be another symptom of infection.

Recent scientific reports show that Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori are bacteria suspected of influencing the development of coronary heart disease, in other words, ischemic heart disease .

The prevalence of bacteria is considerable. Mainly young and elderly people suffer from it. The latter usually develop severe pneumonia which can be life-threatening.

Treatment of this form of infection is not easy, because this bacterium is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams), which are quite commonly used to fight bacterial infections.

Unfortunately, infection detection tests are rarely ordered. But they can be carried out for a fee. The most popular test is the ELISA test, which consists in determining the levelspecific immunoglobulins in the blood. The detection of IgM antibodies indicates a developing infection, and the detection of IgG antibodies - a long-lasting or past infection. When IgA antibodies are tested, the infection becomes chronic.

Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatisis the biggest medical problem because its various strains (serotypes, 20 have been detected so far) can cause many diseases. It is transmitted sexually, but also during childbirth from mother to child.

Young people who start intercourse without proper protection (condoms), people engaging in risky sexual behavior and having multiple partners are more likely to be infected with the bacterium. Chlamydia are more frequently detected in women using oral contraceptives.

This has nothing to do with the contraceptive pill itself, but with freer sexual behavior.

Different types of bacteria cause different diseases. Some cause trachoma, an eye disease that no longer occurs in Poland, others - urethritis, epididymitis, and prostatitis in men.

In infected women, this bacterium causes erosions of the cervix (50% of cases) and cysts. It also leads to Bartholin's gland inflammation, salpingitis, secondary infertility and hepatitis.

Infected newborns sometimes develop eye, conjunctivitis, or pneumonia. Other complications of infection are arthritis, pharyngitis, and even reactive arthritis.

Immediately after the infection, no symptoms are felt. Only after 7-14 days women develop profuse vaginal discharge, pain when urinating, and bleeding after intercourse.

Neglecting chlamydia infection can even lead to neoplastic changes in the reproductive organ.

Infected men experience a burning sensation when urinating. Over time, however, these ailments diminish and others emerge, such as aching joints, which is often mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis (sometimes also treated according to a misdiagnosis). But it also happens that nothing bad happens in the body about the first, less obvious symptoms, because the bacteria can remain dormant for many years. When the bacteria finally awakens, the symptoms are typical of other diseases. They most often affect the genitourinary system. There may be pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, purulent vaginal discharge, Bartholin's gland inflammation resembling gonococcal infection, endometritis.

Chlamydia infection is often diagnosed in women who have difficulty conceiving or reporting pregnancy. The changes caused by bacteria in the mucosa of the reproductive organs can cause obstruction of the fallopian tubes, adhesions, infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Endometrial infections can prevent the correct implantation of a fertilized egg, leading to spontaneous abortion. In case of infection with this bacterium, the chances of in vitro fertilization are low. The risk of transmitting an infection from mother to child during natural childbirth is almost 80%. This could end in eye, conjunctivitis or pneumonia for your child.

Children of infected mothersChlamydia trachomatisare born smaller and lighter.

Treatment of chlamydial infections involves taking antibiotics, but for the treatment to be effective, both partners must undergo treatment. Children are also given antibiotics, but on a slightly different schedule than adults. 5 to 6 weeks after stopping treatment, retesting should be performed to confirm the cure. Doing research in advance does not make sense because the bacteria may still be in the body.

Important

Research that tracks chlamydia

  • blood test that tests the level of IgM and IgG immunoglobulins - reimbursed by the National He alth Fund, but with an efficiency below 80%;
  • tests consisting in viewing the preparation under a microscope or in a spectrophotometer have an efficiency of 80% - reimbursed under the National He alth Fund;
  • enzyme tests - they can be performed in the gynecologist's office, but their sensitivity is low, and the result is not very reliable - reimbursed under the National He alth Fund;
  • the cell culture test is at most 80% effective, i.e. it may not detect the presence of bacteria, although they are there (e.g. due to cell death during transport) - reimbursed under the National He alth Fund;
  • molecular test (DNA test, also known as PCR test or genetic test) with an efficiency of over 98%, is not reimbursed under the National He alth Fund - the cost of the collection kit with the test is about PLN 160.

Chlamydia psittaci - ornithosis

Chlamydia psittaciis mainly a bird disease, but humans can catch it from almost any species of bird. But there are also known infections from sick people. These are especially dangerous for humans, and the disease itself is much more severe. Bacteria enter the body through the respiratory tract, from where they are carried through the blood to the cells of the spleen, liver and alveoli. The walls of the alveoli and the endothelium of the lung tissue die and undergo necrotic changes orhemorrhagic. The hatching period is usually 1-2 weeks.

The onset of the disease may be acute, with a fever of over 40ºC and severe chills. More often, however, the disease progresses slowly. It is accompanied by headaches, dry and barking cough, pleural pain. There is also a pleural effusion. In severe cases, inflammation of the heart muscle or pericardium may occur. When the bacteria invades the lungs, it causes shortness of breath and cyanosis. Another symptom of infection is muscle aches, muscle stiffness and a stiff neck.

The sick are constantly anxious, sometimes depressed, unable to sleep.

Some infected have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. There is also an enlargement of the spleen and liver. The infection may be mild, with only minor changes in the lungs, and the patient recovers after 3-4 weeks.

The infection can lead to anemia because the bacteria secretes a toxin that damages the endothelium of arterial, venous and capillary vessels, causing all sorts of occult bleeding. The disease is diagnosed after examination of material collected from the lungs, sputum and blood. Treatment is based on the use of antibiotics. When the disease is severe, the patient must be hospitalized.

Important

Chlamydia in children

Bacterial infectionChlamydia trachomatisis transmitted from mother to child usually during vaginal delivery, so infection of the mother should be an indication for caesarean section. Such tests are rarely done before delivery, while every year about 25% of newborns and infants hospitalized for respiratory diseases are children infected with this chlamydia. Children infected withChlamydia pneumoniaeoften suffer from respiratory infections, inflammation of the ear, sinuses, bronchi, and lungs. Upper respiratory swabs or sputum testing (as part of the National He alth Fund) are not reliable tests. At your own expense, you need to perform a blood test for IgM and IgG antibodies to get a complete picture of the infection.

Chlamydie - expert advice

  • Having a relationship with a person suffering from chlamydia and the symptoms of infection

Do I have to have chlamydia symptoms? I am asking because my partner had and informed me that he was sick after intercourse. And I don't have any chlamydia symptoms and I don't know if I'm sick.

Answers Barbara GrzechocińskaAssistant professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical University of Warsaw. I accept privately in Warsaw at ul. Krasińskiego 16 m 50 (registration daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

The clinical symptoms of chlamydia infection are purulent discharge from the canalcervix and urethra, there may also be signs of adnexitis. However, these symptoms do not always occur, and in the case of late diagnosed infections, they do not appear until complications in the form of obstructed fallopian tubes occur. The infection is transmitted sexually. I do not recommend having sexual contact with an infected person until they are healed. If such contacts have already taken place, I would advise you to get tested and heal yourself.

  • What tests will detect Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria?

I plan to try for a child, I did, among others, testing forchlamydia trachomatisand I have variable results, i.e. it turned out that I am currently he althy, but I need to know if I have ever had contact with this bacterium, because I am afraid that the bacterium is in the phase "sleeping" or I may have infected my husband earlier. Please interpret:

  • IgG: 16.55 (inconclusive) as of June 4, 2014
  • IgM: 0.18 (negative) as of 06/11/2014. IgG: 18.81 (inconclusive) from 06/16/2014
  • IgM: 0.25 (negative) as of June 16, 2014
  • IgA: 031 (negative) as of June 16, 2014

I repeated the test twice and I still have an inconclusive IgG. Could this mean that there was contact with the bacterium, for example, a long time ago? Is there any other way to check whether there has been contact with the bacterium? So that there is no doubt? In addition, I am interested in whether this bacterium causes harm to the body only by giving symptoms, ailments, or if there are no symptoms, then nothing bad is happening in both women and men?

Answers Barbara GrzechocińskaAssistant professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical University of Warsaw. I accept privately in Warsaw at ul. Krasińskiego 16 m 50 (registration daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

I guess you've had blood tests. This research is not authoritative. It is better to have a cervical smear test for chlamydia.

The symptoms of chlamydia infection can be very pronounced, but they can also be discreet, and therefore the diagnosis is not clinical, but tests are performed for the presence of chlamydia in the cervix or urethra.

  • Does cytology detect chlamydia?

I was diagnosed with Chlamydia after my last Pap smear test. I'm in a stable relationship, we didn't have any side jumps so where did that come from? Can my gynecologist prescribe medications for me and my partner so that we can heal at the same time or does he have to see a urologist?

RepliesBarbaraGrzechocińskaAssistant professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical University of Warsaw. I accept privately in Warsaw at ul. Krasińskiego 16 m 50 (registration daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

I have doubts about the diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. This type of infection cannot be diagnosed on a Pap smear. I advise you to talk to your doctor about this and do a test for this. Chlamydia infection is sexually transmitted, but an epidemiological inquiry would be needed to answer the question of how it came about, which is not possible online.

Category:

Infectious diseases