Chlamydia / Chlamydia Trachomatis

About

Pronounced as "kla-MID-ee-uh" Chlamydia, is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and can be cured.

• Chlamydia is a very common cause of genital infection.
• The genital Chlamydia infection may be acquired during oral, vaginal, or anal, sexual contact with an infected partner.
• Chlamydia is often called the "silent" disease because a person can have it but still not get to know that he is having the infection.
• That means the disease often has no symptoms. This sustains the infectious pool in the population.
• It is regularly found in association with other sexually transmitted diseases 20% of men & 40% of women with gonorrhoea are found to have coexisting chlamydial infections.
• It can also cause serious problems in men and women, such as discharge from the penis and infertility.
• It can also cause infection in newborn babies of infected mothers.
• The chlamydia bacterium has a worldwide distribution.

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Chlamydia is one of the most widespread bacterial STDs in the United States. An estimated 3 million people are infected each year, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In UK there has been a steady rise (almost a 76%) in the incidence of CT between 1995-1999.

In India a high prevalence (upto 40%) of lower genital tract infections due to CT has been reported according to the Institute Of Pathology, New Delhi.