The symptoms of trachoma
In Germany the so-called trachoma is rather rare, but in developing countries it very often leads to blindness. The infection of the eye with Chlamydia first manifests itself as conjunctivitis and shows the following symptoms: If the trachoma is not treated, the chlamydia infection usually spreads to the cornea of the eye and leads to a deterioration of vision up to blindness. – Lacrimal flow
- Light-shy
- Feeling of pressure in the eye
The diagnosis
The latest diagnostic methods use molecular genetic possibilities. For this purpose, the genetic material of Chlamydia (DNA) is tested in the morning urine and in the secretion of the uterus (in men in the secretion of the urethra). Prior to this, this DNA is multiplied by means of a polymerase chain reaction in the preparation to be examined in order to enable a reliable diagnosis.
Before this new method was developed, the diagnosis had to be made on the basis of a cell smear of the urethra and, in women, also of the cervix. The samples obtained from these smears were cultured and examined to see whether chlamydia proliferated in them. Chlamydia infection can also be diagnosed by means of antibodies in the blood, but if the test result is positive, it cannot be determined with certainty whether the infection has healed or is acute (current).
Although the symptoms of a chlamydia infection are very similar to the symptoms of gonorrhoea, the two diseases must be treated differently. For this reason, a reliable diagnosis is extremely important. The Chlamydia rapid test is available in many pharmacies and also on the Internet as a self-test.
It can also be carried out by your family doctor and doctors from other disciplines (gynaecology, urology, venereology). For women under 25 years of age, this test is free of charge once a year. For the self-test, the costs have to be paid by the patient, they range from 25 to 100€, depending on the test set used.
The Chlamydia rapid test is based on a smear or urine test and takes about 15 minutes to show a result. However, the results of the rapid test are usually less accurate than a urine or blood test sent to the laboratory. For this reason, a doctor should first be consulted if the rapid test is positive.
This doctor can initiate therapy and/or have a chlamydial test performed in the laboratory. The blood count may initially show unspecific signs of inflammation in a chlamydia infection. This can lead to an increase in the inflammation value CRP (C-reactive protein) and the leukocyte count (white blood cells).
In addition, special blood tests can be performed. The bacterium can be cultivated in a blood culture. The detection of endogenous antibodies against the bacteria in the blood is also possible. Overall, the cultural cultivation of Chlamydia is difficult, so that the diagnosis takes a few days. Therefore, a faster test from swabs is used to initiate early therapy.
