The prevention
You can protect yourself from a Chlamydia infection and get help quickly in case of infection:
- Intercourse only with a condom
- If there is any doubt about an infection: see a doctor! – If you have a chlamydia infection, your partner must be treated as well
- In tropical countries: do not use used towels and pay attention to hygiene to avoid trachoma
The preventive medical checkup
Since chlamydia infections are sometimes asymptomatic, regular preventive medical checkups are recommended in the following risk groups: Before a procedure on the uterus (birth, contraceptive coil insertion, artificial insemination), the patient should be examined for chlamydia. Since 2008, statutory health insurance companies have been paying for chlamydia screening in women under the age of 25. Chlamydia testing in pregnant women is part of regular maternity care. – for women who are younger than 25 years
- In pregnant women
- For persons who have unprotected traffic with new or multiple partners
Chlamydia infection during pregnancy
Before a planned or during an existing pregnancy, women should be tested for Chlamydia infections, as the infection can have consequences for the child. As a rule, the test should be done before pregnancy and around the 32nd week of pregnancy. Usually the bacteria are transmitted from the woman’s genital area.
At birth, the child must pass through the genital tract so that it can become infected with chlamydia there. This can lead to chlamydia conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis caused by chlamydia), middle ear infection and pneumonia in the newborn. Treatment of chlamydia infection during pregnancy with the antibiotics azithromycin, erythromycin or amoxicillin. Transmission of the infection to the baby is also possible during the breastfeeding period, which is why nursing mothers should also be treated immediately.
The pneumonia caused by Chlamydia
Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia is typically caused by the bacterial strain Chlamydia pneumoniae or Chlamydia psittaci. Chlamydia psittaci is a bird-borne disease that mainly affects people who have a lot to do with birds at work. It usually leads to atypical pneumonia, which is characterised by less severe fever and only slight coughing.
Nevertheless, early treatment of the disease with antibiotics is advisable to prevent lung damage. Without therapy, the pathogen can also spread to other organ systems such as the brain and heart. Learn more about this topic here: Chlamydia infection of the lungs.
The cystitis caused by Chlamydia
A cystitis caused by Chlamydia is usually the result of a urogenital infection (affecting the urinary tract and genital tract). These are caused by the Chlamydia subspecies trachomatis. Women are particularly often affected by the cystitis.
Since their urethra is much shorter than that of men, the pathogens can ascend to the bladder more quickly and lead to cystitis there. A cystitis with chlamydia should be treated with antibiotics (for example with doxycycline) at an early stage. This can prevent the pathogen spreading to other organs such as the prostate and testicles in men and the uterus and ovaries in women.
