chlamydia is a disease that occurs commonly both in men and women.Most patients are curious about what the doctors will do to diagnose and what will happens if the infection is left untreated.
How to diagnose chlamydia?
The health care practitioner will conduct the following exams and tests.
Physical Examination
Tenderness for women in the area of the sex organs, pus from the vagina or penis, and fever could indicate an infection.
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests may be ordered that may include looking at samples of the discharge under a microscope or obtaining cultures to identify the disease-causing bacteria.
Some diagnostic tests may include obtaining cultures or sending urine to the laboratory to determine if you are infected. You may also be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases because many patients with chlamydia also have other infections such as
gonorrhea or trichomonas.
What are the complications if not treated?
◦Ten percent to 40% of women will develop
pelvic inflammatory disease;
5% of women with pelvic inflammatory disease will develop a form of liver disease (perihepatitis).
◦Women may develop chronic pelvic pain and become sterile due to blockage of the Fallopian tubes that allow the egg to be transported from the ovary to the women's womb.
◦More common in men, some may develop sexually acquired reactive arthritis or Reiter syndrome.
◦Men may experience painful swelling of the testicles.
Once you meet these symptoms,you should see the doctor soon to look for help.The health care practitioner may prescribe a single-dose antibiotic, such as azithromycin (Zithromax), taken as a pill. On the other hand, the doctor may choose an antibiotic, such as doxycycline (Atridox, Bio-Tab), to be taken as a pill twice a day for a week.
