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Chlamydia

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Treatment:

The mainstay of therapy for chlamydia includes appropriate antibiotic treatment -- these include: tetracyclines, azithromycin or erythromycin. All sexual contacts should be screened for chlamydia.

Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth. There is no significant immunity following the infection and a person may become repeatedly infected.

A follow-up evaluation may be done in 4 weeks to determine if the infection has been cured.

Expectations (prognosis):

Early antibiotic treatment is extremely successful and may prevent the development of long-term complications. Untreated infection, however, may lead to PID, scarring and ultimately infertility.

Complications:

• pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• salpingitis
• infertility
• ectopic pregnancy

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have any of the symptoms associated with chlamydial infection.

Because a significant proportion of individuals with chlamydia may not have any symptoms, sexually active adults (in particular women with new or multiple partners) should be screened periodically for chlamydia.

• Review Date: 6/20/2007
• Reviewed By: Arnold L. Lentnek, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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