CHLAMYDIA
By
Dr. Valentine Budambula
BSc, MPH, PhD
INTRODUCTION-1
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infectious
disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia
trachomatis.
Globally, it is the most common sexually
transmitted infection.
In 2020 there were an estimated 128.5 million
new chlamydia infections among adults (15–49
years old) globally (WHO, 2024).
It is spread through oral, vaginal or anal sex.
INTRODUCTION-2
Chlamydia affects mostly young women but it
can occurs in both men and women and in all
age groups.
Many people with chlamydia have no
symptoms or only mild symptoms.
Most people with asymptomatic chlamydia do
not seek treatment because they do not know
they have it.
It is therefore important to get tested regularly.
Risk factors
People who have sex before age 25.
Not using a condom or incorrect condom use.
Less use of health services to prevent and
treat sexually transmitted infections.
New or multiple sex partners
NOTE: You may have one partner but your
partner may have several partners who have
other partners: the larger the sexual network,
the higher the risk.
SYMPTOMS-1
Early-stage Chlamydia trachomatis infections often
cause few symptoms.
Even when symptoms occur, they are often mild.
Many people with chlamydia have no symptoms or
only mild symptoms.
That makes them easy to overlook, which is why
regular screening is important.
If symptoms occur, they may not appear until up to
three weeks after having sex with someone who
has chlamydia.
SYMPTOMS-2
Depending on a person's sexual activity
Chlamydia trachomatis can
Can infect the eyes, throat or rectum.
Eye infections, called trachoma or conjunctivitis
(causes the inside of the eyelid to be red and
irritated). This is the leading infectious cause of
blindness worldwide
In the throat, an infection may have no symptoms,
or a person may have a sore throat.
An infection in the rectum may have no symptoms
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN
In women, common symptoms include:
a change in vaginal discharge
bleeding between menstrual periods or after sex
pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen
burning sensation when urinating.
Genital itching.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN MEN
In men, common symptoms include:
burning when urinating
discharge from the penis
pain in the testicles.
OTHER SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Anal infection in women & men can cause
anorectal pain, discharge and or bleeding.
Oral infection is most often without symptoms.
Infants born to mothers with chlamydia may
experience eye infections or pneumonia.
The Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) type of
chlamydia can cause genital ulcer, lymph node
enlargement, or inflammation of the anorectal area
with discharge, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea,
constipation, fever or pain while passing stools.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS-1
If left untreated or not properly treated women
can
develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Have a high risk of infertility and ectopic
pregnancy .
Men may develop a painful infection in their
testicles (epididymitis, epididymo-orchitis). In
rare cases, this can lead to infertility.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS-2
Additionally, chlamydia may cause
swollen joints (arthritis) and inflammation of
the eyes.
Stigma and affect personal relationships.
Neonatal infection can cause conjunctivitis,
pneumonia, preterm deliveries and low birth
weight.
LGV can lead to chronic oozing lesions around
anorectal region.
PREVENTION
Consistent and correct use of condoms when
having vaginal and anal sex.
There are no vaccines for the prevention of
chlamydial infection.
Regular screening if you are sexually active
TREATMENT
Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotic tablets
and curable.
Repeated infections can occur if sexual
partners are not treated, and if individuals
have sex without condoms with someone who
has the infection.
One should notify their sexual partner(s) to get
tested and treated.
CHLAMYDIA RESEARCH-1
Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections
in Adolescent Girls and Young Women in
Mombasa, Kenya: Feasibility, Prevalence, and
Correlates.
Participants were recruited from 3 high
schools and 1 university between August 2014
and March 2015. Details available at
Masese, L. N., Wanje, G., Kabare, E., Budambula, V., Mutuku, F., Omoni, G., Baghazal, A., Richardson, B.
A., & McClelland, R. S. (2017). Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescent Girls and Young
Women in Mombasa, Kenya: Feasibility, Prevalence, and Correlates. Sexually transmitted diseases, 44(12),
725–731. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000674
CHLAMYDIA RESEARCH-2
Twenty-six (5.8%) participants were
diagnosed with STIs (7 [1.6%] Neisseria
gonorrhoeae, 16 [3.6%] Chlamydia
trachomatis, 3 [0.7%] Trichomonas vaginalis).
In multivariable analyses, reporting receptive
vaginal sex without a condom was associated
with having a laboratory confirmed STI (odds
ratio, 6.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-
22.28).
Doxycycline Study (The Doxy Study)
As a build-up to this study, University of
Washington, University of Nairobi and Pwani
Research Centre received approval from
Kenya medical research institute-scientific
ethics and review unit (KEMRI-SERU),
protocol no. NON-KEMRI-4841 to carry out a
clinical trial titled” A Phase 4 Study of a 3-Day
vs. 7-Day Regimen of Doxycycline for the
Treatment of Chlamydial Infection” thereafter
referred to as the Doxy Study. The Doxy study
The Doxy Study
The Doxy study aims to examine the
effectiveness of a 3-day doxycycline treatment
regimen for chlamydial infection compared to
the standard 7-day treatment.
Participants will be asked to return 28 days
after randomization (at day 29).
At day 29 participants will be re-tested for
chlamydia using a laboratory-based chlamydia
(CT) nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Persons between ages 18 to 25
Willingness to take a vaginal swab (ladies)
and anal swab (men).
Willingness to abstain from sex or use a
condom during the 28 days study period.
To enroll in the Doxy Study
Please contact
NO NAME TEL. NUMBER DESIGNATION DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL
1 Oyuga Joseph 0745 270698 Faculty School of Applied and Health
Representative Sciences
2 Fatuma Hemedi 0111 550202 Faculty Institute of Computing and
Representative Informatics
3 Elder Mocheche 0711 514465 Faculty School of Applied and Health
Representative sciences
4 Princess Mwadime 0717 619621 Class Department of Social Sciences
Representative
