1. CHLAMYDIA
Agent Information:
• Chlamydia (kluh-MID-ee-uh) is a common
sexually transmitted disease due to infection
with Chlamydia trachomatis.
• Chlamydia is often referred to as a silent
infection because there are no apparent
symptoms.
• Chlamydia affects both men and women and
occurs in all age groups, but is most
prevalent among young women.
• Chlamydia isn't difficult to treat once you
know you have it. If left untreated, however,
chlamydia can lead to more-serious health
problems.
Symptoms:
• Early-stage chlamydia infections often cause
few or no signs and symptoms. When signs
or symptoms occur, they usually start one to
three weeks after exposure to chlamydia.
• It is more likely for men to have apparent
symptoms than women.
• Even when signs and symptoms occur,
they're often mild and passing, making them
easy to overlook.
• Symptoms may include:
Painful urination
Lower abdominal pain
Vaginal discharge in women
Discharge from the penis in men
Painful sexual intercourse in women
Bleeding between periods and after
sex in women
Testicular pain in men
• Chlamydia can be diagnosed with a swab
test of the urethra in men and the cervix in
women. There are also tests that check a
urine sample for the presence of the bacteria.
Transmission Information:
• Chlamydia is caused by bacteria and can be
spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex.
• This infection can also be passed from
mother to child during delivery.
• Ejaculation does not have to occur for
chlamydia to be transmitted; it can be
obtained through sexual contact with the
mouth, anus, vagina, or penis of an infected
person.
• The mucous membranes of the genital
region, throat and eyes in the human body
are the usual reservoirs for Chlamydia.
Range:
• 1,307,893 cases reported in 2010 in the
United States
Case rate is 426.0 per 100,000
population
• The most common STD in the U.S.
• Rates are 2.5x higher in females
• Highest rates:
In the Southern states
Among adolescents, specifically
those in corrections
Among blacks
• The highest prevalence of Chlamydia is
found in South and Southeast Asia (43
million).
Chlamydia is the most
common STI in the
United States.
2. Team 7
This map shows the distribution of Chlamydia
among the American states
Source: www.livescience.com
Risk Factors:
• Being under the age of 24 is associated with
an increased risk of chlamydia which can be
due to many reasons, a lack of sexual
education, risky behavior, and a lack of
consistent contraceptive use.
• Ethnic minority are at higher risk of
chlamydia due to their lower socioeconomic
status.
• Low socioeconomic status which leads to
decreased resources and knowledge
• Lack of comprehensive sex education
Unprotected sexual activity
Not using a condom consistently or
correctly
• Having multiple sex partners within the past
year
• History of prior sexually transmitted
infection
This graph displays the rates of Chlamydia among
females ages 15-19 within different ethnic groups
Source: www.cdc.gov
Treatment:
• Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.
• The two most commonly used antibiotics are
Azithromycin, a single dose, and
Doxycycline, multiple doses taken over a 5
to 7 day period.
• In most cases, the infection resolves within
one to two weeks. During that time, you
should abstain from sex.
• Your sexual partner or partners also need
treatment even if they have no signs or
symptoms. If not the infection can be passed
back and forth between sexual partners.
• Having chlamydia or having been treated for
it in the past offers no immunity against
another infection in the future
Prevention:
• The only way to prevent a chlamydia
infection is to abstain from sexual activities.
• Short of that, you can:
Use condoms the correct way every
time
Limit your number of sex partners
Get regular screenings
Avoid douching
Chlamydia at Georgia College & State
University:
• Chlamydia is the most commonly reported
STD at the GCSU health center
• During the fall of 2014 18 cases were
recorded
10 of these occurred in September,
less than a month after returning to
school following summer break
• While it is easily treated with antibiotics
students are not waiting adequate time after
treatment to resume sexual activity
They are educated of this in the
clinic
• In a survey conducted spring of 2013, 1.3%
of the student population was diagnosed and
treated in the past 12 months
For More Information:
www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chlamydiainfections.html
www.gcsu.edu/studenthealth/docs/2013ACHA.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2010/STDSurveillanceGraphics.html
www.who.int/hiv/pub/sti/who_hiv_aids_2001.02.pdf
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chlamydia/basics/definition/con-20020807
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/stds-hiv-safer-sex/chlamydia
http://www.livescience.com/48100-sexually-transmitted-infections-50-states-map.html
