Where does chlamydia come from in women, how can you get infected with a dangerous disease? Chlamydia. How it is transmitted, symptoms of chlamydia, modern diagnosis, effective treatment of the disease How chlamydia is transmitted in humans

Today, there are many infections that are transmitted from person to person in a variety of ways. For example, how is chlamydia transmitted?

This common infectious disease is caused by intracellular bacteria - chlamydia. These pathogens affect the reproductive system of both men and women. Millions of people around the world are infected each year. According to statistics, this is the most common sexually transmitted disease.

Description of the disease

Chlamydia is an infectious disease that can harm both the genitourinary system and other organs of the human body.

Key points:

1. Often the infection is localized in the pelvic organs.
2. The risk of developing pathology in the throat.
3. The disease spreads through the lymphatic system, focusing in the joints and organs.
4. Pathology can harm the lungs, thereby causing pneumonia.
5. Infects the organs of vision, causing.

Pathogenic microorganisms of chlamydia are comparatively more than viruses, but less than bacteria. Having penetrated into the body, they may not manifest themselves in any way, that is, the pathology is asymptomatic. As a result, a sick person may not be aware of the problem, and in the future is able to infect households, loved ones and sexual partners.

To prevent the development of infection, you should familiarize yourself with the methods of infection with chlamydia.

Ways of infection

It is important to understand that infection occurs with any type of sexual contact:

• anal;
• oral;
• vaginal.

Women are most susceptible to infection, since the penetration of pathogenic pathogens into the male urogenital canal is difficult. Along with this, some chlamydia are washed off the next time you urinate.

With vaginal contact without the use of a condom, chlamydia directly penetrates the vagina. In such a situation, the risk of infection for a woman is 100%. During anal sexual contact, microorganisms are in the rectum, where they are concentrated.

Is chlamydia transmitted orally? The answer is yes - in this case, the pathology is localized in the throat. This location is difficult to identify and diagnose.

From the foregoing, it follows that in order to avoid infection, a constant partner is needed, and in case of spontaneous intimacy, a condom should be used.

other methods

There are other ways of transmission of the disease.

Chlamydia can only be passed on by kissing if:

• the integrity of the mucous membrane of the lips or tongue is broken;
• in the presence of inflammation in the oral cavity, such as stomatitis;
• there are gum diseases, in which blood comes out and, therefore, enters the saliva.

In other situations, the possibility of transmitting the disease through a kiss is excluded. On this account, there are conditions and ways of transfer.

In adults, invasion can occur:

• when using shared sex toys, such as a vibrator, and other personal accessories;
• when using someone else's underwear with pathogenic secretions;
• using an infected person's towel.

Chlamydia in the household way is dangerous for those who have a habit of using other people's toothbrushes, razors and other personal items.

Rarely, but infection is still possible when visiting pools and baths. This is due to the fact that water can contain a huge amount of viruses that provoked the development of chlamydia.

Children can also become infected, and there are several ways of infection. A great danger is the vertical way of transmission of chlamydia, which, as a rule, is detected in newborns. During the period of bearing a child, bacteria are not able to penetrate the amniotic membrane, however, the baby can become infected while passing through the birth canal during childbirth. In the first days of life, the crumbs have weakened immunity, which can also contribute to the airborne transmission of the disease from the mother.

Invasion of chlamydia through pets is not excluded - it can be dogs, cats and other animals. To prevent infection, it is necessary to vaccinate pets and monitor their health.

Symptoms

Unfortunately, the symptoms of the infection are very insignificant, which affects the difficult diagnosis, and hence the timely therapy.

The following signs are distinguished with a pronounced course:

• unreasonable increase in body temperature;
• the appearance of clear discharge from the urethra;
• urination can pass with pain and burning sensation;
• damage to the organ of vision - redness of the mucous membranes;
• lung damage - cough, inflammation.

Due to the fact that the above symptoms are similar to manifestations of other diseases, it is urgent to go to see a therapist.

Complications

The danger of the disease is due to its active spread throughout the body, which can cause numerous complications:

• circinary balanitis;
• Reiter's syndrome;
• urethral stricture;
• orchiepididymitis with a possible cessation of sperm production;
• chronic prostatitis;
• inflammation of the female genital organs (pelvis).

In pregnant women, the disease can cause miscarriage, serious malformations, infection of the child during childbirth. A certain pattern was found: in newborn boys, the shell of the eyes initially suffers, and in girls, the genital organ.

Prevention

If you know how they become infected with this disease, then you can prevent accidental infection. To do this, you should only adhere to the rules of personal hygiene and carry out general preventive measures.

If any disturbing symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor: only a specialist is able to diagnose this infectious disease. To confirm the guesses, the doctor will prescribe tests, and if an ailment is detected, appropriate treatment.

Nowadays, everyone needs to know how to get chlamydia and other STDs. This pathology can cause damage to various organs of the human body: the pathogen enters the lymphatic system, joints and other body systems.

The disease can be effectively treated only if it is detected in time. Women and men need to be examined at least once a year by the appropriate specialists.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease. Refers to intracellular infections, which makes the diagnosis and treatment of the disease complicated. The main route of transmission is unprotected sexual intercourse. An infected pregnant woman can pass the infection to her baby. This pathology requires complex and long-term treatment with toxic drugs. The infection can affect any organs and systems, causing serious negative consequences for the body.

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  Description of the disease

  Chlamydia is a disease of an infectious nature, the causative agent of which is chlamydia (a special type is chlamydia trachomatis). It affects the genitourinary system, provoking the development of the urogenital form.

  More than 100 million people are infected every year. It is considered one of the most common among the diseases that are sexually transmitted. The causative agents are larger than the virus, but smaller than bacteria, which determines their prevalence, as well as the complexity of diagnosis and treatment.

  The main way of infection is. Chlamydia is transmitted through both vaginal and oral and anal contact. After penetration into the human body, microorganisms spread through the blood and lymph flow to all organs and systems.

  Chlamydia provokes pathologies such as conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, pelvioperitonitis.

  Types of infection

  The disease is quite insidious, because the pathogen is of several types, differing in a special structure. They are designated by Latin letters: A, B, Ba, D-K, I-3. For example, I-3 chlamydia provokes the development of a tropical disease - venereal lymphogranuloma. Types D-K cause damage to the genitals. There are pathological organisms that cause a serious illness - trachoma.

  The development of the disease is due to the introduction of chlamydia D-K. They are able to live and reproduce in the body of the host, and can also exist for quite a long time outside the human body.

  

  Transmission routes

  The most common transmission mechanism is through sexual intercourse. Unprotected sex, even oral sex, leads to the fact that the infection is transmitted from person to person. The probability of getting infected in this case is about 60%. Chlamydia can also spread through the household, provided the use of other people's toothbrushes, razors or any personal hygiene items, but this is rare.

  The risk of infection increases in the presence of microtraumas on the skin and mucous membranes.

  The vertical route of transmission - from mother to child - is a fairly common cause of infection. If a woman has chlamydia during pregnancy, there is a risk of infection of the fetus. Some types of the disease can be transmitted from animals and birds: you can get infected, for example, from a domestic cat.

  

  Hygiene items through which chlamydia is transmitted

  According to many studies, the pathogen is also present in saliva. Theoretically, infection through a kiss is possible, but in practice the probability is too small.

  

  Incubation period

  After chlamydia trachomatis is in the genital tract of a woman or a man, it takes a certain time for it to start active reproduction. Most often, the incubation period is about 2 weeks, although it can stretch up to a month.

  

  Reproduction of chlamydia

  After entering the human body, the microorganism goes through several stages:

  • Penetration into the mucous membrane.
  • Breeding insidecells. Unlike other viruses and bacteria, chlamydia are represented by reticular bodies and begin to divide if there are suitable conditions for this. After 2-3 days, the cell in which the chlamydia was located dies.
  • Manifestation of symptoms. The last stage is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the organ that has been affected. The cell dies, the reticular bodies come out and attack healthy cells. Reproduction of organisms takes place, for which about 14 days are needed.

  Manifestations of chlamydia in men

  The microorganism most often causes an inflammatory disease of the urethra - urethritis. It is manifested by soreness, burning during urination. With a long course, it contributes to the formation of scars and narrowing of the lumen of the urethra.

  Inflammation of the testicles and their appendages (orchiepididymitis) is manifested by an increase in the size of the organs. Accompanied by severe pain, local inflammatory reactions. The result can be infertility or a decrease in testosterone levels.

  
  

  Prostatitis is an inflammatory lesion of the prostate gland. Involvement in the process of this organ occurs a few weeks after infection with the upward movement of chlamydia along the urinary tract. With the development of the disease, a number of common symptoms are observed:

  • pain in the groin;
  • problems with urination;
  • discharge from the urethra.

  With a long process, the structures of prostate tissues are disrupted, which leads to infertility and impaired spermatogenesis.

  The first signs and symptoms in women

  Characteristic manifestations of the disease in women may be absent. Pathological symptoms appear in only a third of those infected. The latent course is dangerous not only for the patient, but also for her sexual partner. If an infected woman becomes pregnant, chlamydia can harm the baby in the womb.

  Self-observation of signs and secretions does not provide specific information about the presence of chlamydia. These symptoms accompany other diseases: herpes, thrush, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.

  You can suspect the disease by the following signals:

  • An increase in temperature to subfebrile numbers (observed in the acute course of pathology).
  • The occurrence of pain of varying degrees of intensity. Localization: lower abdomen, lower back.
  • Symptoms of cystitis with involvement in the inflammatory process of the urethra (cutting pains at the beginning and end of the act of urination).
  • Non-standard discharge - mucopurulent, with a yellow tint and an unpleasant odor. In this case, they may be a consequence of not only chlamydial infection.
  • Burning and discomfort in the groin.
  • Erosion of the cervix - can also indicate chlamydia.

  Many symptoms can only be detected by a gynecologist during an examination.

  Methods of laboratory diagnostics

  Diagnosis is quite problematic. Its complexity is associated with the characteristics of the vital activity of the infection. Chlamydia is an intracellular microorganism that is able to penetrate and live in the host cells, which are often the epithelium of the mucous membranes of the genital organs. It is with this that repeated relapses of chronic diseases are associated.

  If chlamydia persists intracellularly, then when favorable conditions occur, it is activated, causing an exacerbation of the chronic process. Treatment attempts lead to chronic inflammation of the urinary organs and resistant forms of the microorganism.

  Often other infections are combined with chlamydia, which are provoked by opportunistic microorganisms. They are present in the human body normally, but if the immune defense deteriorates, they can cause infectious diseases.

  Conventionally, methods for diagnosing chlamydia are divided according to the principle on which they are based. The following are currently in use:

  • rapid tests;
  • smear;
  • immunofluorescence reaction;
  • serological methods;
  • linked immunosorbent assay;
  • cultural method;
  • DNA methods.
  
  

  It is impossible to single out the most optimal method for diagnosing chlamydia, since each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:

  Diagnostic method	Description
  Express tests	Mini-tests, or express tests, can be purchased at any pharmacy. They are designed for home use. When a bacterium enters a sensitive strip, antibodies bind to microorganisms and stain it. With a positive result, two bars are visible in the reading window. The sensitivity of the method varies between 20-50%
  Mucosal smear	Examination of the discharge of the genitourinary organs under a microscope. In women, a smear is taken from the walls of the vagina, cervix, or external opening of the urethra. In men - from the urethra (in some cases, the secret of the prostate is analyzed). Microscopic examination is quite simple, inexpensive and fast. The sensitivity of the method in relation to chlamydia is low and is no more than 15-30%. The smear may show a pattern of chronic inflammation suggesting a possible chlamydia infection.
  Immunofluorescence reaction	Requires highly qualified laboratory assistant and sophisticated equipment. To carry out the reaction, the smear is stained with fluorescent dyes. Thanks to this, chlamydia look luminous. The method is extremely accurate, but only a small number of professionals are able to use it, so the sensitivity is estimated at 70%. This is due to the fact that other opportunistic microorganisms are also stained with fluorescent dyes. In addition, only one type of chlamydia is found. Advantage - high execution speed
  Serological methods	For the diagnosis of chlamydial infection, one standard method is used - the component binding reaction. It consists in the use of special antibodies that bind to pathogens. then they are fixed in the complex. The method is carried out quickly and quite simply, but gives a lot of false positive results. Has low specificity
  PCR method	The sensitivity is quite high - up to 99%. The main disadvantage is that diagnostics requires a specially equipped laboratory and qualified personnel. It is necessary to observe sterility at all stages, otherwise there may be false positive results. For the test, a set of reagents from various manufacturers is used, the sensitivity of which may vary
  ligase chain reaction	Refers to DNA methods. One of the most modern, allows in urine. Sensitivity and specificity reach 100%. The method is superior to all others, including cultural. For research, it is enough to collect urine in a container. However, the test is quite time-consuming, requires highly qualified personnel and special equipment.
  Cultural method	It consists in the fact that the discharge from the genitourinary organs is planted on a special nutrient medium. For several days, the sown material is placed in a special incubator. After some time, provided that there is chlamydia in the test sample, it will grow on the surface in the form of specific colonies. This method allows you to determine the sensitivity to antibiotics, never gives false positive results. The disadvantage is the duration - it takes several days to grow microorganisms

  Therapy for chlamydia

  Treatment must be comprehensive. The infection is almost impossible to completely cure by prescribing just one type of antibiotic. In addition to antibiotic therapy, medicines are used to stimulate the immune system, increase the protective properties of the body, normalize the intestinal microflora and mucous membranes. There are measures to eliminate chronic diseases.

  Concomitant treatment is often carried out as a preparatory step before the appointment of antibiotics - to minimize their toxic effects.

  Preparation for treatment

  To normalize the intestinal microflora, preparations from the group of eubiotics are used (Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Hilak forte). Additionally assigned:

  • Hepatoprotectors. Used in case of liver damage.
  • enzyme preparations. They are used under the condition that there is a disease of the pancreas with enzyme deficiency (Festal, Panzinorm, Creon).
  • Other drugs for the treatment of pathologies of the digestive system.

  Preparation for treatment includes a complete blood count to rule out pyelonephritis. If this disease is detected, additional use of diuretics and the choice of effective antibiotics against the pathogen are necessary. For this, an antibiogram of urine culture is performed.

  The duration of the preparatory stage is individual and depends on the presence of chronic diseases, but rarely exceeds 2-4 weeks and is controlled by the attending physician.

  The need for this stage is that the treatment of chlamydia requires the use of sufficiently toxic drugs and long-term regimens, interruptions in which are highly undesirable. If you interrupt the use of an antibacterial agent, chlamydia becomes insensitive to it.

  Concomitant chronic diseases with long-term treatment with high doses of toxic drugs may worsen, which is an indication for their cancellation. It is for this that the patient is prepared and the body is stabilized.

  • Tetracycline, Doxycycline.
  • Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Midecamycin.
  • Ofloxacin.

  Before prescribing the drug, you need to conduct a full examination - this will help to avoid serious complications. Only a doctor can adequately draw up a treatment regimen and control the process. With chlamydia, self-medication and folk methods are categorically unacceptable.

  Stimulation of immunity

  Stimulation of the body's defenses is achieved by reducing emotional stress, normalizing the daily routine, increasing activity, and healthy nutrition. These methods are supplemented by the appointment of the following drugs:

  • Vitamins from the group of antioxidants(A, C, E), which reduce the toxic effects of chlamydia on the body and promote the restoration of damaged tissues.
  • Immunala- a herbal preparation used to stimulate immune cells. The processes of elimination of infection and restoration of tissues under its action occur more actively. The drug has contraindications that must be excluded before taking it.

  Immunostimulating therapy is prescribed individually.

  Prevention

  The best prevention is to avoid factors that lead to infection:

  • Decrease in the number of sexual partners. Significantly increases the risk of infection in the presence of promiscuity.
  • Use of protective equipment in case of accidental contact. Preference should be given to a condom.
  • If there is suspicion of a partner's infidelity, a serological and bacteriological study for STDs is carried out annually.
  • Immediate initiation of treatment upon detection of chlamydia.
  • Cessation of sexual intercourse during therapy. None of the protection methods gives a 100% guarantee.
  • Conducting a full course of treatment and subsequent diagnosis of the condition.
  
  

  Consequences of chlamydia

  In women, diseases of the pelvic organs occur, which manifest themselves in the form of inflammation:

  • fallopian tubes (salpingitis);
  • vagina (colpitis);
  • fallopian tubes and ovaries (salpingoophoritis);
  • cervix (cervicitis);
  • the inner lining of the uterus (endometritis).

  These ailments can lead to adhesions that cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and early miscarriages. Due to the development of infection in the body, pathologies such as placentitis, chorioamnionitis and perihepatitis can manifest.

  Pregnant women often have:

  • intrauterine infection;
  • premature rupture of the fetal bladder;
  • fetal death;
  • postpartum endometritis.

  The presence of a chlamydial infection significantly reduces the chances of a successful in vitro fertilization.

  In some cases, the infection does not affect the genitals, but, for example, the rectum, causing proctitis. When the pathogen enters the throat, pharyngitis develops, and pyelonephritis develops in the kidneys. There is also pneumonia caused by chlamydia.

  The disease often develops in children. Infection occurs in utero or through the birth canal. Sometimes household methods are possible (through the bed).

  Another pathology caused by chlamydia is Reiter's disease. This is a complex disease characterized by the occurrence of urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis at the same time. Sometimes inflammatory diseases of the skin and mucous membranes are added to them. Violations develop in patients with chlamydia who have a histocompatibility antigen that is inherited. It can be detected in 90% of patients. It has not yet been revealed how it works, but it has been found that the risk of developing seronegative arthritis in such people is 40 times higher.

  
  

  The disease begins with diarrhea. Two weeks later, urethritis appears with mild manifestations. After a couple of weeks, there is a sharp exacerbation of the process: an increase in temperature to 38 degrees and pain in the joints. The disease can affect all organs and systems.

  Diagnostics of the cure

  To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, diagnostic procedures are needed. Cure Criteria:

  • Negative PCR result. The study is carried out no earlier than 4 weeks after the end of the course of antibiotic therapy. If diagnosed earlier, a false negative result can be obtained.
  • Decreased lgG titer to a level of less than 1 to 16 and the disappearance of lgM, which is an additional criterion.
  • Decreased clinical signs of disease(cervicitis, prostatitis, urethritis). Inflammatory processes can also be caused by concomitant infections, so the presence of inflammation or the disappearance of the main clinical symptoms cannot be the basis for assessing the effectiveness of treatment.

About 100 million people worldwide are infected with chlamydia each year. According to numerous studies and WHO data, chlamydial infection is considered the most common pathology that is transmitted through sexual contact. This is due to the almost imperceptible course of the disease and the long-term existence of bacteria in the body without severe symptoms.

The most common infection with chlamydia occurs through sexual contact. Also, infection with chlamydia is possible through household, airborne and contact routes.

Is chlamydia transmitted by household means, what are the methods of transmission of chlamydial infection and how to avoid infection with chlamydia - we will talk about this in the article.

Methods of infection with chlamydia

Depending on the state of the immune system, the nature and characteristics of the infection, chlamydia has the following ways of infection:

Sexual way

This is the most common way to contract chlamydial infection, occurring in 70-90% of cases. Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral intimacy leads to the fact that the carrier of the infection, who may not be aware of the disease, infects his sexual partners. With a single sexual intercourse, the probability of contracting the virus is more than 60%. Through the mucous membranes of the lower parts of the urogenital system, rectum, oral cavity, chlamydia penetrate into the human body, after which, together with lymph or blood, they spread to other organs and functional systems.

household way

Is it possible to get chlamydia in a household way? There are no officially confirmed facts on this question. However, some studies have shown that chlamydia can be stored on household items for a day (cloth, toilet lid, etc.) and penetrate into the body of a healthy person. In this case, the room temperature should be within 18-20 degrees. Therefore, the likelihood of infection with chlamydia in everyday life is still present.

Mostly domestic chlamydia affects the mucous membranes of the eyes and organs of the genitourinary system. Chlamydial infection is resistant to the external environment, so when sharing personal hygiene items and household items, mass infection can occur. Also, infection is possible through water in public showers, pools, reservoirs.

contact way

Contact infection with chlamydia occurs through the uterus in the following situations:

• Surgical termination of pregnancy;
• Installation of an intrauterine contraceptive (IUD);
• Use of a urinary catheter (men are predominantly infected this way).

Also, chlamydia can enter the uterine cavity along with sperm from an infected partner.

airborne way

Chlamydial infection can enter the body through the lungs. In this case, the disease has an epidemic or sporadic (non-permanent) character. Most often, the following types of chlamydia are transmitted in this way:

• Chlamydophila pneumoniae - from an infected person, affecting the lungs and bronchi;
• Chlamydophila abortus - through the meat of an infected animal, through dust;
• Chlamydophila felis - through injuries caused by an infected cat;
• Chlamydophila psittaci - from birds.

Another of the common ways of infection with chlamydia is from a mother to a newborn child who suffered the disease during the gestation period.

Once in the human body, the virus provokes the development of inflammatory processes in the bladder, prostate and testicles, as well as female and male infertility. If an infected woman becomes pregnant against the background of an infection, its progression leads to miscarriage. With repeated infections with chlamydia, the risk of adverse effects increases.

How to avoid chlamydia infection

Since chlamydia is most often transmitted through sexual contact, the surest way to avoid infection is to have a regular sexual partner. However, this has its own nuances - the partner may have other intimate relationships or be infected even before you met.

It is impossible to completely protect yourself with the help of barrier contraceptives (condoms). Chlamydia is not transmitted through a condom, but there are other ways of getting an infection when using this contraceptive:

• Some use a condom only before ejaculation, and not during the entire sexual contact;
• The contraceptive is worn immediately before sexual intercourse. In this case, the infection can get on the bed during foreplay (foreplay);
• condom damage;
• misuse;
• Repeated application.

When visiting swimming pools or public showers, you need to use only your own hygiene items (towel, washcloth, soap).

Unlike sexual and oral, domestic chlamydia is less common. If you follow the rules of personal hygiene and use individual means for the mucous membranes of the genitals, mouth and eyes, then the risk of infection with chlamydia is significantly reduced.

Having found the appearance of the first signs of infection with chlamydia, contact a venereologist who, through laboratory diagnostics, will determine the type of infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Attention! This article is posted for informational purposes only and under no circumstances is scientific material or medical advice and can not serve as a substitute for in-person consultation with a professional doctor. For diagnosis, diagnosis and treatment, please contact qualified doctors!

Number of reads: 2684 Publication date: 03.10.2017

The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is not very well adapted to environmental conditions. However, it can retain the potential for infection for several days even outside the body. This feature of the bacterium makes it possible to become infected with chlamydia through the contact-household route.

Survival of chlamydia in the environment depends on the subspecies of the bacterium, the time of year, and many other factors. On average, they can lead to infection 24 to 48 hours after contact with household items. The maximum possible period is 5 days. After that, chlamydia die and do not pose a threat of infection.

In general, in everyday life, chlamydia can be transmitted with the following items:

• towels;
• sanitary napkins;
• washcloths;
• other personal hygiene products;
• linens;
• Underwear.

Despite the apparent abundance of intermediary items, infection with chlamydia in everyday life is quite rare. Elementary observance of personal hygiene and timely treatment of acute forms of the disease practically exclude such a possibility.

To date, chlamydia infection is a fairly common occurrence among people of reproductive age. That is why the question of how chlamydia is transmitted worries many.

Ways of transmission of infection

Doctors know several ways of infection with chlamydia. There are the following transmission routes:

• oral;
• anal-genital;
• vaginal;
• through saliva (the disease is not transmitted through the blood);
• airborne;
• contact-household.

Consider how you can get chlamydia in one case or another.

Oral

The development of oral chlamydia is caused by the pathogen entering the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Infection occurs in the following ways:

• Contact. Chlamydia have the ability to stay outside the human body. Therefore, the use of someone else's toothbrush and other hygiene items can end in infection. Occasionally, dental procedures performed with a dirty instrument can cause infection.
• Sexual. The mode of infection is determined by the gender of the carrier. If a man is sick, the disease is transmitted to his partner during a blowjob. Representatives of the stronger sex become infected with cunnilingus (the probability of infection in this case is minimal).
• Contact household. Transmission of the disease is also possible through contact with the patient's body fluids, such as sputum or vaginal discharge. This can happen when sharing clothing or bath items.
• From mother to fetus (during pregnancy) or newborn. The transmission of chlamydia occurs in utero or when the child passes through the genital tract. In both cases, this is fraught with serious complications for the baby.

In 90% of cases, the disease develops due to unprotected intercourse.

Moreover, as a rule, women aged 26-40 years and men aged 19-30 years are infected, which is caused by their increased sexual activity.

anal-genital

Anal sex without a condom significantly increases the risk of developing various diseases, including. The entrance gate for the penetration of the pathogen in this case are microscopic damage to the mucous membrane of the rectum.

Infection in such situations, as a rule, is exposed to a partner or a passive sexual partner, and it itself ends with chlamydial proctitis, accompanied by pain in the intestines, itching and discharge from the rectum. These symptoms are mild and disappear a few weeks after the onset without any treatment (the disease becomes chronic, and after years it manifests itself as a lesion of internal organs and systems).

Vaginal

The main route of transmission of chlamydia is unprotected sexual contact. The fair sex gets sick more often than men due to the fact that in their reproductive system there is more cylindrical epithelium that chlamydia requires for reproduction.

To get into the body, the pathogen needs contact with the mucous membranes. This condition is met during sex without condoms.

The entry of the seminal fluid of an infected partner into the female body accelerates the spread of infection in the body. A similar effect is exerted by:

• intrauterine device;
• operations on the organs of the genitourinary system.

Attention! The main way to avoid vaginal infection with chlamydia is to use condoms.

Through saliva

The possibility of infection through the saliva of an infected person is negligible and for the most part refers not to domestic infection, but to infection during oral sex.

This fact is explained by the fact that saliva is an environment unfavorable for the reproduction of chlamydia, and therefore, their number in it is minimal. This also applies to oral chlamydia - the excretory ducts of the salivary glands are located much higher than the pharynx, in which microorganisms multiply.

Infection in this case occurs in the presence of three factors:

• infectious process in the oral cavity of the carrier;
• high concentration of the pathogen in saliva;
• decrease in the immunity of a healthy person.

However, due to the fact that such coincidences almost never occur, it is almost impossible to get sick when kissing or using shared dishes.

Airborne

Chlamydia, transmitted by airborne droplets, is a fairly common phenomenon. In the vast majority of cases, the disease develops against the background of infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae (less often - Ch. psittaci, Ch. felis, transmitted from representatives of the bird and animal world).

The causative agent of urogenital chlamydia generally does not cause respiratory pathologies. The exception is cases of infection of newborns when passing through the birth canal. Signs of infection are respiratory diseases that have a severe course.

The mechanism of infection of chlamydia by airborne droplets is no different from the process of transmission of any other disease transmitted in a similar way. Pathogenic microorganisms are excreted from the mucous membranes of the host's respiratory tract and leave the body during sneezing and coughing (outside the host's body, they can persist for several days).

Once in the body of a healthy person, microorganisms quickly begin to multiply, which is accompanied by the development of chlamydial bronchitis and pneumonia. Infection usually occurs against the background of:

• a decrease in the immunity of a healthy person due to prolonged illness, the use of antibacterial agents, prolonged exposure to cold or direct sunlight;
• poor ventilation of the room in which the patient is located.

Contact household

Chlamydia easily settles in the body of people with weak immunity. Microorganisms have a sensitive shell that breaks down outside the human body, however, they are able to survive under certain circumstances, namely: in conditions of high humidity and room temperature.

It is possible to become infected by household means through bath accessories, underwear and bed linen, napkins used by the sick person. Chlamydia in this case can get on the mucous membranes of the eyes or genital organs of a healthy person.

Precautionary measures

In order to reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia, the following rules should be observed:

• use condoms during sex;
• have permanent sexual partners;
• undergo regular examinations by specialists;
• use personal hygiene products;
• undergo examinations when planning conception and pregnancy.

Condom use

Condom use is the easiest and cheapest way to protect against the vast majority of diseases transmitted through unprotected sex. Chlamydia are unable to penetrate latex, and therefore, the effectiveness of this method is quite high. It is advisable to use the product for any sexual contact with casual partners. This is explained by the fact that chlamydia is prone to asymptomatic course - a sick person looks completely healthy and instantly infects others.

To prevent infection when using a condom, the following rules should be observed:

• Check the period during which the products can be used. All contraceptive products manufactured today have a certain expiration date. The use of "ancient" condoms does not provide 100% protection due to the fact that microscopic cracks form in the latex, allowing chlamydia to pass through.
• Properly wear the product. Unroll the condom as you pull it over the penis. After putting on, there should be no air in the tip. Otherwise, the product may break during ejaculation.
• Use protection from the beginning of intercourse. Quite often, condoms are used as a means of preventing conception, and put on only before ejaculation. However, microorganisms enter the body not with seminal fluid, but by rubbing the genitals. In this regard, infection is possible at the very beginning of intercourse.
• Wear only one condom. Paradoxically, many men believe that two condoms worn on the penis provide twice the protection against sexually transmitted diseases. However, this statement is fundamentally wrong. Such an action significantly increases the risk of the product breaking or slipping, which increases the likelihood of infection.

Regular sexual partners

Frequent change of sexual partners increases the risk of infection. According to numerous studies, the number of people of reproductive age suffering from chlamydia is 7-15%. Based on this, every tenth new partner may be a carrier of chlamydial infection. Constancy in sexual contacts allows us to speak with a high degree of confidence about the exclusion of the risk of infection through sexual contact.

Visiting medical institutions

Regular visits to the doctor allows you to identify the infection immediately after infection. Despite the fact that this measure cannot be considered a full-fledged prevention of the disease (at the time of visiting the doctor, the patient is infected), it helps to prevent the transition of the pathology into a chronic form and prevent the development of serious complications. In addition, a person with an identified illness can take steps to avoid infecting others.

hygiene products

In order to avoid infection with chlamydia through household contact, you need to pay attention to things that can lead to infection. Chlamydia are microorganisms that are not resistant to external influences, and therefore, any sources of infection are dangerous only within two to three days after the last use for the intended purpose by a sick person.

The greatest danger is:

• bed and underwear;
• bath accessories;
• sanitary napkins.

Infection can occur in public places - swimming pools, baths, saunas. It can be avoided by using personal hygiene products and clean linen.

Attention! Although chlamydia survives in high humidity conditions, it is impossible to get chlamydia through water.

Examination of pregnant women

Chlamydia is a huge danger to the fetus. 70% of babies born to infected mothers are diagnosed with this disease. Moreover, they can become infected both in utero and when passing through the birth canal.

In order to prevent this situation, women who are expecting a baby are prescribed a full examination, and, if necessary, appropriate treatment. Examination of pregnant women is carried out by a gynecologist. Analyzes are given before registration, in the middle of pregnancy and before childbirth - this allows you to avoid problems associated with bearing a child and his health in the future.