How can chlamydia affect your child?

Answer 1

There are safe, effective treatments for chlamydia during pregnancy. It is much safer to take treatment than it is to stay infected. Both recommended treatments for chlamydia during pregnancy, azithromycin and amoxicillin, are medications that are regularly and safely used in newborns.

Untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can cause premature rupture of membranes or preterm labor. A baby born to a woman who has chlamydia at the time of delivery may have pneumonia, infection of the reproductive tract, or conjunctivitis.

Women treated for chlamydia during pregnancy should be retested three weeks after treatment, as well as three months after treatment. Women under 26 or with a new partner during pregnancy should also be tested in the third trimester to make sure they haven't been reinfected before delivery.

Answer 2

A baby born vaginally to a mother with chlamydia can get eye and lung infection.

The baby may aspirate (suck into his or her lungs) some of the mother's bacteria-laden secretions while passing through the birth canal. This can cause a form of relatively mild pneumonia in the newborn, occurring about two to six weeks after delivery. In addition, chlamydia is associated with preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes.

Answer 3

A baby only gets chlamydia from an infected mother during vaginal birth or, more rarely, from sexual abuse. If the mother is treated for chlamydia during pregnancy, the baby will not be infected. There are safe and effective treatments for women during pregnancy, and the infection is treatable in babies born with it.

Answer 4

Chlamydia can cause pneumonia and pink eye in the baby.

Answer 5

Chlamydia in an infant can develop into infections in the genitals, lungs, and eyes. These infections are not fatal.

Answer 6

Unborn babies won't catch chlamydia.
During birth, chlamydia can be passed on to an unborn child.
Chlamydia can be transmitted to a baby during birth, not before.

Answer 7

Only at birth so get treatment.