What is a severe chlamydia complication?
Chlamydia can spread and cause severe complications if left untreated. Chlamydia trachomatis may be associated with the following conditions: (7)
Complicacies in females
As a result of anatomical and genetic differences, women are more likely than males to develop chlamydia complications. These consist of;
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an inflammatory disorder of the pelvis.
Chlamydia bacteria can travel to a woman’s uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Consequently, a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may develop. PID can result in a variety of significant complications, including:
Infertility or difficulty conceiving
Persistent pain in the pelvic region (chronic)
A greater likelihood of ectopic pregnancy (implantation of a fertilised egg outside of the uterus).
Similar to chlamydia, PID is characterised by bleeding between periods and after sex, urinary pain, and irritation or pain during sex. The typical course of treatment for PID is two weeks of antibiotics. If you are experiencing symptoms of infertility, it is vital to seek medical advice and a checkup as soon as feasible. Early treatment decreases the likelihood of infertility.
Obstetrical complications
If you are not treated for chlamydia during your pregnancy, there is a chance that you will transmit the infection to your unborn child. Your infant may develop a respiratory infection (pneumonia) or an eye infection (conjunctivitis) as a result. When your infant exhibits these symptoms, your midwife or doctor can order a chlamydia test and prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Untreated chlamydia during pregnancy may also increase the likelihood of a low birthweight or premature labour (before 37 weeks of pregnancy).
Persistent Pelvic Pain
Inflammatory disease of the pelvis may cause chronic pelvic discomfort. Approximately 30% of women with chlamydia-related PID will develop this complication.
Ectopic gestation
Implantation takes place when a fertilised egg develops outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube. If the pregnancy is not terminated, there are numerous complications that could be life-threatening. An infection with chlamydia increases the likelihood of complications.
Female fertility issues
Infection and inflammation can result in fallopian tube scarring in PID. The formation of scar tissue prevents sperm from entering the fallopian tube, preventing fertilisation and resulting in infertility. Approximately 20% of females with PID will experience infertility. Surgical intervention may increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy but can be used to eradicate scarring in the fallopian tubes.
Male complications
Males can experience complications, although they are less prevalent than in females. (8)
Infection in the vicinity of the testicles (epididymitis).
In males, chlamydia can result in swollen, painful testicles and epididymis (the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles). These symptoms may include fever, swelling of the scrotum, and discomfort. This condition is also called epididymitis and epididymo-orchitis. There are few instances of this.
Typically, antibiotics are prescribed to alleviate inflammation. In the absence of treatment, you risk losing your fertility.
Prostate gland disease
Chlamydia spreads infrequently to the prostate glands of men. Pain in the lower back, fever and chills, pain during or after intercourse, and painful urination are all symptoms of prostateitis.
Male Fertility Problems
Chlamydia-caused epididymitis may or may not result in male infertility. The condition can result in persistent pelvic discomfort.
Both males and women suffer from complications.
The following are some of the most prevalent complications that can occur in both men and women:
Scarring and Fissures of the Rectum
Rarely, inflammation of the rectum can lead to scarring and fissures, which generate abnormal channels from the rectum to another region of the body or the outside of the body.
Risk of Cervical Cancer
Chlamydia infections have been argued to enhance the risk of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). According to a 2016 analysis of 22 studies, infection with HPV and chlamydia doubles the risk of developing cervical cancer. In eleven of the studies, Chlamydia was an independent predictor of cervical cancer. By inflaming the pelvic organs, Chlamydia may amplify HPV-induced cancer-causing alterations. However, it is essential to note that HPV infection, not chlamydia, causes the majority of cervical malignancies.
Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Infections with Chlamydia (as well as other STIs) may also enhance the risk of contracting HIV. Approximately 15% of HIV-positive men who had sex with a male were infected with chlamydia, according to some studies.
This is due to two factors:
Infections can cause genital inflammation, which can harm the mucosa lining the vagina, cervix, urethra, and rectum. The virus can then directly infiltrate the bloodstream and lymphatic system.
Additionally, chlamydia infection can increase HIV viral activity in the genital region. This can result in a viral burden that is undetectable in blood but detectable in vaginal or sperm secretions.
Venereal Lymphogranuloma
The more prevalent Chlamydia trachomatis subtypes cause infections, but some (L1, L2, and L3) can induce lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a more severe disease. Sometimes, symptoms such as lymph node enlargement and systemic symptoms can be mistaken for those of other diseases, such as syphilis. Compared to other variants, LGV treatment is substantially more time-consuming.
Trachoma
Trachoma is the leading preventable cause of blindness worldwide and is not a sexually transmitted disease; it is an infection transmitted through the eyes or nostrils. Typically, redness and an inward curling of the eyelashes accompany the condition. This rubbing causes the cornea, the transparent covering of the front of the eye, to become abraded, resulting in severe eye damage and blindness.
Trachoma can be transmitted by infected individuals through direct contact, shared towels and clothing, and flies that land on their eyes or nostrils. Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in a manner distinct from genital infections. Asian and African developing nations are more likely to contract this infection.
inflammatory arthritis
The most prevalent cause of sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) is chlamydia. It occurs when your urethra (the canal through which urine is expelled from the body), eyes, or joints become inflamed, typically within the first few weeks of contracting chlamydia. Men are more susceptible to contracting this infection than women.
Currently, SARS is incurable, but the majority of patients recover within a few months. In the interim, painkillers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can alleviate pain and other symptoms.
Complications among infants
During vaginal birth, the infant can become infected if the mother has untreated chlamydia. There are two potential problems:
Ocular infections:
Nearly forty percent of neonates born to untreated mothers with chlamydia develop conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum). Infection occurs when a sexually transmitted disease infects a mother’s birth canal. In the first 10 days of life, yellow discharge, red eyes, and swollen pupils are common symptoms.
What is pneumonia?
This is less common in neonates born to mothers with untreated chlamydia, occurring in 3%-16% of cases. In the majority of cases, pneumonia develops between four and twelve weeks after birth, accompanied by wheezing and congestion.
If a mother is treated for chlamydia prior to or during pregnancy, the infant should not be exposed to these infections. Some obstetricians recommend repeat testing for chlamydia in high-risk women during the third trimester.
, Causes, Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment, and Preventative Measures){kind=link}