Chlamydia - female

Definition:

A sexually transmitted disease caused by a genus of microorganisms that live as parasites within a host cell 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. It is a common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. In women, the infection may lead to inflammation of the cervix or the fallopian tubes and may cause infertility. Approximately 5 out of 10,000 women are affected annually. Risk factors include multiple sexual partners.