Chlamydia trachomatis is a unique microorganism. He has his own life cycle. Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of urogenital chlamydia. It exists both in the infectious extracellular form of ET (elementary body) and in the replicable (replicative) intracellular form of RT - the reticular (reticular) body. Chlamydia trachomatis are prone to latent (latent) existence or have the ability to long-term survival in the body (persistence).
Infection with urogenital chlamydia occurs directly from a person who has severe manifestations of the disease or with its asymptomatic course. As a rule, Chlamydia trachomatis penetrate through unprotected sexual contact. Domestic infection can occur in the case of gross non-compliance with hygiene rules, both personal and general. Infection of the newborn comes from an ill mother. Infection occurs directly during childbirth during the passage of the fetus through the birth canal. As a result, a newborn may develop pneumonia and conjunctivitis.
Due to the fact that the transmission path of urogenital chlamydia is identical to other genital infections, it is often detected in combination with them (gonococci, trichomonads, mycoplasmas and others). It should be noted that with the development of trichomoniasis (trichomonasus), the pathogen (trichomonas), being an insensitive microorganism to antibiotic therapy, is often a kind of "container" for chlamydia. This infection can absorb pathogens of many sexually transmitted diseases. In such cases, the use of antibiotic therapy alone may be ineffective. If chlamydia is detected, additional studies are needed that are aimed at detecting and eliminating other genital infections.
With chlamydia, the incubation period (time from the moment of infection to the detection of the first signs) is from one to three weeks.
Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms
In both women and men, the disease proceeds without pronounced manifestations. It is this fact (asymptomatic course) that contributes to the later diagnosis and prescription of treatment. In this regard, the likelihood of developing complications significantly increases.
The manifestation of symptoms can begin after the incubation period (after 1-3 weeks) or several months with the development of complications.
For men, a characteristic sign of the disease is inflammation in the urethra (urethra). Then, the prostate, seminal duct, epididymis and seminal vesicles are involved in the inflammatory process .
The early stage of chlamydia can be accompanied by urethritis, which lasts from one week to a month. Common symptoms of the disease include burning, pain, itching during urination, rapid urination, clear, purulent, watery, milky-foamy discharge from the penis.
In a later period (with a chronic form), tension, pain, discomfort in the perineal region, soreness near the anus, pain and enlargement of the prostate, weakening and soreness of erection, frequent urges to urinate, discoloration of sperm, etc. are often manifested.
In women, infection often provokes inflammation in the cervix (cervicitis). Common symptoms include pain during sexual intercourse, mucous membranes or pus mixed with vaginal discharge, with a characteristic yellowish tinge and an unpleasant odor. Prolonged inflammation contributes to the development of erosion of the uterine neck, accompanied by spotting, in particular, after sexual contact.
Chlamydia trachomatis DNA is determined by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). This technique is considered the most accurate (sensitive and specific) among other diagnostic methods.