Chlamydia
Treatment:
Prescriptions may include: - tetracyclines - oral, 250 mg (milligrams) by mouth, twice a day for 10 days
- Doxycycline, 100 mg by mouth, twice a day for 1 week
- azithromycin, 1 gram by mouth, single dose
- erythromycin and sulfisoxazole, 500 mg by mouth, four times a day for 10 days
- Amoxicillin, 500 mg by mouth, three times a day for 1 week
All sexual contacts should be screened for chlamydia. Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth between them, even though both may not have symptoms. There is no immunity following the infection and a person may become repeatedly infected.
A follow-up evaluation should be done in 3 to 4 weeks to determine if the infection has been cured.
Expectations (prognosis):
Antibiotic treatment is usually successful. Reinfection may occur if compliance with therapy is not good, or if both sexual partners are not treated. Approximately one out of 5 women who develop PID will become infertile.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate a chlamydia infection may be present. Because the majority of infections do not cause symptoms, people who engage in any high-risk sexual behavior should be screened periodically for chlamydia. Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics are available in most metropolitan areas, with diagnosis and treatment typically free. Sexually active people engaged in any high-risk sexual behavior are encouraged to take advantage of the services offered at these clinics.
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