Pediatric and adolescent chlamydia

What is pediatric and adolescent chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a commonly occurring STI that can be difficult to diagnose. Not everyone develops symptoms, but chlamydia can still be passed with or without obvious warning signs. If left untreated, females can develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage the reproductive system and cause infertility.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric and adolescent chlamydia?

Most people with chlamydia will not experience symptoms. If symptoms are present, they will appear one to three weeks after a patient is exposed.

Symptoms can include:

• Vaginal discharge (more than normal)

• Vaginal bleeding / unusually heavy and long periods

• Burning during urination

• Lower abdomen pain (typically only with females) or pain during intercourse

How is pediatric and adolescent chlamydia diagnosed?

Chlamydia is diagnosed with testing done in your health care provider’s office. Sometime doctors can get the information they need for the test from your urine, while others they may have to do a vaginal swab (Q tip®).

What are the causes of pediatric and adolescent chlamydia?

Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis that is found in the cervix (the passage forming the lower part of the uterus), throat, urethra (tube that carries urine from the bladder), vagina and rectum.

Risk factors

• Being sexually active and not using condoms - All persons that are sexually active have a greater risk of contracting chlamydia. Being sexually active and not using condoms increases that risk.  Further, the more sexual partners you have, the more chances you have to get chlamydia. Being with a partner that has had multiple partners also increases your risk.

• Weakened immune system - Immune systems can be weakened by HIV/AIDS, immune-suppressing medications (organ transplants) or other reasons can increase being susceptible to getting chlamydia if exposed.

• Having a mother with chlamydia - It is possible for a mother to infect her child during vaginal childbirth.

How is pediatric and adolescent chlamydia treated?

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics that your health care provider can prescribe for you. It is important that the partner(s) of the person infected also get treated with antibiotics.