Introduction
Chlamydia are bacteria that can cause various clinical pictures. They attack the mucous membranes of the urethra and the uterus. If left untreated, they can cause serious complications such as inflammation of the testicles or uterus and infertility. Chlamydia can also affect the mucous membranes of the airways and cause pneumonia. Due to the possible complications, the correct antibiotic treatment is a central element.
These antibiotics are used
Chlamydia are obligatory intracellular living bacteria. This means that they can only survive in a host cell, as they do not have their own metabolism. They therefore only occur inside other cells. For this reason not all antibiotics are effective. Antibiotics that can successfully fight Chlamydia are
- Doxycycline
- Azithromycin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Amoxicilin
That’s how long I have to take the antibiotics
Chlamydia can cause different diseases depending on the subgroup. The three most important clinical pictures are infections of the eye, the respiratory tract and the genital area. The duration of the therapy varies depending on the subgroup.
If the respiratory tract is affected, the antibiotic must be taken for at least 10 days, usually even longer (about 20 days). In the case of an infection in the genital area, the duration is usually shorter. In this case the antibiotic should be taken for at least 7 days.
This is how long the symptoms last after antibiotic therapy
The duration of antibiotic therapy also depends on the time at which the diagnosis of a chlamydia infection was made. The subsiding of symptoms, in turn, depends on the duration of antibiotic therapy. If the infection was promptly diagnosed, the symptoms should subside after 7-10 days. In the case of long-term infections, this cannot be said in general.
That’s how long I’m contagious after antibiotic therapy
This question cannot be answered in general, as the time of diagnosis is particularly important. Long-term infections are difficult to treat and it may take longer to eliminate the bacteria. In the case of an infection that was detected promptly, it is recommended not to have sexual intercourse or use a condom for 7-10 days after therapy.
What do you do if the antibiotics don’t work?
If the antibiotic does not help, this can have various causes. It may be that the Chlamydia strain is resistant to the antibiotic being taken at that time. In order to clarify this, one can carry out a so-called antibioogram.
This test shows which antibiotics are sensitive, i.e. which are effective. The therapy can then be changed. Another reason can be the duration of the infection.
If the infection has existed for a long time and has not been treated, the antibiotics must be taken longer than usual. In this case you should be patient and continue the therapy. If necessary, you can have an antibiogram done to remove any doubts.
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