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Chlamydia (chlamydial infection)

What is Chlamydia (chlamydial infection) -

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Approximately 90 million people develop chlamydia every year worldwide. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis).

The high prevalence of chlamydia in the population, among the young population, is due to several main reasons. The first and main one is the characteristic asymptomatic or mild course of chlamydia. In more than half of the cases, Chlamydia is asymptomatic, without clinical manifestations and complaints from the patient. Therefore, very often sexual partners do not know that one of them has this dangerous and very common disease. A person can be a carrier of chlamydia for several years and not know it. Meanwhile, chlamydia eventually leads to very serious, alas, but often irreversible consequences: cystitis, prostatitis, pyelonephritis, erectile dysfunction, infertility, gynecological diseases of the uterus, cervix, appendages. Very often, young couples planning to have children face the problem of infertility of one of the partners. This could be caused by Chlamydia. As you know, one in six couples suffer from infertility, and in about half of the cases it is the problem of a man. In Europe, about 600,000 cases of salpingitis are estimated to be due to chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis), leading to the problem of infertility in the fourth part of them.

Almost half of men of active sexual age (from 16 to 40 years) and a third of women suffer from chlamydial infection. Chlamydia infected 30-60% of women and up to 51% of men (Chlamydia is the most common cause of prostatitis in men) suffering from non-gonococcal inflammatory diseases urinary organs. The number of asymptomatic cases of infections caused by chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) in young men and women reaches from 5 to 20%.

Chlamydia can occur with a clinic of arthritis, conjunctivitis, damage to the cardiovascular system, pneumonia, which makes people turn to general practitioners, ophthalmologists, rheumatologists, but not to a venereologist. Urogenital chlamydia increases susceptibility to HIV infection, syphilis. These strains of chlamydia become very virulent (aggressive) and difficult to treat.

Chlamydia are highly contagious. Chlamydia is detected in 80% of women - sexual partners of men infected with chlamydia.

In 70%-85% of cases, chlamydia is combined with other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) - syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, thrush. Such combinations of infections increase the pathogenicity of each microbe included in the association, complicate and lengthen the course of treatment for chlamydia.

What provokes / Causes of Chlamydia (chlamydial infection):

The cause of infection is bacteria of the genus Chlamydia. There are two types of chlamydia bacteria, but because one strikes in sleepy animals, we will consider only Chlamydia trachomatis. There are fifteen varieties of these bacteria, some of which cause venereal lymphogranulomatosis and trachoma. Two of the varieties of the bacterium Chlamidia trachomatis infect genitourinary system men and women and cause urogenital chlamydia. The causative agent Chlamidia trachomatis is intermediate between viruses and bacteria, and because of this, the disease is extremely difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat.

Chlamydia- pathogenic gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria. Chlamydia are 250-300 nm in size and, during primary infection, affect the cells of the main barrier systems of the body.

Chlamydia have all the main signs of bacteria, such as:
- contain two types of nucleic acids - DNA and RNA (deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acids, which carry genetic information and information about protein synthesis, respectively);
-ribosomes;
-muramic acid (it is a component of the cell wall, similar to the component cell walls Gram-negative bacteria).

Chlamydia multiply by binary fission and are sensitive to some antibiotics. Based on these facts and some others, chlamydia were classified by scientists as bacteria.

Like viruses, chlamydia have outer shells built like elementary membranes. And in the development cycle of chlamydia, along with the stages characteristic of cellular organisms-rickettsiae, there are also stages characteristic of viruses, especially in the initial period of development.

However, the two-phase life cycle chlamydia significantly distinguishes them from the actual bacteria. It occurs in the cytoplasmic vacuole in the host cell and consists in a regular change of vegetative reproducing large non-infectious chlamydia cells (reticular bodies - RT) and small dense elementary bodies (ET) - infectious forms microorganism.

The reproduction cycle of chlamydia and viruses can be conditionally divided into early and late phases (periods). "Early" and "late" are convenient terms to describe the phases below, but should not be taken too literally. For some stages, these processes are somewhat blurred.

The initial period ("early phase") is the attachment of the elementary body to the surface (receptors) of sensitive cells (sensitive cells for chlamydia are: cylindrical epithelium of the mucous membranes, epithelial cells of various organs, reticuloendothelial cells, leukocytes, monocytes and macrophages.). Then, chlamydia, like viruses, are adsorbed with the help of host cell receptors: the pathogen shell merges with the cell membrane, and after 4 hours, the chlamydia devoid of shell (in the form of an elementary body) penetrates into the cytoplasm of the host cell. Chlamydia, like viruses, form cytoplasmic inclusions. The formation of colonies of these microorganisms depends on the same factors in the host cell.

All changes and transformations of chlamydia, as well as viruses, occur in the cytoplasm, where all stages of the development cycle of the pathogen are carried out. 8-10 hours after cell infection, suppression of DNA and RNA synthesis in infected cells can be observed. Morphological changes, accompanied by suppression of DNA synthesis, are also characteristic of chlamydia, as well as viruses.

Further, as a result of contact between pathogens (both chlamydia and viruses) and cells sensitive to them, a series of reactions identical for these microorganisms is observed, leading to the appearance inside the cells of a freely "floating" genetic material of pathogens (provirus and reticular body). So after infection there is a period of eclipse (the so-called latent period of infection) during which infectivity is not detected. It lasts for both viruses and chlamydia from 2 to 4 hours. This is a latent period during which it is not possible to detect the formation of a new virus or chlamydia. The success of this cycle of development for viruses and chlamydia depends on whether the microorganisms (or rather, their free-floating genetic material) emerge from this latent state - whether they can become infectious.

At the end of the latent period, a stage begins when chlamydia, like viruses, begins to mature rapidly and infectivity rises. This period begins with an exponential phase (that is, growth can be described by an exponential curve) when infectivity increases at a constant rate, and ends with a phase of decreasing infectivity growth rate, which eventually reaches a maximum. As mentioned above, a similar cycle of development occurs in both viruses and chlamydia.

Summing up all the above, we can draw the following conclusion: at the beginning of the development cycle - when interacting with cells - very similar processes are observed in chlamydia and viruses. Only later do viruses retain a single nucleic acid until the end of the reproduction cycle, and in chlamydia for late stages development appears second (DNA and RNA).

Chlamydia, like viruses, are not able to produce their own ATP (adenasinotriphosphoric acid - in other words, energy), since they do not have their own mitochondria and live off the energy of the host cell they have infected. They inhibit the synthesis of cellular DNA and depend on the energy of the cell, which is now available to them.

Chlamydia, like viruses, have another common ability - to leave the cell without its lysis (destruction of the cell), which is an important factor that ensures the possibility of a moderate infection.

Pathogenesis (what happens?) during Chlamydia (chlamydial infection):

Ways of transmission of chlamydia. Infection occurs sexually. Extrasexual transmission chlamydial infection(through contaminated hands, underwear, etc.) does not have significant epidemiological significance, although it must also be taken into account. A high incidence of chlamydia infection (more than 50%) of newborns during their passage through an infected birth canal, as well as intrauterine transmission of infection, has been clearly established.

Once in a favorable environment, Chlamydia develops and causes whole line diseases of the genital organs and appendages.

Urethritis (inflammation urethra)
- cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
- cystourethritis
- paraurethritis (inflammation of the paraurethral glands or paraurethral passages). Especially note that the paraurethral ducts are an excellent refuge for Donna Trachomatis. Once she got there, in "crisis" situations she lays down there, so that with the end of the treatment she can go out and regain her lost power.
- epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis)
- orchitis (inflammation of the testicle)
- orchiepididymitis (inflammation of the testicle in conjunction with its appendages)
- chronic prostatitis (inflammation prostate)
- funiculitis (inflammation of the spermatic cord)
- vesiculitis (damage to the seminal vesicles)
- cooperitis (inflammation of the bulbourethral glands)
- vulvitis (inflammation of the external genitalia in women),
- cervicitis, endocervicitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix)
- bartholinitis (inflammation large glands vestibule)
- colpitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina)
- erosion
- adhesive processes
- salpingitis (inflammation fallopian tubes)
- endometritis (inflammation of the endometrium)
- salpingoophoritis (a combination of inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes) and others.

Symptoms of Chlamydia (chlamydial infection):

If the patient has acute form chlamydial infection, as a rule, the symptoms of chlamydia are glassy discharge from the urethra, more often in the morning. The color of the discharge may be yellowish, as a rule, the discharge appears in a small amount. Possible itching or discomfort during urination, pain and cutting sensations in the urethra, sticking of the urethra sponges.

The general condition changes to a lesser extent - weakness, signs of intoxication, a slight increase in body temperature. However, much more often chlamydia occurs without pronounced signs or does not manifest itself at all - asymptomatically.

After some time (on average 10 days), even without treatment, the existing symptoms of chlamydia disappear or may appear later periodically and in a less pronounced form. Chlamydia acquires a chronic course and subsequently, under the influence of provoking agents, can periodically worsen, affecting new organs and systems.

Signs of chlamydia are not very specific and practically do not differ from other sexually transmitted infections.

With mixed infection with chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections, acute forms of cervicitis, urethritis and cystitis are very rare.

Symptoms of fresh urethritis practically do not occur, more often these are subacute, asymptomatic forms, in which there are discharge from the urethra in men, from the vagina - in women, white, yellow or transparent. TO non-specific symptoms chlamydia include signs of dysuria - soreness, burning during urination or sexual intercourse, redness, itching of the external opening of the urethra. Chronic inflammation of the urethra caused by chlamydia leads to the development of a stricture (narrowing). One of the most common signs of chlamydia in women is cervicitis, characterized by specific mucopurulent discharge from the genital tract, without pungent odor, swelling and hyperemia of the cervix.

Symptoms of chlamydia in girls include vulvovestibulovaginitis with characteristic frequent urination, itching in the genital tract, discharge. Subsequently, with the further development of the disease, complications of chlamydia appear and patients complain of pain, shooting in the perineum, scrotum, rectum, women are concerned about pain in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar region, pain during sexual contact is possible.

Approximately 60% of cases of chlamydia are asymptomatic. With the further development of chlamydial infection, symptoms appear in complications of chlamydia: prostatitis, epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis, fever), endometritis, salpingo-oophoritis (inflammatory diseases of the uterus and appendages), which are one of the main causes female infertility. The systemic symptom of chlamydia is Reiter's syndrome, which includes the triad: urethritis, conjunctivitis, and reactive arthritis.

The chronic course of chlamydia leads to the development female and male infertility due to obstruction of the fallopian tubes in women, chronic prostatitis, accompanied by pain in the perineum, frequent urge and pain when urinating, to the development of various pathologies of pregnancy (non-developing pregnancy, miscarriages, premature birth, pathology of fetal development), intrauterine infection of the fetus. In newborns at 4-10 weeks after birth, chlamydial pneumonia develops with a chronic course without fever with bouts of whooping cough, shortness of breath and cyanosis.
Extragenital symptoms of chlamydia include chronic recurrent diseases of the upper sections respiratory system: frequent colds with complications and prolonged cough, proctitis with characteristic mucous discharge from the rectum, accompanied by anorectal pain.

Complications
Alas, chlamydial infection is very dangerous enemy, capable of inflicting a sudden blow to the most valuable and dearest thing in the life of any family, depriving the family of the opportunity to have children. Infertile marriages are very frequent occurrence worldwide. The cause of infertility is often chlamydia. Previously transferred in a latent form or undertreated Chlamydia, passes into chronic stage.

Chlamydia is often combined with other STIs - gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis, ureaplasmosis, viruses.

As a result of all this, complications of chlamydia are often manifested by diseases of the genitourinary tract: urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, epididymitis, orchitis, prostatitis, endometritis, etc.

Apart from numerous complications of chlamydia concerning the genital organs, chlamydial infection can cause damage to other organs and systems. Reiter's disease is accompanied by damage to the eyes (chlamydial conjunctivitis), joints (ankle, knee, hip, spine) with the development of reactive arthritis, urethritis of chlamydial etiology.

Chlamydia in women causes a number of complications, including infertility (blockage of the fallopian tubes). Ascending chlamydial infection affects the lining of the uterus (endometrium), tubes, ovaries, ligamentous apparatus uterus, peritoneum, liver. most often chlamydial infection affects the tubes, and the disease has a subacute chronic course, resulting in the development of obstruction of the fallopian tubes and infertility.

Chlamydial infection can also be detected in pregnant women, and infection is possible during pregnancy or is diagnosed earlier, as a rule, this is a chronic infection. The presence of chlamydial infection in pregnant women increases the risk of threatened miscarriage, spontaneous miscarriage, non-developing pregnancy, stillbirth, premature birth, untimely discharge of amniotic fluid, complications in childbirth and postpartum period, as well as infection of the fetus when passing through the birth canal.

Diagnosis of Chlamydia (chlamydial infection):

Tests for chlamydia (diagnosis of chlamydia) should be carried out in several directions in connection with the unique biological cycle of the microbe and its associations with other pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria.

Urologists and venereologists often observe chronic diseases genitourinary system (cervicitis, erosion, urethritis, vulvovaginitis, endometritis, cystitis, prostatitis, etc.) and, in the absence of the possibility of complex laboratory tests, refer them to diseases with an unexplained cause or banal infections. In this case, the treatment is ineffective and may even lead to a deterioration of the pathological process, the development of complications (impotence, infertility, intrauterine infection, etc.) and the appearance of treatment-resistant forms of chlamydia.
Studies have shown that up to 20% of adolescent girls have a latent chlamydial infection within 3-5 years after the initial infection. In 70% of women, symptoms of chlamydial infection may be completely absent. In men, in 40% of cases with non-gonococcal urethritis chlamydia is detected, the cause of endocervicitis in women in 37%, cervical erosion - in 49% is the presence of chlamydial infection.

IN diagnosis of chlamydia the following analyzes are used: staining according to Romanovsky-Giemsa - detection of cytoplasmic inclusions of chlamydia in epithelial cells. This method of diagnosing chlamydia has a low sensitivity - 10-15% and has practically lost its significance in modern laboratory practice. In tests for chlamydia, there is a direct immunofluorescence method using monoclonal antibodies against the main protein outer membrane chlamydia. This method of diagnosing chlamydia is simple, specific, highly sensitive. The disadvantage of the method is that the detection of the outer membrane of chlamydia is not proof of the presence of a viable organism. In addition, this test for chlamydia is not sensitive enough for asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic infections.

Culture analysis for chlamydia- is a highly specific and sensitive method for diagnosing chlamydia. Mc-coy culture is the legal standard for diagnosing chlamydia. The use of this method for diagnosing chlamydia is limited by high labor intensity, high cost, laboratory equipment and preparation time.

ELISA test for chlamydia- refers to spectrophotometric methods for diagnosing chlamydia. This method is simple and inexpensive, but not without drawbacks - the possibility false positive results, the complexity of quality control of research, not high sensitivity and specificity.

Analysis for chlamydia by polymerase chain reaction- several DNA molecules. The main advantages of this method are: high sensitivity and specificity, simple requirements for transportation, the ability to detect asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic infections, and fast results. To date, this method is the most sensitive among tests for chlamydia.

Transcriptional amplification - new method molecular amplification of chlamydia trachomatis by detecting chlamydia ribosomal RNA in endocervical samples, urethral samples. The sensitivity of this method of diagnosing chlamydia will be extremely high - 99%, however, all studies on the widespread introduction of this method have not yet been completed.

The most sensitive tests for chlamydia include PCR (DNA - diagnostics) and culture analysis for chlamydia on Mc-coy medium - this is today the "gold standard" for diagnosing chlamydia. If chlamydia is detected in one of the partners (the risk of partner infection is -75-80%), it is necessary to take tests for chlamydia in other partners, even if they do not have any complaints and symptoms, because the asymptomatic course of chlamydia does not reduce the risk of its complications.

Treatment for Chlamydia (chlamydial infection):

Chlamydia treatment currently reduced to the use of a complex combination antibiotic therapy, with inclusion modern drugs the latest generations, penetrating through the cell membrane. In the treatment of chlamydia, immunomodulators are used, since chlamydia affects the immune system and depresses it. In each specific case of chlamydia, an individual treatment regimen should be drawn up, which will take into account the nature of the chlamydia infection, the sensitivity of chlamydia to antibiotics (determined based on the seeding rate for sensitivity to antibiotics), the presence of concomitant infections, the severity and duration of chlamydia, its localization - which organs were affected by the infection .

In the treatment of chlamydia, it is necessary to use enzyme preparations, proteolytic agents, adaptogens, vitamins, hepatoprotectors, probiotic preparations that protect the gastrointestinal tract from the development of dysbacteriosis. Not the last role in the treatment of chlamydia is played by local treatment in the form of instillations of drugs into the urethra, baths, enemas, rectal suppositories, vaginal tampons and suppositories. Enzyme preparations are prescribed to restore the permeability of the membranes of diseased cells, thus, higher concentrations of antibiotics enter the cell at lower doses of their use.

in the treatment of chlamydia Lately in the vast majority of cases, numerous physiotherapeutic effects are used: quantum therapy, ultrasound, magnetic field, infrared radiation, currents of variable frequency, electrophoresis, iontophoresis of medicinal substances.

The effectiveness of the treatment of chlamydia depends on route of administration medicines: intravenous and intramuscular routes of drug administration are priority, since in this case the bioavailability of the drug increases, and it is maximally distributed in the cells. The dose of antibiotics used to treat chlamydia should be carefully adjusted, since subtherapeutic doses, as well as some groups of drugs, lead to the formation of forms of chlamydia that are resistant to treatment and persistence of chlamydia in the body.

Treatment of chlamydia associated with gonorrhea with drugs of the penicillin group can cause a relapse of chlamydia or its asymptomatic carriage.
Chlamydia is often combined with other STDs - syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, thrush.

The combination of chlamydia with trichomoniasis or gardnellosis requires primary treatment of trichomoniasis or gardnerellosis, and only then - chlamydia. At the end of the course of treatment for chlamydia, control tests for chlamydia are carried out in 20-25 days.

If chlamydia is detected again, an additional course of treatment for chlamydia is required. With a negative analysis for chlamydia, control is subsequently carried out once a month for 2 months, in women - before or during menstruation.

Chlamydia is considered cured in the absence of clinical symptoms of the disease, morphological changes in the area of ​​​​the external and internal genital organs, stable normalization of the leukocyte reaction, the presence of a clinical and microbiological cure. Establishment of the cure of urogenital chlamydia should be carried out taking into account the method of diagnosis. Cultural research should not be carried out earlier than 14-20 days after the end of antibiotic therapy, so as not to get a false negative result. Direct immunofluorescence, PCR - (DNA analysis) can not be performed earlier than 3 - 4 weeks, so as not to get false positive results due to the preservation of non-viable microorganisms or their residues.

To prevent the spread of chlamydia, all women are tested for chlamydia before giving birth and having abortions. Couples planning a family should be screened for latent infections, including chlamydia, without fail. If chlamydia is detected, chlamydia treatment is carried out for both partners.

If the treatment of chlamydia is started immediately, in its acute form, the treatment is usually not difficult and ends, as a rule, complete cure. If chlamydia has passed into a chronic form, or constantly recurs, the treatment of these forms is quite complicated: chlamydia has time to develop "immunity" to standard methods of treatment, and additional time and material costs are required to develop a successful method of treating these forms of chlamydia.

Prevention of Chlamydia (chlamydial infection):

By and large prevention of chlamydia is no different from preventing other sexually transmitted infections. However, due to the fact that chlamydia infection is currently extremely common, and chlamydia is most often asymptomatic, and it is almost impossible to notice the carrier of chlamydia with the "naked eye", prevention of chlamydia should be given maximum attention.

The best way to prevent chlomidia, as well as other STIs, is to change your sexual behavior. This means that it is necessary to be selective in the choice of sexual partners, to avoid casual relationships and to use a condom if there is even the slightest uncertainty about the health of a partner.

"Folk methods" of protection against STIs, in particular against chlamydia - such as douching, washing the external genitalia with water, the use of chlorine-containing antiseptics, are not only very unreliable, but can also have the opposite effect. The fact is that during douching, all microflora is washed out of the vagina, including the one that protects the mucous membrane from invasion. pathogenic microorganisms. So, indirect prevention of STIs, including chlamydial infection, can be considered as maintaining the body's immune system at the proper level, as well as proper care behind the genitals. Therefore, compliance with the rules of hygiene of the genital organs, regular examinations at the doctor for the condition of the microflora of the vagina, as well as healthy lifestyle life, which helps to maintain immunity at the right level - all this can also be considered preventive measures for many sexually transmitted diseases, including the prevention of chlamydia.

However, even a condom does not give a 100% guarantee that infection will not occur. Therefore, people who have more than one sexual partner or are not sure of his health should visit a doctor at least several times a year and be tested for STIs, including chlamydia. It is good if it is customary to take an STI test before young people get married - this will help improve the health of young families, which is very important if they plan to become parents in the future.

If an analysis for chlamydia is desirable for young spouses, then when planning a pregnancy, both spouses must pass such an analysis. This is very important in order to, if necessary, be treated for chlamydia before pregnancy. Such a responsible approach of parents to the health of the future little man - the best prevention chlamydial infection in the fetus and newborn.

It is very important in order to prevent chlamydia to be examined and treated for chlamydia together with a regular sexual partner, as well as together with all family members. In some cases, alas, it is necessary to treat chlamydia even in children. The fact is that chlamydia, like most STIs, is transmitted not only sexually, but also through blood, bedding, toilet items, etc. Therefore, if one of the family members is sick with chlamydia, then everyone else needs to be tested and, if necessary, treated. Until the end of the course of treatment, the patient should use only individual hygiene items.

If the patient does not have a permanent partner, then when chlamydia is detected, it is imperative to notify all your sex partners and family members about this - this is important not only so that they do not become infected from the patient, but also so that the patient himself, having been treated, he did not become infected with chlamydia again. It is known that the risk of developing complications of chlamydia with repeated chlamydia disease increases significantly.

- a group of infections caused by various types of chlamydia. They affect the respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, genitourinary systems, organs of vision. Urogenital chlamydia has manifestations of inflammatory diseases: urethritis, prostatitis, cystitis, vulvovaginitis, cervicitis, erosion, endometritis and is detected only specific methods diagnostics. characteristic symptom- vitreous discharge from urinary tract. Chlamydia infections are dangerous with multiple complications, including ascending urinary tract infections, infertility, neurochlamydia, joint damage, heart and vascular disease, and impotence in men.

General information

Urogenital (genitourinary) chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis). The problem of urogenital chlamydia is very acute today. In recent years, an increase in chlamydia has been observed both among the sexually active adult population (men and women from 20 to 40 years old) and among adolescents. Early sexual relations, unprotected sex with casual partners, lack of awareness of the possible consequences of such relationships put chlamydia in one of the first places in the list of sexual infections. Almost 90 million people are infected with chlamydia every year. Individuals with reduced immunity are especially susceptible to chlamydia. In 40% of cases, chlamydial infection causes various gynecological diseases, in 50% - tubal-peritoneal infertility. Often chlamydia is combined with other sexual infections: gardnerellosis, ureaplasmosis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, syphilis, mycoplasmosis, thrush. The combination of several infections aggravate the course of each other and lengthen the treatment. Women are more susceptible to chlamydia.

The asymptomatic course of chlamydia occurs in 67% of women and 46% of men, which often complicates its diagnosis and treatment, and increases the risk of complications. Even with a latent course of chlamydia, a sick person is potentially dangerous and is able to infect his sexual partner. Usually the first clinical manifestations of chlamydia occur 7-14 days after sexual infection.

Men develop mucopurulent or watery discharge from the urethra, itching and burning during urination. There is swelling and redness of the external opening of the urethra. Gradually, the symptoms subside, the discharge is observed only in the morning. Acute phase chlamydia is replaced by chronic with damage to the urethra.

Women get chlamydia pathological secretions from the vagina of a mucous or mucopurulent nature, yellowish in color, with a smell. Sometimes the discharge is accompanied by itching, burning, not high temperature, abdominal pain.

Chlamydia in children often occurs with damage to the respiratory system, eyes, ears. If symptoms of chlamydia appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Complications of chlamydia

Urogenital complications of chlamydia in men are chlamydial prostatitis, urethritis, epididymitis.

• prostatitis develops when involved in infectious process prostate. Chlamydial prostatitis is accompanied by unpleasant sensations and pain in the lower back, rectum, perineum, minor mucous or watery secretions from the urethra, difficulty urinating, impaired potency;
• urethritis occurs with damage to the urethra and is characterized by itching in the urethra, frequent painful urge to urinate, mucopurulent discharge. Chronic urethritis, caused by chlamydia, leads to urethral stricture;
• epididymitis develops with inflammation of the epididymis, which is accompanied by high fever, swelling and redness of the scrotum, an increase in the epididymis.

Urogenital complications of chlamydia are fraught for men with impaired spermatogenesis and infertility.

No less dangerous is chlamydia for women, causing various lesions of the female reproductive system. The ascent of chlamydial infection through the genital tract can cause inflammatory changes from:

• cervix - endocervicitis. Chlamydia increases the risk of developing tumor processes in the cervix;
• mucous membrane of the uterine cavity - endometritis;
• fallopian (uterine) tubes - salpingitis;
• uterine appendages - salpingoophoritis.

Inflammatory processes of the uterus and uterine appendages, followed by the formation of adhesions and scars in the fallopian tubes, cause tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion.

Other consequences of chlamydia in men and women can be inflammation of the pharynx, rectum, kidneys, joints, lungs, bronchi, etc. One of serious complications chlamydia is Reiter's disease, characterized by a triad of clinical manifestations: conjunctivitis, urethritis, arthritis. Re-infection with chlamydia significantly increases the risk of complications.

Of particular danger is chlamydia in newborns, which occurs as a result of infection of a child from a sick mother during childbirth. Basic forms congenital chlamydia are:

• chlamydial conjunctivitis (ophthalmochlamydia) - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes
• generalized form of chlamydia - damage to the heart, lungs, liver, digestive tract
• encephalopathy, accompanied by convulsions and respiratory arrest
• Chlamydial pneumonia is an extremely severe form of pneumonia with a high mortality rate.

Diagnosis of chlamydia

Diagnosis of chlamydia in men is often done by urologists. A visit to a venereologist is necessary to exclude other STIs that the patient could have contracted along with chlamydia. Women need to consult a gynecologist.

General cytological smear discharge from the urethra, vagina and cervix does not give an objective picture of the presence of chlamydia. The number of leukocytes in this case may be slightly increased or be within the normal range. With the advent of PCR diagnostics (polymerase chain reaction method), venereology has received the most accurate way to detect chlamydia, which makes it possible to detect even a small amount of the pathogen in the test material. The accuracy of the PCR result reaches 95%.

Informative with an accuracy of up to 70% are the methods of ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay), which detects the presence of antibodies to the pathogen and PIF (direct immunofluorescence) - microscopy of smears stained in a certain way.

For the diagnosis of chlamydia, culture of the taken material and the determination of sensitivity to antibiotics are also used.

As a material for the diagnosis of chlamydia, urine, blood, sperm in men, secretions from the genital organs, and scraping of the cells of the affected organ are used.

Chlamydia treatment

In addition to the antibiotic, immunomodulators (interferon, meglumine acridone acetate) are included in the treatment regimen for chlamydia, antifungal drugs(nystatin, fluconazole), multivitamins, enzymes (pancreatin), bacteriophages (staphylococcal, proteic, etc.), probiotics, physiotherapy (ultrasound therapy, magnetotherapy, iontophoresis and electrophoresis with medicinal substances).

For local treatment of chlamydia, vaginal and rectal suppositories, baths, tampons, enemas are used.

During the course of treatment (an average of 3 weeks), it is recommended to exclude sexual contacts, the use of alcohol, spices, spicy food, excessive physical activity.

The treatment of chlamydial infection is a complex medical problem, and it must be solved taking into account the individuality of each patient. In the treatment of chlamydia, the use of ready-made algorithms cannot be recommended. In elderly people with concomitant diseases, the state of immunity, intestinal microflora and genitourinary tract should be taken into account.

Prevention of chlamydia

Chlamydia is an infection that is easier to avoid than get rid of. The main rules for the prevention of chlamydia, as well as other sexual infections, are:

• having a permanent sexual partner;
• avoiding casual sex or using condoms;
• testing for infections if there was an accidental unprotected intercourse;
• notification of all sexual partners in case of confirmation of the diagnosis of chlamydia;
• examination of women planning pregnancy for latent infections (including chlamydia) and careful management of pregnancy to prevent the disease in the newborn;
• abstinence from sexual activity during the treatment of chlamydia.

Chlamydia prognosis

When chlamydia is diagnosed in one of the sexual partners, it is very important to examine and treat the other for the presence of infection, even in the absence of obvious symptoms diseases. If one of the sexual partners infected with chlamydia does not will pass the course treatment, then another, treated, can become infected again.

To control the cure, diagnostics using ELISA and PCR methods are used 1.5-2 months after the completion of the course of therapy (for women, before the onset of menstruation). Criteria for cure - negative results tests for chlamydia and the absence of symptoms of chlamydia.

Acute uncomplicated chlamydia with simultaneous treatment of all sexual partners gives favorable prognosis for a full recovery. If chlamydia is neglected (diagnosed late, undertreated, complicated), then various sexual dysfunctions may develop in the future - from impotence to infertility.

Sexually transmitted diseases reduce the quality of life. They cause unpleasant symptoms and cause the development serious pathologies in the genitourinary and other body systems. A common sexually transmitted disease is chlamydia, it affects up to 8% of women. Without treatment, an infectious disease damages the external and internal genital organs, the urinary tract. Depending on the nature of the pathology and the condition of the body, doctors determine how to treat chlamydia in women. Timely therapy increases the chance to quickly cope with the disease.

If a woman has chlamydia, her sexual partner should also be treated. Chlamydial infection is extremely stable, the main danger of microorganisms is the emergence of drug resistance. Therapy should include a set of measures to destroy pathogens and support the woman's body in order to quickly and effectively cure chlamydia.

How infection occurs

Knowing how chlamydia enters the body helps to put correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. The manifestation of the disease, the defeat of certain organs by it depends on how the woman became infected with chlamydia. Infection occurs through four main routes of infection. By distributing them by frequency, you can understand where the disease comes from:

• The occurrence of itching and burning during urination;
• The appearance of secretions that have yellowish color, unpleasant smell;
• Temperature increase;
• Fatigue and weakness.

These first signs of chlamydia in women must be paid attention to, especially if their appearance was preceded by unprotected sexual contact. After some time, the symptoms disappear without treatment - the disease becomes chronic. In some cases, discharge from chlamydia in women, fever, itching, burning do not appear. Venereal disease is latent, develops and causes an inflammatory process that provokes the appearance of pathologies. How does chlamydia appear in women?

• Colpitis. The mucous membrane of the vagina, the glands that are nearby, become inflamed. The disease is accompanied by discharge, pain in the lower abdomen, problems with urination, a slight increase in body temperature. Chlamydia in this form is more pronounced in women with a deficiency of the hormone estrogen.
• cervicitis. It is characterized by the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the cervix of a woman. Signs of the disease - dull pain, purulent or mucous secretion with bad smell. In the absence of treatment occurs.
• Salpingoophoritis(inflammation of the uterine appendages), endometritis (inflammation in the uterine tissue of the endometrium), salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes). They occur when the infection enters the internal genital organs. In this case, the symptoms of chlamydia in women are bleeding, abdominal pain, discharge, fever, weakness, pain on palpation.

Diagnostic methods

Because of asymptomatic course the infection is detected against the background of other diseases with which a woman consults a gynecologist. If there is a suspicion of the presence of chlamydia, the doctor collects an anamnesis from the patient, conducts an examination, prescribes additional research. If an infection is detected, it is also necessary for the sexual partner to be tested. How to determine the presence of chlamydia in a woman:

1. Vaginal smear for bacteria (detects other STD pathogens, determines chlamydia with a probability of 15%);
2. Test for antibodies in the blood (finds antibodies against chlamydia, which are a sign of infection);
3. PCR test for chlamydia (determines the genetic material of microorganisms);
4. Chlamydia culture culture (detects the presence of chlamydia with a 70% probability, their type, necessary drugs for a particular type of treatment);
5. Immunofluorescence (with a 50% probability finds infectious agents);
6. Ultrasound (determines structural changes in the internal genital organs caused by chlamydia).

How to treat chlamydia in women

The doctor selects the treatment regimen for chlamydia individually for each case. Therapy of the infection is complex and is carried out with the help of antibiotics, immunomodulatory drugs, multivitamins, drugs local action. An important part in the treatment of chlamydia in humans is the adjustment of nutrition, lifestyle changes, physical procedures. Before prescribing drugs, the gynecologist determines the type of chlamydia, the general condition of the woman's body.

The use of physical procedures in the treatment of chlamydia has become widespread. Physiotherapeutic methods include: ultrasonic irradiation, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis. Infection treatments reduce painful symptoms increase the body's resistance. How physical procedures affect chlamydia in women:

• ultrasonic irradiation. Increases immunity, relieves inflammation, accelerates the processes of tissue regeneration.
• Magnetotherapy. Relieves inflammation, swelling, eliminates pain.
• Electrophoresis. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, vasodilating effect. Improves metabolism.

Local preparations - suppositories, tampons

In complex therapy against infection in women, vaginal or rectal suppositories and tampons are used (depending on the location of chlamydia), which received good feedback from patients. In some cases, the use local preparations replaces pills, for example, during pregnancy. What drugs are used in the treatment:

• "Vitaferon" (candles). An interferon-based drug that stimulates the immune system, effectively fights viruses, improves phagocytic activity, and has an antibacterial effect. Treatment: 1 suppository, twice a day, up to 10 days. Contraindications: intolerance to components. Side effects: allergies (rash, urticaria).
• "Hexion" (candles). The active substance is chlorhexidine. The drug has a depressing effect on chlamydia and other microorganisms, relieves inflammation. Treatment of infection: 1 suppository twice a day, up to 10 days. Contraindications: individual intolerance. Side effects: dry skin, taste disturbance.
• "Clean Point" (tampons). The drug contains natural ingredients, has an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, regenerating effect, normalizes the vaginal microflora. Course: 6 pieces, the interval between applications is determined by the doctor. Contraindications to the use of the drug: menstruation, pregnancy, feeding, alcohol intake. Adverse reactions: allergy.
• Tampons with propolis. A folk remedy that has a regenerating, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal effect. Reception course: 1 tampon lubricated with propolis at night for a period determined by the doctor. Contraindications: individual sensitivity. Side effects: allergic reactions with personal intolerance.

Drugs that improve digestion and intestinal microflora

Women with chlamydia need antibiotics. Antibiotic drugs have Negative influence on the immune system, the state of the gastrointestinal tract, disrupt metabolism. To protect the body, drugs are used that improve digestion, restore and maintain normal microflora of the stomach and intestines.

• Enzymes. Break down food into simpler molecules, improving digestion. Preparations of the group - "Mezim", "Festal", "Pancreatin".
• Hepatoprotectors. Support liver function by reducing the destructive effects of antibiotics. Medicines groups - Essentiale Forte, Phosphogliv, Esliver Forte
• Probiotics. Bacteria and yeast that restore the intestinal microflora. Group drugs - "Acipol", "Lactobacterin", "Hilak forte".
• Bacteriophages. They are used instead of antibiotics, selectively affecting harmful microorganisms. Preparations of the group for chlamydia infection - "Coliphage", "Intestibacteriophage".

Mode and proper nutrition

A healthy diet, sleep and rest regimen strengthen the body, increase immunity and contribute to the treatment of chlamydia. During therapy, it is recommended to exclude coffee drinks, alcohol, spicy and salty foods, sweets from the diet, and reduce cigarette consumption. Reducing sexual contact and physical activity also helps in treating the infection.

Treatment regimens for chlamydia in women

Effective treatment of infection in women is based on taking drugs that destroy chlamydia or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The doctor gives a general assessment of the state of the patient's body, identifies concomitant diseases in order to prescribe the correct therapy. Treatment regimens for chlamydia in women:

• Acute chlamydia. Prescribed drugs: the antibiotic doxycycline (3 weeks, 100 mg 2 times a day), an immunomodulator at the doctor's choice, multivitamins. After 7 days, systemic enzyme therapy is performed. If available fungal infections, drugs "Fluconazole", "Nystatin" are used. In combination with therapeutic agents, probiotics, hepatoprotectors are prescribed, physical procedures, and local treatment are prescribed.
• Sluggish chlamydia. In the first two weeks, immunotherapy, systemic enzyme therapy is carried out. Then the doctor prescribes antibiotics, multivitamins, antifungals. To restore and support the body, the gynecologist prescribes physical procedures, local treatment, probiotics, hepatoprotectors. The treatment regimen from the start of antibiotics is identical to that of acute chlamydia.
• Chronic chlamydia. Within two weeks, inductotherapy is carried out, "Amixin" is prescribed for 30 days (every other day). Systemic enzyme therapy is carried out (2 weeks). Antibiotics are prescribed 10 days after the start of treatment for the infection (the amount of the drug is identical to the amount during therapy acute illness), multivitamins. Physiotherapy is carried out, hepatoprotectors are used. Treatment of chronic chlamydia in women may be accompanied by the use of hyaluronidase preparations (for example, Longidase, 1 suppository every 10 days).

Consequences of infection

If the infection is not treated, complications arise that significantly affect the woman's quality of life. Chlamydia causes inflammation of various kinds, leads to pathological changes in the tissues of the genitourinary system. Possible consequences infections if left untreated:

• Inflammatory processes in the fallopian tubes, appendages. Diseases cause the formation of adhesions, which cause infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
• Inflammation of the cervix. A long pathological process leads to the development of oncological diseases.
• Inflammation of the endometrium. Prevents pregnancy, causes miscarriage.
• Reiter's syndrome (damage to the joints, eyes, urinary organs).

Prevention measures

Treatment of chlamydial infection is a long and unpleasant process that has negative impact on the body and psychological state of women. Prevention measures will help the fair sex to avoid the disease:

1. Changing sexual behavior: avoiding even protected sexual contact with unverified partners (a condom does not provide 100% protection against chlamydia), the use of contraception;
2. Using only your personal hygiene products;
3. Increased attention to hygiene, washing hands after visiting public places, especially swimming pools, toilets, etc.;
4. Planned trips to the gynecologist to check for the presence of the disease;
5. Paying attention to unusual symptoms.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease. Refers to intracellular infections, which makes the diagnosis and treatment of the disease complicated. The main route of transmission is unprotected sexual intercourse. An infected pregnant woman can pass the infection to her baby. This pathology requires complex and long-term treatment with toxic drugs. The infection can affect any organs and systems, causing serious Negative consequences for the body.

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  Description of the disease

  Chlamydia is a disease infectious nature, the causative agent of which is chlamydia ( special kind- chlamydia trachomatis). It affects the genitourinary system, provoking the development of the urogenital form.

  More than 100 million people are infected every year. It is considered one of the most common among the diseases that are sexually transmitted. The causative agents are larger than the virus, but smaller than bacteria, which determines their prevalence, as well as the complexity of diagnosis and treatment.

  The main way of infection is unprotected intercourse. Chlamydia is transmitted through both vaginal and oral and anal contact. After penetration into the human body, microorganisms spread through the blood and lymph flow to all organs and systems.

  Chlamydia provokes pathologies such as conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, pelvioperitonitis.

  Types of infection

  The disease is quite insidious, because the pathogen is of several types, differing in a special structure. They are designated with Latin letters: A, B, Ba, D-K, I-3. For example, I-3 chlamydia provokes the development of a tropical disease - venereal lymphogranuloma. Types D-K cause damage to the genitals. There are pathological organisms that cause a serious illness - trachoma.

  The development of the disease is due to the introduction chlamydia D-K. They are able to live and reproduce in the body of the host, and can also exist for quite a long time outside. human body.

  

  Transmission routes

  The most common transmission mechanism is through sexual intercourse. Unprotected sex, even oral sex, leads to the fact that the infection is transmitted from person to person. The probability of getting infected in this case is about 60%. Chlamydia can spread household way, subject to the use of other people's toothbrushes, razors or any personal hygiene items, but this is rare.

  The risk of infection increases in the presence of microtraumas on the skin and mucous membranes.

  The vertical route of transmission - from mother to child - is a fairly common cause of infection. If a woman has chlamydia during pregnancy, there is a risk of infection of the fetus. Some types of the disease can be transmitted from animals and birds: you can get infected, for example, from a domestic cat.

  

  Hygiene items through which chlamydia is transmitted

  According to many studies, the pathogen is also present in saliva. Theoretically, infection through a kiss is possible, but in practice the probability is too small.

  

  Incubation period

  After chlamydia trachomatis is in the genital tract of a woman or a man, she needs certain time to start active reproduction. Most often, the incubation period is about 2 weeks, although it can stretch up to a month.

  

  Reproduction of chlamydia

  After entering the human body, the microorganism goes through several stages:

  • Penetration into the mucous membrane.
  • Breeding insidecells. Unlike other viruses and bacteria, chlamydia are represented by reticular bodies and begin to divide if there are suitable conditions for this. After 2-3 days, the cell in which the chlamydia was located dies.
  • Manifestation of symptoms. The last stage is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the organ that has been affected. The cell dies, the reticular bodies come out and attack healthy cells. Reproduction of organisms takes place, for which about 14 days are needed.

  Manifestations of chlamydia in men

  The microorganism most often causes an inflammatory disease of the urethra - urethritis. It is manifested by soreness, burning during urination. With a long course, it contributes to the formation of scars and narrowing of the lumen of the urethra.

  Inflammation of the testicles and their appendages (orchiepididymitis) is manifested by an increase in the size of the organs. Accompanied by severe pain, local inflammatory reactions. The result can be infertility or a decrease in testosterone levels.

  
  

  Prostatitis is an inflammatory lesion of the prostate gland. Involvement in the process of this organ occurs a few weeks after infection with the upward movement of chlamydia along the urinary tract. With the development of the disease, a number of common symptoms are observed:

  • pain in the groin;
  • problems with urination;
  • decreased libido;
  • discharge from the urethra.

  With a long process, the structures of prostate tissues are disrupted, which leads to infertility and impaired spermatogenesis.

  The first signs and symptoms in women

  Characteristic manifestations of the disease in women may be absent. Pathological symptoms appears in only a third of those infected. The latent course is dangerous not only for the patient, but also for her sexual partner. If an infected woman becomes pregnant, chlamydia can harm the baby in the womb.

  Signs of infection are the following diseases, described in the table:

  Self-observation of signs and secretions does not provide specific information about the presence of chlamydia. These symptoms accompany other diseases: herpes, thrush, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.

  You can suspect the disease by the following signals:

  • An increase in temperature to subfebrile numbers (observed with acute course pathology).
  • The occurrence of pain of varying degrees of intensity. Localization: lower abdomen, lower back.
  • Symptoms of cystitis with involvement in the inflammatory process of the urethra (cutting pains at the beginning and end of the act of urination).
  • Non-standard discharge - mucopurulent, with a yellow tinge and bad smell. In this case, they may be a consequence of not only chlamydial infection.
  • Burning and discomfort in the groin.
  • Erosion of the cervix - can also indicate chlamydia.

  Many symptoms can only be detected by a gynecologist during an examination.

  Methods of laboratory diagnostics

  Diagnosis is quite problematic. Its complexity is associated with the characteristics of the vital activity of the infection. Chlamydia is an intracellular microorganism that is able to penetrate and live in the host cells, which are often the epithelium of the mucous membranes of the genital organs. It is with this that repeated relapses of chronic diseases are associated.

  If chlamydia persists intracellularly, then when favorable conditions occur, it is activated, causing an exacerbation chronic process. Treatment attempts lead to chronic inflammation of the urinary organs and resistant forms of the microorganism.

  Often other infections are combined with chlamydia, which are provoked by opportunistic microorganisms. They are present in the human body normally, but if the immune defense deteriorates, they can cause infectious diseases.

  Conventionally, methods for diagnosing chlamydia are divided according to the principle on which they are based. The following are currently in use:

  • rapid tests;
  • smear;
  • immunofluorescence reaction;
  • serological methods;
  • linked immunosorbent assay;
  • cultural method;
  • DNA methods.
  
  

  It is impossible to single out the most optimal method for diagnosing chlamydia, since each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:

  Diagnostic method	Description
  Express tests	Mini-tests, or express tests, can be purchased at any pharmacy. They are designed for home use. When a bacterium enters a sensitive strip, antibodies bind to microorganisms and stain it. With a positive result, two bars are visible in the reading window. The sensitivity of the method varies between 20-50%
  Mucosal smear	Examination of the discharge of the genitourinary organs under a microscope. In women, a smear is taken from the walls of the vagina, cervix, or external opening of the urethra. In men - from the urethra (in some cases, the secret of the prostate is analyzed). microscopic examination quite simple, inexpensive and fast. The sensitivity of the method in relation to chlamydia is low and is no more than 15-30%. The smear may show a pattern of chronic inflammation suggesting a possible chlamydia infection.
  Immunofluorescence reaction	Requires highly qualified laboratory assistant and sophisticated equipment. To carry out the reaction, the smear is stained with fluorescent dyes. Thanks to this, chlamydia look luminous. The method is extremely accurate, but only a small number of professionals are able to use it, so the sensitivity is estimated at 70%. This is due to the fact that other opportunistic microorganisms are also stained with fluorescent dyes. In addition, only one type of chlamydia is found. Advantage - high speed performance
  Serological methods	used to diagnose chlamydial infection standard method- component binding reaction. It consists in the use of special antibodies that bind to pathogens. then they are fixed in the complex. The method is carried out quickly and quite simply, but gives a lot of false positive results. Has low specificity
  PCR method	The sensitivity is quite high - up to 99%. The main disadvantage is that diagnostics requires a specially equipped laboratory and qualified personnel. It is necessary to observe sterility at all stages, otherwise there may be false positive results. For the test, a set of reagents from various manufacturers is used, the sensitivity of which may vary
  ligase chain reaction	Refers to DNA methods. One of the most modern, allows you to detect the presence of chlamydia in urine. Sensitivity and specificity reach 100%. The method is superior to all others, including cultural. For research, it is enough to collect urine in a container. However, the test is quite time-consuming, requires highly qualified personnel and special equipment.
  Cultural method	It consists in the fact that the discharge from the genitourinary organs is planted on a special nutrient medium. For several days, the sown material is placed in a special incubator. After some time, provided that there is chlamydia in the test sample, it will grow on the surface in the form of specific colonies. This method allows you to determine the sensitivity to antibiotics, never gives false positive results. The disadvantage is the duration - it takes several days to grow microorganisms

  Therapy for chlamydia

  Treatment must be comprehensive. The infection is almost impossible to completely cure by prescribing just one type of antibiotic. In addition to antibiotic therapy, medications are used to stimulate immunity, increase protective properties organism, normalization of intestinal microflora and mucous membranes. There are measures to eliminate chronic diseases.

  Concomitant treatment is often carried out as a preparatory step before the appointment of antibiotics - to minimize their toxic effects.

  Preparation for treatment

  To normalize the intestinal microflora, preparations from the group of eubiotics are used (Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Hilak forte). Additionally assigned:

  • Hepatoprotectors. Used in case of liver damage.
  • enzyme preparations. They are used under the condition that there is a disease of the pancreas with enzyme deficiency (Festal, Panzinorm, Creon).
  • Other drugs for the treatment of pathologies of the digestive system.

  Preparation for treatment includes a complete blood count to rule out pyelonephritis. If this disease is detected, additional use of diuretics and the choice of effective antibiotics against the pathogen are necessary. For this, an antibiogram of urine culture is performed.

  The duration of the preparatory stage is individual and depends on the presence of chronic diseases, but rarely exceeds 2-4 weeks and is controlled by the attending physician.

  The need for this stage is that the treatment of chlamydia requires the use of sufficiently toxic drugs and long-term regimens, interruptions in which are highly undesirable. If you stop using antibacterial agent, chlamydia become insensitive to it.

  Concomitant chronic diseases with long-term treatment high doses toxic drugs may worsen, which is an indication for their withdrawal. It is for this that the patient is prepared and the body is stabilized.

  • Tetracycline, Doxycycline.
  • Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Midecamycin.
  • Ofloxacin.

  Before prescribing the drug, you need to conduct a full examination - this will help to avoid serious complications. Only a doctor can adequately draw up a treatment regimen and control the process. With chlamydia, self-medication and folk methods are categorically unacceptable.

  Stimulation of immunity

  Stimulation of the body's defenses is achieved by reducing emotional stress, normalizing the daily routine, increasing activity, healthy nutrition.These methods are supplemented by the appointment of the following drugs:

  • Vitamins from the group of antioxidants(A, C, E) that reduce toxic effect chlamydia on the body and contribute to the restoration of damaged tissues.
  • Immunala- a herbal preparation used to stimulate immune cells. The processes of elimination of infection and restoration of tissues under its action occur more actively. The drug has contraindications that must be excluded before taking it.

  Immunostimulating therapy is prescribed individually.

  Prevention

  The best prevention is to avoid factors that lead to infection:

  • Decrease in the number of sexual partners. Significantly increases the risk of infection in the presence of promiscuity.
  • Use of protective equipment in case of accidental contact. Preference should be given to a condom.
  • If there is suspicion of a partner's infidelity, a serological and bacteriological study for STDs is carried out annually.
  • Immediate initiation of treatment upon detection of chlamydia.
  • Cessation of sexual intercourse during therapy. None of the protection methods gives a 100% guarantee.
  • Conducting a full course of treatment and subsequent diagnosis of the condition.
  
  

  Consequences of chlamydia

  In women, diseases of the pelvic organs occur, which manifest themselves in the form of inflammation:

  • fallopian tubes (salpingitis);
  • vagina (colpitis);
  • fallopian tubes and ovaries (salpingoophoritis);
  • cervix (cervicitis);
  • the inner lining of the uterus (endometritis).

  These ailments can lead to adhesions that cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages on early dates. Due to the development of infection in the body, pathologies such as placentitis, chorioamnionitis and perihepatitis can manifest.

  Pregnant women often have:

  • intrauterine infection;
  • premature rupture of the fetal bladder;
  • fetal death;
  • postpartum endometritis.

  The presence of a chlamydial infection significantly reduces the chances of a successful in vitro fertilization.

  In some cases, the infection does not affect the genitals, but, for example, the rectum, causing proctitis. When the pathogen enters the throat, pharyngitis develops, and pyelonephritis develops in the kidneys. There is also pneumonia caused by chlamydia.

  The disease often develops in children. Infection occurs in utero or through the birth canal. Sometimes household methods are possible (through the bed).

  Another pathology caused by chlamydia is Reiter's disease. This is a complex disease characterized by the occurrence of urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis at the same time. Sometimes inflammatory diseases of the skin and mucous membranes are added to them. Violations develop in patients with chlamydia who have a histocompatibility antigen that is inherited. It can be detected in 90% of patients. It has not yet been revealed how it works, but it has been established that the risk of getting sick seronegative arthritis such people are 40 times higher.

  
  

  The disease begins with diarrhea. Two weeks later, urethritis appears with mild manifestations. After a couple of weeks, there is a sharp exacerbation of the process: an increase in temperature to 38 degrees and pain in the joints. The disease can affect all organs and systems.

  Diagnostics of the cure

  To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, diagnostic procedures are needed. Cure Criteria:

  • Negative PCR result. The study is carried out no earlier than 4 weeks after the end of the course of antibiotic therapy. With more early diagnosis you can get a false negative result.
  • Decreased lgG titer to a level of less than 1 to 16 and the disappearance of lgM, which is an additional criterion.
  • Decreased clinical signs of disease(cervicitis, prostatitis, urethritis). Inflammatory processes can also be caused by concomitant infections, so the presence of inflammation or the disappearance of the main clinical symptoms cannot be the basis for assessing the effectiveness of treatment.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Every eighth person who has reached puberty, and every fiftieth child, faced this infection. Despite the fact that the disease proceeds almost imperceptibly, the consequences of chlamydia in women and men sometimes reach values ​​comparable to tumor pathologies.

Infection with chlamydia and lack of treatment can lead to serious consequences

Features of chlamydia

Developing inside the cells of the carrier, chlamydia easily tolerate the effects of drugs, and also skillfully disguise themselves as systemic diseases and other infections of viral or bacterial origin. The most common symptoms of the disease are presented as:

• secretions from the genitals;
• pain in the area of ​​infected organs;
• deterioration of the functions of the organs affected by the infection.

With chlamydia appear various kinds allocation

Due to the fact that the cells inhabited by chlamydia die over time, in their place are formed separate sections transformed into connective tissue.

The widespread spread of infection can lead to the fact that a significant part of the organ will be deprived functional cells- they will be replaced by scars. This is the most dangerous consequence of chlamydia.

Most often, chlamydia choose the following parts of the body and tissues as their habitat:

• mucous membranes of the organs of the reproductive system;
• liver parenchyma;
• lungs;
• mucous membranes of the eyes;
• membranes of the pericardium (heart bag);
• internal surfaces of the joints.

Chlamydia can enter the liver and lungs

Looking at this list, you can imagine how dangerous chlamydia is. The disease in the absence of therapy can change the functional component of life. important systems. Often, on the background of the disease appears real danger for human life.

What diseases can be caused by chlamydia?

Chlamydial infection, unlike other STIs, does not always have severe symptoms, which allow to identify the disease only by outward signs. First of all, the infection begins to spread and affect the squamous epithelium of the reproductive system. As a result of this, inflammatory processes occur:

• in women - vulvitis, bartholinitis, cervicitis and endocervicitis, endomyometritis and salpingoophoritis, adnexitis and vaginitis;
• in men - urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis and orchitis;
• in men and women - cystitis, pyelonephritis.

As a result of chlamydia, cystitis can develop, regardless of gender.

When the infection spreads to neighboring organs, an inflammatory process occurs in the organs of the peritoneum. Most often, such pathological processes have mild symptoms in the form of pulling pains in the abdomen, periodic digestive disorders, and colic. The problem is that the microorganism that affects the cells provokes the formation of a huge number of adhesions that make it difficult normal functioning organs.

Eliminate strands of connective tissue in abdominal cavity can be very difficult, especially if in the background adhesive process internal organs are damaged.

With the defeat of other organs in patients with chlamydia, there may be:

• hepatitis or cirrhosis;
• pneumonia;
• conjunctivitis;
• Heart arythmy;
• pericarditis;
• reactive arthritis and other severe diseases.

The presence of chlamydia in the body can cause cirrhosis of the liver

The signs of the listed ailments cannot remain unnoticed, but this does not mean that the patient will be able to part with it without problems. unpleasant symptoms. The appearance of regular discomfort indicates a deep damage to the body systems, the elimination of which will require not only medical, but also surgical treatment.

Consequences of chlamydia

The danger of chlamydia for humans lies primarily in their ability to weaken the immune system. There is an exacerbation of all chronic diseases, including those that are in no way associated with the infection as such.

It is noteworthy that with good diagnostic equipment, it is possible to trace the connection between chlamydia and joints, as well as other parts of the skeleton, which are practically not affected by other sexual infections.

As a result of the development of chlamydia, immunity weakens, which leads to various diseases.

Along with reactive inflammation of the joints, patients with chlamydia may experience severe liver damage, which often results in such large-scale degenerative changes in the organ that patients need an organ transplant. In rare cases, the disease can lead to the formation of benign or malignant neoplasms.

The consequences of chlamydia in women

Most often, long-term progressive chlamydia in women ends with a change in the structure of the endometrium of the uterus and fallopian tubes, chronic inflammation of the ovaries. As a result, many problems arise:

• fertilization does not occur due to obstruction of the tubes;
• the fertilized egg develops in the fallopian tube;
• the fertilized egg does not attach in the uterus;
• spontaneous abortion occurs, which happens twice or more times, resulting in a diagnosis of "habitual miscarriage";
• there is a rupture of the uterine wall during contractions or attempts due to the large number of scars on it.

In women, chlamydia leads to changes in the uterus, which affects the possibility of fertilization.

Also, chlamydia can lead to serious hormonal disruptions, and this already entails a number of physiological changes up to the early onset of menopause. This state can occur against the background of fluctuations blood pressure, rapid aging of the body, premature wear of the joints and spine.

Especially dangerous if they are in the period of pregnancy. In addition to the fact that the cervix with this infection often loses some of its locking abilities, the infection can become rampant and penetrate into the amniotic fluid and then into the child's body.

Even with normal conception and the course of pregnancy, chlamydia does not cease to be dangerous. When passing through the genital tract, the newborn is at risk of contracting an infection. In this case, the disease affects all the mucous membranes of the child. Eyes, lungs, digestive organs, intestines and rectum, liver can suffer.

The presence of chlamydia in a pregnant woman is fraught with infection of the fetus

In newborns, chlamydia almost always becomes chronic and is very difficult to treat.

The consequences of chlamydia in men

Starting in the form of a banal urethritis, chlamydia in men can even end with oncological diseases. Especially often this happens when the infection passes to the prostate. The organ ceases to function normally, as a result of which a man may experience erectile dysfunction.

The lack of adequate antimicrobial therapy leads to further spread of the infection through the male reproductive system. If, together with the prostate, it affects the testicles and seminal ducts, in addition to hormonal disruptions, a man faces infertility - spermatozoa may not be synthesized at all, or may not have sufficient mobility.

For men, chlamydia is fraught with the development of urethritis

With a significant concentration and activity of chlamydia in men, more serious problems can arise in the form of benign and sometimes malignant tumors of the prostate. In these cases surgery disease is not prescribed until the infection is eliminated.

Chlamydia is a very insidious disease that is not always possible to detect in time. If detected at any stage, the infection should be treated under the supervision of a physician, and only through pharmaceutical preparations: antibiotics, immunomodulators, anti-inflammatory and other agents. Even if the symptoms of the disease are completely absent, therapy can be stopped after evidence of the absence of infection in the body is obtained.

You will learn about the symptoms and treatment of chlamydia from the video: