Chlamydia trachomatis package

12.01.2024Uncategorized

What tests are done for chlamydia?

The two most common types of chlamydia are Chlamydia pneumoniae (Chlamydia pneumoniae) and Chlamydia trachomatis (Chlamydia trachomatis).

The first type of chlamydia is an intracellular bacterium that causes respiratory tract infections, most commonly manifesting in pneumonia. It makes people ill by damaging the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract covering the throat, trachea and lungs.

The second type of chlamydia is more popular, since here it is a sexually transmitted disease. In fact, it is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Chlamydia trachomatis is a parasite living inside the cell that causes a sexually transmitted infection. In the worst cases, failure to treat genital chlamydia can lead to infertility (sterility). The name of the infection itself is chlamydia.

What are the symptoms of a chlamydia sexually transmitted infection?

Interestingly, no more than 30% of patients have symptoms, which means that the infection is usually asymptomatic.

Symptomatology in chlamydia is not a sufficient indication of its presence. It is necessary in any case to conduct laboratory research, the results of which will serve to diagnose the specific condition.

The most common symptoms are pain, burning sensation during urination, abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina. In men, a painful sensation in the lower abdomen and/or testicles may be seen. In women, bleeding may occur in addition to discharge.

What tests are carried out to detect chlamydia?

There are three main methods used to test for chlamydia infection – by taking and testing blood, swabs or urine.

For blood tests, serological diagnosis by ELISA method is used. Venous blood is drawn from the patient and used to determine the presence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis – IgM, IgA or IgG, respectively.

The second way (DNA method) requires taking a local swab from the woman’s vagina or cervix or from the man’s urethra. The sample taken is used to detect the presence of DNA of the harmful microorganism.

Most often, a cervical swab or urethral swab is used. The testing itself relies on a polymerase chain reaction at two levels – one in the genome of the bacterium and another in the plasmid of the microorganism.

The method of urine testing is the least commonly used, as the other testing methods are significantly more sensitive to the markers tested.

Why is it important to get tested for chlamydia?

Although in the majority of cases the infection progresses without noticeable symptoms, untimely treatment can lead to serious consequences. The risk of transmitting the disease to other partners is also dangerous enough. The surest way of detecting the presence of chlamydia is precisely by testing.

When the infection is left untreated, it can progress to causing urethritis, cervicitis, epididymitis, inflammation in the genital system and even lead to ectopic pregnancy. If the pathogen remains too long in the body, it can even cause damage to the eyes, joints, etc.

If the parturient had a chlamydia infection at the time of delivery it is possible that the baby will get keratitis or pneumonia. This type of infection is thought to be one of the main causes of blindness in humans.