Chlamydia

It appears that chlamydia may release toxins that damage the immune response in some cases. (see related link).

Every infection weakens the immune system, since the immune system will expend resources to fight it off. If an infection is particularly severe or lengthy in its course, then other infectious organisms may be able to reproduce in sufficient number to create a secondary infection. This is how many diseases, such as bacterial pneumonia, are often acquired: a previous infection (say, influenza) has weakened the immune system to the point that a normally harmless bacterium inhabiting the lungs has the opportunity to multiply unchecked. Since bacteria multiply exponentially, there comes a point where the immune system can no longer keep up, and severe disease results. Antibiotic therapy or diuretic and anti-inflammatory pill is then required.

However, most of the time the immune system will quickly recover to its full strength. (Actually, it will be somewhat improved since it will have memory of this latest infection and will be more resistant to it next time).

A few diseases can permanently affect the immune system (the infectious particle targets mediators of the immune response), HIV being the most famous, but Chlamydia is not one of them.

Birds don't get or transmit chlamydia trachomatis, the germ that causes the sexually transmitted infection. Birds may transmit chlamydia psittaci, which is not sexually transmitted.

It is gonorrhea that is a diplococcus, not chlamydia.

You can't develop chlamydia on your own. You can only get the bacteria from someone who has it.

No, he didn't.

Chlamydia can be treated in a woman.

Blood screening is not a normal way to test for chlamydia. With the normal testing for chlamydia, the tests are accurate again in the future (although possibly not accurate within the first month after treatment, depending on which test is used.) You should consider yourself contagious until seven days after single-dose treatment, or until seven-day treatment is complete.

Chlamydia can't live in water. The bacteria can live for only a few minutes outside the body.

The CDC reports 7,091 cases of chlamydia reported in Broward County in 2011, giving the county a rate of 405.6 cases per 100,000 population. (see related link).

Technically, if the doctor did say something, it would be a huge breach of patient-doctor confidentiality, but I can also tell you that I have many, many times heard a doctor do just that. After the comments are made, they cannot be undone, so to be sure of whether he will or will not, you could CALL the doctor's office beforehand and make sure your wish for confidentiality is upheld. You can even have them write a note at the top of your chart stating that this is a concern you have. Sometimes, just having a Mom or other person much older than you in the room implies you have already shared information with them. Also, it seems pregnancy-related topics are seen as a family social event and more openly discussed... and the line regarding your body and privacy gets quite blurred. Also, If you tested positive than your boyfriend did too, right? Make sure you aren't going to be passing it back and forth to each other by one of you not getting treated. Chlamydia is extremely common and it is a disease, not a moral failure. That said, it is not something to be ashamed of but it certainly is private information.

No, there is no need for an injection of any kind to cure chlamydia. It can be cured with a single dose of antibiotics in pill form.

Both chlamydia and UTI can cause burning with urination. Testing will easily differentiate between the two.

Studies exploring the link between Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumonia, and ankylosing spondylitis are ongoing.

Yes, sterility can be a potential complication of chlamydia for both males and females, although the mechanisms differ. In females, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may cause scarring and blockages in the reproductive tract, potentially resulting in infertility. In males, chlamydia can lead to epididymitis or orchitis, which may also affect fertility. Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent these complications.

In the US, typically azithromycin or doxycycline, same as for women.

Yes a woman can have had chlamydia and have a healthy normal birth; even being infected precautions can be taken to minimize risks to the infant.

Chlamydia is not fatal.

While reported cases are higher in females than in males, studies in the general population suggest that males and females are equally likely to be infected with chlamydia. Because routine screening of males is not common in general health care practices, their infections may go undetected more often. See related links for references.

If chlamydia is found in your fallopian tubes, then you have pelvic inflammatory disease. You should carefully follow your health care provider's recommendations for treatment to minimize the risk of long-term complications.

Both infections can cause newborn conjunctivitis--a discharge of pus from the eyes.

Your symptoms could be related to scarring or damage from chlamydia or could be completely unrelated. See your health care provider for effective diagnosis and treatment.

No, rickettsias require an arthropod for transmission, but not chlamydias.

No they do not. Only humans get chlamydia trachomatis. There are other chlamydia species that affect animals. Chlamydia psittaci is the chlamydia species that most often affects birds.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, resulting in patches of baldness on the scalp and other areas of the body. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, leading to hair falling out. Other forms of hair loss, such as telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia, can also cause hair thinning and loss but have different underlying causes.