The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper

Chlamydia is considered to be a sexually transmitted disease that is relatively common among people.  This disease is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. Chlamydia infection is a term that is also used in reference to infections that have been caused by species that belong to Chlamydiaceae family of the very bacteria.  Chlamydia trachomatis is a type of bacteria that  affects only human beings. It is a major cause of infections in people’s genitalia as well as their eyes (Breguet, 26). A Chlamydia infection is considered to be very common among other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) globally.The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper

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Chlamydia trachomatis are the bacteria, naturally found to live in human body cells. Thesebacteria are transmitted either when one engages in anal, oral as well as vaginal sex. Chlamydia can also be transmitted from a mother to her child during vaginal delivery of the baby.  More than half of the women, infected with Chlamydia of the cervix are not aware that they have been infected with the bacteria, as in most cases they are no symptoms. For men, urethritis or the infection to the urethra is considered to be one of the symptoms for Chlamydia. It causes a white substance discharge from the penis. This can be both painful and not.  There are some instances where the condition may spread for women’ tract in the upper genitalia, and thus cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Also there are severe cases of Chlamydia among men, when it causes epididymis. It is important for people to seek treatment as soon as possible; the infections have the potential to cause problems to a person’s reproductive systems as well as other long and short term health challenges.The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper

According to Golanty, Chlamydia is one of the major causes of blindness (26). The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that in 1995 the condition was claimed to have contributed to about 15% of global illnesses, but this later dropped to about 3.6% in 2002. Chlamydia is a rapidly spreading sexually transmitted disease. Over 2.8 million new infections are registered every year in the United States. Around 5% of the country’s population is belived to be infected with these bacteria. About 10% of sexually active women arealso infected.

Studies have demonstrated that Chlamydia infections are more common in the United States and have been discovered the most affected groups.  One of the group is individuals who are 24 years or younger. Also people, who are living in the urban area of the United States have a higher likelihood of being infected with Chlamydia than others. African Americans are also at a higher risk of being infected with Chlamydia.  Individuals who are from low economic as well as social class also join the risk group of Americans, who are more likely to be infected with Chlamydia.

Chlamydia can be better diagnosed if individuals thoroughly observe their bodies, keep good record of medical history, and also have physical examination by a medical professional. The physical examinations may include samples from the cervical tissues and sending it to the laboratory for diagnosis. There are a lot of research methods that are being undertaken to ensure that the urine test in diagnosing Chlamydia will be introduced. It will be instrumental in ensuring greater accessibility for more Americans. When an individual is diagnosed with Chlamydia, it is important that his sexual partners in the last sixty days are also screened.The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper

According to William Bowie, in order to treat Chlamydia, very effective antibiotics are administered (17). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guidelines in 1998, when treating Chlamidya, people were encouraged to use 1 gram of azithromycin or 100 mg doxycycline oral two times a day for a total of seven days.. If a patient requires another treatment, he may be prescribed to administer 500 mg tube of erythromycin four times a day during a seven days course. Another alternative treatment is 800 mg tube of erythoromycin ethylsuccinate; it should be taken four times in a day throughout a week. Another effective oral synthetic antibiotic is ofloxacin 300 mg that should be taken twice a day during a week course. It is crucial that the medicines be prescribed to a patient by a qualified physician so as to be effective in the treatment of the disease.The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper

If Chlamydia is left untreated for a long time, it may cause infertility. A lot of women can suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease a long time after they suffered from Chlamydia. For pregnant women, it is essential that they are aware of their status as far as Chlamydia is concerned (Marr, 117). If they are unaware, then they are at risk of also infecting their children, when they are delivering. This may also be a cause for a pregnant woman to experience premature labor. Chlamydia will affect the new born babies through pneumonia as well as eye infections. It is therefore vital that pregnant women are screened for Chlamydia to reduce the risks.The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper

Prevention is very important. Some of these methods include using a condom when engaging in sexual intercourse, unless one is involved in a monogamous relationship. Also proper hygiene practices such as showering in preference of baths, not douching, dressing in innerwear’s that have a cotton crotch is important. It is vital for one to always visit a gynecological professional if they experience symptoms related to the condition. The Silent Epidemic in the United States» Essay Paper