Chlamydial urethritis - male

Definition:

A sexually transmitted disease that causes infection of the urethra; caused by a genus of microorganisms that live as parasites within the human cells and have properties in common with both viruses and bacteria. The microorganisms cause infection in humans.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Different strains of chlamydia cause genital, eye, lymph node, and respiratory infections. Chlamydia is the most common cause of blindness in the world. A child born to a woman with a chlamydia infection of the cervix may acquire an acute eye infection, or a lung infection in the later newborn period. Men may develop a nonspecific urethritis with a discharge from the penis, and swollen testes. The symptoms may be similar to a gonorrhea infection, but persist after treatment for gonorrhea. It is a common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S.. Approximately 5 out of 10,000 men are affected annually. Risk factors include multiple sexual partners.