CHLAMYDIA: A Hidden Bacteria In Human - More Dangerous In Women Body System

lolarjanet (34)in #steemstem • 6 years ago (edited)

Loretta, a closed friend, had been alone for a very long time after her fiance broke up with her from a very long relationship. Reason for this, best known them. When both of them were together, their health status were very perfect because they do visit hospital once or twice in two months for medical check up according to her.

Lorreta had stayed zipp-up expecting another man to come around, but unfortunately she ain't get lucky yet about that. As for Antony, Loretta's ex, had been seen severally having fun with different ladies. This style of Antony went on for a while, but a day came Antony decided to come back to his ex.

Loretta was so happy to have him back because of the affection she still have for him despite his behavior. Dispute settled, friendship became stronger again and of course, time for sex came and they had it. It was really fun for them because it's been a while according to her explanations. But unfortunately for her, something went wrong that was really terrible.

640px-Pap_smear_showing_clamydia_in_the_vacuoles_500x_H&E.jpg

Photo Credit: Wikimedia. License: Public Domain

Before proceeding on what went wrong with her and Antony, let me explain first what CHLAMYDIA really is.

What is CHLAMYDIA?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, that often don't show when contracted in early stage. Chlamydia starts revealing its symptoms, the second to third week after being infected which could be more dangerous in females than males.

CHLAMYDIA History

Chlamydia has been in existence for so many years. According to Austincc.edu

Chlamydia trachomatis was first discovered in 1907 by Stanislaus von Prowazek in Berlin. The genus part of the name, Chlalmydia, comes from the Greek word chlamys, which means cloak and the species part of the name, trachomatis is also Greek and means rough or harsh. This name is perfectly associated with the actions of this disease.^source

In an infected person, chlamydia can be present in various vital organs like the cervix, vagina, urethra and also rectum.

Mode Of Transmission

Having an unprotected sex in different forms (oral, anal or vagina) with an infected person will spread it to various part of the body of the uninfected. But this won't show until after some couple of weeks. And that's why chlamydia is tagged a silent epidemic. Meanwhile, if a partner hasn't been infected before should meet an infected partner in sexual activities, there is tendency for the uninfected partner to stay uninfected If he or she hasn't been infected before with any STI or currently having an infection other than Chlamydia.

Chlamydia had been seen very common among sexually active women and men (old and young). This made The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that...

all sexually active women aged 25 years and younger should get screened for chlamydia every year, as well as older women with risk factors like multiple or new partners.

Men and women can both get the infection, but women are more likely to be diagnosed. Statistically, you’re more likely to get an STI if you have sex with more than one person. Infection rates are highest among younger women, partly because their immature cervical cells are more vulnerable to infection, but older age isn’t a protection.^Source

Symptoms Of Chlamydia Infection Males & Females

An unusual rash or sore in the genitals (in both gender).
Colorful discharge from the penis or vagina.
Lower abdominal pain.
Painful Periods.
Inching around the vegina.
Dyspareunia (feeling pain during intercourse - In women)
Painful urination ( feeling burning sensation in the urethra).
Pain in the testicles.

All symptoms of Chlamydia infection are not limited to the ones listed above but just the major ones.

Back to the story of Loretta and Antony, i got infected with chlamydia from Antony. It was in the third week i actually detected this but as for Antony, he already noticed some mild symptoms the week we came together but just couldn't hold or use condom before he jumped on me, Loretta said.

Both of their health status were actually great before the break up, but now, infection is swimming in their blood streams which could cause more infections to occur or more bacteria to emerge if left untreated.

I will use this medium to throw this advice to every young and old birds in a good and healthy relationship that if you should ever breakup with your partner (never pray for such, but just saying), and the affection between you both is so strong and got you back together again, you had better go for check up (STD/STI Testing) before any sexual relationship continues - I mean both parties.

The no symptoms of chlamydia in the early stage, has made most people having unprotected sex with different partners think they are very okay which they are not.

Loretta felt pain more often than Antony. This is because female genitals are thinner and they are more delicate than male genitals. For this reason, it gives bacteria and viruses an easier route or pathway to come in. According to her, she was having symptoms like painful periods, pain during sex, abdominal pain, urinary urgency and so on. It's been a month she an Antony got back together before the symptoms starts showing up.

Thank God they did the right before complications get worse. They visited a hospital on time to see a doctor. The doctor made them go for series of test to really get what's going on. Finally, the results revealed they have been infected with the bacteria - Chlamydia trachomatis. The period for the infection was checked and it was detected that Antony had contacted the infection a week before meeting Loretta. Drugs more of antibiotics were prescribed to them for weeks. Now they are doing fine with their health status back to normal. Health is Wealth!

How about if this was left untreated, what would have happened to them? Let's see..

Outcome Of Untreated Chlamydia Infection In Male

It's very important to always treat this immediately when detected to avoid a long-term medication problems. If this is left untreated for too long, it could cause epididymitis (epididymis infection) in men testicles which might result to sterility (making man sperm unable to produce).

Untreated chlamydia bacteria in men causes urethra infection which is known as nongonococcal urethritis. And also, complications can result to rectum inflammation. All these adverse effect might affect men in a long term problems so it's better to treat it early and get perfectly alright.

Why It's More Dangerous In Women If Left Untreated

Image Credit: Wikimedia. License: CC BY 3.0

Leaving this bacteria untreated in a woman is more dangerous than in men in many ways. It could cause infertility of the reproductive system, might also result to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) which is a fearful disease on it own because it could damage the fallopian tubes. Fallopian tubes destroyed has brought an end to child bearing of such woman. So we could see how dangerous this is?

Ectopic pregnancy in the left tube. Image Credit: Wikimedia. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

And if she's fortunate to bypass those two problems above, and she is pregnant, the zygote coming from fallopian tube might be hindered (due to infection) on the way to the uterus, stopping half way and making the foetus grow in the tube causing ectopic pregnancy which can be life threatening because she would under go cesarean section for the foetus removal.

Furthermore, if she should escape that,(ectopic pregnancy) and carried her pregnancy, it might not up to 9 month before she put to bed resulting to premature birth. If she should escape that too, carried the pregnancy for 9 months, on the delivery day might be worse because of what she would give birth to due to the untreated chlamydia infection. She might gave birth to an infected baby with chlamydia, that's one. The baby might come to the world blind in both eyes, that's two. The baby's lung might been inflamed - Getting swollen or puffed-up which is as a result of pneumonia disease in the baby.

Conjunctivitis due to Chlamydia infection. Image Credit: Wikimedia. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

In the older or young adult, if Chlamydia infection should be left untreated for so long this could lead to eye disease and not only to the baby that was birthed. This might result to blindness also to adult as well caused by Chlamydia conjunctivitis. So in every cases, it is too dangerous to leave this infection untreated. Early treatment is much more better.

Chlamydia Infection Treatment

The infection is treated with antibiotics drugs like zithromax, erythromycin or doxycycline... etc. But, the best way to get treated is to go see a doctor like the way Loretta and Anthony did and don't do it your self because you already know the drugs you could use. See a doctor. Reason being that, best drug prescriptions and guidelines would be given to avoid reinfection of same bacteria or other STI.

Conclusion

Many silent epidemic had been flowing around for years even till this modern age, now making it worse because of world population growing up every single day. Chlamydia infection can fly around the world in few months because of its nature of not showing any signs in the early stage. You can imagine if there is no regular medical check up especially those with sexual multiple partners, how could this be early detected? Is it until it start showing signs and symptoms? That not really a good idea.

The best way to be very healthy and counterfeit any kinds of infections is a regular medical check up. Yea! That's it. With this, you would know what's up with you body system. Your medical check-up could be once in a month or in two months depending on how you want it but don't let it be too long before a check up even if you know you are hale and hearty.

Thank you for your time!

Till we meet again. I remain my humble self @lolarjanet, the #steemstem nurse/psychologist.

References

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