Chlamydia Trachomatis Antibody IgA & IgG

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1) What is Chlamydial infection?

This is a bacterial infection. Three species are pathogenic for human beings viz. Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae. It affects mostly young sexually active women but can occur in both men and women and all age groups including neonates.

2) What is the mode of transmission?

It can be transmitted by various forms of sexual intercourse or to newborn babies during delivery. Various risk factors for Chlamydial infection include having multiple sex partners, not using condom while intercourse, previous history of any sexually transmitted infection and early age of sexual activity.

3) What are the symptoms of this infection?

In majority of the cases patient is asymptomatic or has very mild infection which is often overlooked. Major signs & symptoms include painful urination, pain while doing sexual intercourse, discharge from penis in men & vagina in women, urethral discharge, bleeding between 2 menstrual cycles, pain or swelling in testes and pain, itching, bleeding or discharge from rectum. Additional symptoms include fever with chills, nausea, abdominal pain and lower backache. It can also result in eye infection like conjunctivitis, swelling, redness or discharge on coming in contact with infected body fluid. Following oral sex, it can lead to Chlamydial throat infection with symptoms like sore throat, dry throat, cough and fever.

4) What are the complications of this infection?

Sexual transmitted infections caused by Chlamydia include lymphogranuloma venerum, genito-urinary and ano-rectal involvement and associated complications. It may affect the reproductive health and lead to infertility especially in females due to infection of fallopian tubes (causing scarring and obstruction), uterus and cervix and pelvic inflammatory disease. It also results in infection of epididymis and prostate in males. Urethral involvement is seen in both sexes. Another dreadful complication is risk of ectopic pregnancy.

5) Do neonates have any special risk with respect to this infection?

Yes. Infants exposed during pregnancy and delivery may get infected. It can manifest as serious eye infection or pneumonia. Eye infection, if untreated can lead to loss of vision.

6) What is Trachoma?

It is bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia Trachomatis. Symptoms include pain, redness, mild itching & irritation of eyes and eyelids, mucus or pus discharge, swelling of eyelids and photophobia (sensitivity to light). If untreated, it can cause blindness. It is a contagious and communicable disease. It can easily spread if come in contact with used handkerchief and secretions from eyes, eyelids, nose or throat of an infected patient.

 7) What is Reiter’s syndrome?

It is a type of inflammatory reactive arthritis which typically affects the joints, eyes (conjunctivitis or uveitis) and urethra or cervix. It develops in response to infection in some another part of the body due to cross-reactivity. This occurs after the initial Chlamydial infection is cured or chronic infection is in remission. As a result, finding the cause of arthritis becomes difficult.

8) What is the importance of this testing in Chlamydial infection?

It tells us whether the patient is recently exposed or has got long-standing infection.

9) Is there any other test which I need to add?

Yes. If needed Chlamydial testing by molecular methods like PCR (polymerase chain reaction) can be done. Molecular methods remain the gold standard for diagnosis of this infection.

10) Is this test recommended is all pregnant women?

All females with any of the above discussed risk factors should screen for this infection during their first pre-natal visit or in first trimester after getting pregnant. This is required to avoid complications like premature labor, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight babies.

11) Is this infection treatable?

Yes. Chlamydial infections can be easily treated by antibiotic course prescribed by the treating physician. Both the partners need to take the treatment as per directions given by the physician. To avoid re-infection, refrain for sexual intercourse till the treatment course is over. However, if the patient is suffering from any of the long term complications discussed above, they may not always get completely reversed.

12) How can this infection be prevented?

Prevention is the most important key for all kinds of infection and they are always easy to follow. Chlamydial infection can be easily prevented by following safe sexual practices like use of condom, limiting the number of sexual partners, and regular screening of infection if falling in high-risk category.

13) When should I get the re-testing done?

You need to get re-tested yourself, 3 months after completion of treatment to see for residual infection, if any.

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