Chlamydia is a group of bacteria consisting of different subgroups. Depending on the subgroup, they attack different organ systems and can cause different clinical pictures. They can affect the genital area and lead to inflammation of the testicles or uterus.
If left untreated, the infection can even lead to infertility. Chlamydia can also affect the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and cause pneumonia. Conjunctivitis of the eye is also possible.
The causes
The cause of a Chlamydia infection is an infection with the bacterium. They multiply in the human body and can cause different symptoms depending on the subgroup of the bacterium. Especially the subgroup Chlamydia trachomatis is of great importance for humans because this bacterium is only transmitted by humans.
Chlamydia is mainly transmitted during sexual intercourse. Therefore, a chlamydia infection is considered a venereal disease. One to three weeks after infection, the chlamydia infection makes itself felt with the first symptoms.
If pregnant women suffer from a chlamydia infection, the risk of premature birth or premature amniotic sac rises. During birth, the child may be infected with the mother’s chlamydia. In newborn babies, these bacteria then lead to inflammation of the eyes and in rare cases to pneumonia.
Trachoma develops when the chlamydia infects the conjunctiva of the eye and causes it to become inflamed. The inflammation then also spreads to the cornea of the eye, and through smear infection (infections that are transmitted by touch) both eyes are affected within a very short time. These then change increasingly: the cornea becomes cloudy.
Infection is also possible through contact with flies. The transmission paths of chlamydial infection are as varied as the characteristics of the disease. In diseases with the bacterium Chlamydie trachomatis, the eyes as well as the urinary tract and genital organs can be affected.
Transmission occurs directly from person to person, possibly also from flies to humans. In addition, sexual transmission during sexual intercourse can occur via body fluids. The pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae, on the other hand, is mainly found in the lungs.
It follows the so-called aerogenic transmission through the air. This also includes droplet infection, which can occur, for example, through tiny droplets of fluid when coughing or sneezing. In the case of Chlamydia psittaci, the bacteria are also transmitted through the air. The pathogens are found in fine dust and animal excrements, are stirred up and enter the body via the respiratory tract. Therefore, this pathogen also triggers mainly infectious diseases in the lungs.
The symptoms
Approximately 80% of women affected and about 50% of men do not show any symptoms of the infection. As a result, chlamydia infections are not recognized and thus spread more and more through unprotected intercourse. Symptoms in men: Symptoms in women: Possible symptoms in all affected persons: Symptoms in infants: From the mother infected with Chlamydia the bacteria can be transmitted to the infant during birth.
This can lead to a purulent conjunctivitis or pneumonia in the newborn. – Inflammation of the urethra (urethritis)
- Difficult urination
- Increased urination
- Pulling pain in the urethra
- Mucopurulent discharge
- Itching and burning when urinating
- Inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis)
- Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis)
- Increased discharge, possibly purulent
- Vaginal itching
- Itching and burning sensation when urinating
- Possible ascent of the infection into the uterus and fallopian tubes
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Liver inflammation
- Infertility (mostly due to blocked fallopian tubes)
- Pain in the anus
- Outflow at the anus
- Joint pain (arthritis)
- Ulcers in the genital area, groin or anus (lymph granuloma venereum)
Basically, an infection in the body can always be accompanied by general complaints such as tiredness, malaise and headaches. Chlamydia infection is therefore no exception.
However, the disease with Chlamydia occurs in different forms. Typically, the local infection of the eyes or genital tract causes only local symptoms. However, if the disease spreads, general symptoms such as fatigue may also be present.
Chlamydia infection of the respiratory tract (especially the lungs) is also associated with fatigue and other flu-like symptoms. Chlamydia infection in the genital tract can lead to a bad smelling yellowish discharge. Other symptoms such as genital itching also occur.
A burning sensation in the genital area is also not uncommon with chlamydia infection. Depending on which parts of the urogenital tract are affected, there may be further complaints during urination (pain, burning, etc) and during sexual intercourse (itching, burning, pain). Reactive arthritis is one of the complications of a Chlamydia infection.
Here, after an infection of the urogenital tract, asymmetrically occurring wandering pain in individual joints occurs. The joints of the lower extremities (ankle, knee, hip) are particularly affected. In addition, complaints such as fever and inflammation of the tendons can occur.
A skin reaction on the hands and feet can also be triggered by reactive arthritis after chlamydia infection. In most cases, the symptoms begin about one week after the actual infection. Therapy consists of treatment of the chlamydia infection as well as light painkillers for the joints.
The course is often long (about a year) and can become chronic in about 20% of affected people. . The swelling of lymph nodes in the groin can be a consequence of chlamydial infections in the genital area.
One reason is the infection itself, which activates the immune system and thus leads to additional work on the lymph nodes. The so-called lymphogranuloma inguinale can also occur as a result of the Chlamydia infection. There are small skin lesions in the genital area, followed by significant lymph node swelling with blue-red discoloration and pus formation after two weeks. Again, antibiotic therapy with doxycycline (longer than for normal chlamydia infection) is necessary.
