$Unique_ID{BRK00940} $Pretitle{} $Title{How Can Chlamydia be Treated?} $Subject{chlamydia sex STD lifestyle lifestyles Genitourinary Infections bacteria bacterial infection cervix cervicitis urinary tube urethritis proctitis rectum sexually transmitted disease venereal diseases vd painful urination penile discharge vaginal nongonococcal antibiotics tetracycline doxycycline Erythromycin} $Volume{J-23} $Log{ Sexually Transmitted Disease: Chlamydia*0006404.scf Types of Urinary Tract Infections*0007101.scf} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. How Can Chlamydia be Treated? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: I'm confused about the mysterious venereal disease, Chlamydia. Can it be treated and how? Once you have been treated, can some of the germs survive and come back at a later date? What's the latest information? Your answer would be greatly appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: The group of chlamydial disease have been confusing doctors for some time, so you are not alone. Originally, they were thought to be viruses, but now are considered to be more like bacteria. Probably most of the cases of infection of the cervix (cervicitis) and the urinary tube (urethritis) in women and urethritis and proctitis (infection of the rectum) in men is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease is transmitted sexually, and the first symptoms appear between 7 and 28 days after intercourse. In men, the urethritis starts with painful urination, and a penile discharge. Women frequently have the disease with few symptoms present except for a vaginal discharge. Since gonorrhea may create the same situation, it is usually suspected first, but in the past, when the gonococcus bacteria was not found by microscopic examination of slides of the discharge, or by bacteriologic cultures, the infection was called "nonspecific" or "nongonococcal" urethritis. Today we know these conditions are the result of a chlamydial infection. Treatment consists of a course of antibiotics, with tetracycline or doxycycline used most frequently, for a period of ten days. Erythromycin is used for women who are pregnant. When relapses occur, and they do in about 20 percent of the cases, longer periods of treatment lasting up to 28 days is needed, resulting in a cure. During the period of therapy, patients should abstain from sexual intercourse until the symptoms subside and the treatment is completed. Sexual partners should be examined and treated as well if the infection is present, or the partners can reinfect one another, making it appear that a relapse has occurred, when it is really a reinfection. Although this may be a period of some anxiety for the patient, the good news is that the infection is curable in most circumstances. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.