Why Is Treatment Of Chlamydia Important
When treated early, chlamydia does not cause any long-term complications. Left untreated, serious and permanent damage can occur.
It may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . This is when female reproductive organs, found in your pelvis, become inflamed. PID may cause ectopic pregnancies , infertility or chronic pelvic pain.
If not treated, chlamydia can spread to testicles, leading to pain and swelling. Chlamydia may occasionally cause infertility in men. Sometimes chlamydia may trigger a condition called Reiter’s disease which causes inflammation of your eyes, skin and joints.
Chlamydia can be passed from mother to baby during birth. The baby may subsequently develop eye and/or ear infections or pneumonia.
Who Can And Cannot Take Azithromycin
Azithromycin can be taken by adults and children.
It isnt suitable for some people. To make sure azithromycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- had an allergic reaction to azithromycin or any other medicines in the past
- liver or kidney problems
- heart problems, including irregular heartbeats
- had diarrhoea when you have taken antibiotics before
- myasthenia gravis azithromycin can worsen the symptoms of this muscle-weakening illness
- diabetes azithromycin liquid contains sugar
What If I Forget To Take It
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless its nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal.
Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.
If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.
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Is Zithromax Suitable For Me
Tämä antibiootti sopii useimmille ihmisille klamydian ja muiden tulehduksellisten sairauksien hoitoon. Sitä ei kuitenkaan tule käyttää, jos:
This antibiotic is suitable for most people to treat chlamydia and other inflammatory diseases. However, it should not be used if:
- You are suffering from liver or kidney disease
- You are suffering from heart problems
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
Does Azithromycin Work For Chlamydia
Azithromycin works to treat genital chlamydia in both men and women by stopping the bacteria from multiplying.
Studiessuggest that a one-gram dosage has 97% efficacy.
That means that for every 100 people who take azithromycin to treat chlamydia, 97 will be cured and three will not be cured.
In order to effectively treat chlamydial infections, azithromycin should be taken as prescribed and until the dosage is completed.
Ending the medication early increases the chance that the bacteria will not be completely killed off.
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Will I Need To Go Back To The Clinic
If you take your antibiotics correctly, you may not need to return to the clinic.
However, you will be advised to go back for another chlamydia test if:
- you had sex before you and your partner finished treatment
- you forgot to take your medication or didn’t take it properly
- your symptoms don’t go away
- you’re pregnant
If you’re under 25 years of age, you should be offered a repeat test for chlamydia 3 to 6 months after finishing your treatment because you’re at a higher risk of catching it again.
Chlamydia Treatment And Prevention
Milly DawsonSanjai Sinha, MDShutterstock
Chlamydia is easy to cure. If you test positive for chlamydia, basically you take an antibiotic, says Jill Rabin, MD, cochief in the division of ambulatory care for women’s health programs and prenatal care assistance program services for Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York.
Your partner must take an antibiotic, too, to keep them from reinfecting you, she says.
You have to have your partner treated, and if you have more than one partner, they should all be treated, says Dr. Rabin, regardless of your partners genders.
Even if you dont have chlamydia now, its wise to learn how to protect yourself so you wont develop this common infection in the first place. In women, chlamydia can create serious health problems, including infertility. Besides, no one ever wants to have a sexually transmitted disease and then have to tell other people about it.
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Is It Necessary To Take Azithromycin For Chlamydia
Not needed: Azithromycin 1 gram for one dose is adequate treatment of chlamydia. Make sure your partner is treated as well. partner tests positive for chlamydia. i have a upper respiratory infection and am on bactrium 875mg 2x daily for 10 days. will that kill the chlamydia infection if i am infected too or do i need to be seen?
In men, chlamydial infection of the lower genital tract causes urethritis and, on occasion, epididymitis. Urethritis is secondary to C. trachomatis infection in approximately 15 to 55 percent of men, although the prevalence is lower among older men.2 Symptoms, if present, include a mild to moderate, clear to white urethral discharge. This is best observed in the morning, before the patient voids. To observe the discharge, the penis may need to be milked by applying pressure from the base of the penis to the glans.
The diagnosis of nongonococcal urethritis can be confirmed by the presence of a mucopurulent discharge from the penis, a Gram stain of the discharge with more than five white blood cells per oil-immersion field, and no intracellular gram-negative diplococci.2 A positive result on a leukocyte esterase test of first-void urine or a microscopic examination of first-void urine showing 10 or more white blood cells per high-powered field also confirms the diagnosis of urethritis.
Whats The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Chlamydia
The main treatment for chlamydia is antibiotics. Azithromycin and doxycycline are the two prescription medications used to treat chlamydia, they will get rid of it the fastest.
Taking these antibiotics properly can completely cure chlamydia in about 1 week. Treatment might involve taking a single pill, or it might involve taking medicine for a whole week.
No matter what, make sure you take all the pills your doctor prescribes. Otherwise the infection might come back.
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How Is Chlamydia Treated
Chlamydia can be cleared up with antibiotics in about a week or two. But dont stop taking your medication just because your symptoms improve. Ask your provider about what follow-up is needed to be sure your infection is gone after youve finished taking your medicine.
Part of your treatment should also include avoiding sexual activities that could cause you to get re-infected and ensuring that any sexual partners who may be infected also get treatment. You should:
- Abstain from sex until your infection has cleared up. Starting treatment doesnt mean that youre in the clear. Take all your medication as your provider directs, and avoid all sexual contact in the meantime.
- Contact all sexual partners. Tell any sexual partners from the last 3 months that youre infected so that they can get tested, too.
- Get tested for other STIs . Its common to have multiple STIs, and its important to receive treatment thats tailored to each infection.
Antibiotics can get rid of your infection, but they cant reverse any harm the bacteria may have caused to your body before treatment. This is why its so important to get screened regularly for chlamydia, to see your provider at the first sign of symptoms, and get treatment immediately if youre infected.
How Can Chlamydia Be Prevented
Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of getting or giving chlamydia.53 The surest way to avoid chlamydia is to abstain from vaginal, anal, and oral sex, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
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Best Antibiotics To Treat It
These commonly used antibiotics for Chlamydia:
- Amoxicillin its a larger spectrum form of penicillin, amoxicillin is used for women who are breast-feeding, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant. And it can be used for those who have allergies to other medicines.
- Azithromycin Azithromycin is not related to penicillin, it is common Chlamydia medication. It is producing gastrointestinal side effects for those who related penicillin family. Azithromycin for Chlamydia is given as 2 or 4 tablets in one dose. But with Doxycycline this medicine cures up to 95% of cases of Chlamydia.
- Doxycycline This is the second most common antibiotic for Chlamydia, but its not for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Its generally given as two tablets a day for a week.
- Erythromycin This antibiotic is only used as medicine for Chlamydia for babies who have contracted the STD during birth from an infected mother.
- Levofloxacin or Ofloxacin Both of these antibiotics not for women who are planning to become pregnant. These antibiotics are usually only used as medication for Chlamydia when someone is interrupted or allergic to other forms.
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The Costs Of Infertility
Treating chlamydia is easy, but for those who do not get treated or get treated too late, living with the damage caused by the infection can be hard.
Rabin has treated many women who never knew they had had chlamydia until they couldnt get pregnant due to blocked fallopian tubes. These women often wind up trying in vitro fertilization , which does not always succeed.
There are all kinds of costs involved for these women, say Rabin. There are emotional costs and physical costs. There are also financial costs with IVF. Its much better to not let the tubes get damaged, she says, and get pregnant the old-fashioned way.
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Is Doxycycline And Amoxicillin Good For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. Its caused mainly between 18 to 40 years old person and a common sexual transmitted diseases or infection which not generates any symptoms. A sexually transmitted infection affects both men and women. Women get this infection in cervix, rectum, or throat and men get this infection in urethra, rectum and throat.
If you want to care it naturally then some steps to follow by your own
- Buy some home test kit with this you can treat your own body.
- It is not long term problem so use best antibiotics at home.
- The best way to cure Chlamydia and keep from infecting your partners is to avoid sex for seven days up to the antibiotics have done their job.
Inflammation Of The Testicles
In men, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis , causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis. This is very rare.
The inflammation is usually treated with antibiotics. If its not treated, theres a possibility it could affect your fertility.
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Nucleic Acid Amplification Test
The most common test for chlamydia, this is a simple, non-invasive test during which you collect a swab or urine sample yourself . A doctor can assist in taking a swab if you prefer.
The sample is then sent to be tested to see if there is genetic material that indicates the presence of chlamydia bacteria. Results come back quicker than the traditional culture test.
Chlamydia Antibiotics: Azithromycin Vs Doxycline
A test was conducted on data between 1975 and 2001 to find and compare the efficacy and differences between Azithromycin and Doxycycline. The patients were randomly given dosages of either Azithromycin or Doxycycline in the prescribed quantities of one 1g dosage of Azithroymycin and two dosages of 100mg twice a day for a week with no patient getting both. The tests were conducted on 1543 patients for checking the microbial efficacy of the drugs and on 1717 patients for checking any adverse effects of the drug. Cure rates of about 98% were found out for both the Chlamydia Antibiotics proving the efficacy of both as equally compelling.
However, azithromycin is more convinent as it is just 1 dose antibiotic. Overall one dosage of Azithromycin has proved to be very impactful in comparison to the multiple dosages of Doxycycline.
Signs & Symptoms
Chlamydia is known to be a silent or asymptomatic disease and about 50% of infected men and 60% of infected women dont show any signs or symptoms initially.
Women are prone to be more asymptomatic than men. This means women generally show no symptoms and act as carriers of the diseases.
However women are at greater risk from long term complications and hence it is important to get treated.
Chlamydia in Women
Chlamydia in Men
Again 25-50% men show little or no symptoms. Symptoms when they show up include painful urination, discharge from the tip of the penis and testicular inflammation and pain.
References:
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Bacterial Cystitis: When To See A Doctor
Bacterial cystitis is one of the commonest urinary tract infections in the UK about 50% of women will experience it at some point in their life. Suspected UTIs are responsible for 3% of all GP consultations in England, which could be as many as 10.2 million GP consultations each year in the UK.
For women who have previously experienced cystitis, recognise the symptoms and know how to control it, is there a need to see a doctor at all? What should you do if cystitis sachets arent working? Should cystitis antibiotics be made available over-the-counter without a prescription? And are there any circumstances in which you should definitely see a GP?
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What Are Chlamydia Symptoms If You Have A Vagina
- Painful urination. There are other reasons to have pain when urinating, but this is a common symptom when you have chlamydia.
- Abnormal vaginal discharge. The discharge is often strong-smelling and may have a yellowish color.
- Pain during intercourse. Painful intercourse is a common symptom of chlamydia because the vagina and cervix are swollen.
- Lower belly or back pain. You may experience a dull pain in the lower back, the stomach area or in the pelvic area along with a fever.
- Bleeding between periods or after intercourse. The inflammation caused by the chlamydia bacteria may cause you to bleed between menstrual cycles or after sexual intercourse.
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What Are Common Side Effects Of Chlamydia Medication
Since antibiotics are the exclusive treatment for chlamydia, side effects tend to be pretty similar for those that experience them. However, this is not a full list and you should discuss any possible side effects with your healthcare professional.
Some of the most common side effects of chlamydia medication include:
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
Sex Partners Need Treatment Too
If you are diagnosed with chlamydia, you will need to tell all of your sexual partners, because they will need the same treatment you are receiving.
In most states, a doctor or other healthcare provider can give you the medicine that your partner or partners will need to take. Then you can deliver it to those partners. This practice is called expedited partner therapy or patient delivered partner therapy.
These options can help a lot if your partner doesnt have a healthcare provider or feels embarrassed about seeking care, says Dr. Dombrowski.
Its natural to feel nervous or upset about having to tell your partner or partners about having an STD. Your healthcare provider can help with this problem. They may even rehearse the conversation with you, says Dombrowksi.
Learning about chlamydia and seeking advice from a healthcare provider about how to discuss it with your partner can help you handle the conversation with less anxiety and more confidence.
Remember, chlamydia is not just common: It is the most common infection reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . You are being helpful, mature, and responsible by telling your partners.
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How Can I Protect Myself From Chlamydia
The only way to avoid getting chlamydia is to abstain from having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has a chlamydia infection. And be sure that sex toys that carry the bacteria dont come in contact with your genitals.
Its not always possible to know if a current or potential partner has chlamydia, though, especially since many people with chlamydia never notice symptoms. With prevention in mind, its a good idea to make safer sex practices a regular part of your sex life:
- Use condoms during intercourse, anal sex and oral sex.
- Use dental dams during oral sex or vagina-to-vagina contact.
- Dont share sex toys, but if you do, wash them after each use and cover toys used for penetration with a condom.
- Have sex with only one partner, who only has sex with you.
Put Sex On Hold During And After Chlamydia Treatment
If you were given a single dose of antibiotics to treat your chlamydia, you should not have any kind of sex for a full seven days after the day you took the medicine. If youre taking antibiotics for a week, wait another seven days after the last day of your treatment. Be sure to take all of the medicine that is prescribed for you.
Not having sex for seven days after treatment is important so you dont spread the infection to your partner or partners.
Medication stops the infection and can keep you from spreading the disease, but it wont cure any permanent damage that the infection caused before you started treatment. In women, such damage can include blocking the fallopian tubes, causing infertility.
If you still have symptoms for more than a few days after you stop taking your medicine, go back to see your doctor or other healthcare provider so they can check you again.
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