Layla Quinones SCB 101.6712 Prof. Pang October 27, 2008 Lab Report Chlamydia in Pregnant Women Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease that is found both in men and women in the United States. It can also pose serious risks for pregnant mothers and their unborn children because, of the possibility that it can be passed on to their offspring during delivery. However, it is extremely hard to detect this disease without proper testing due to the usually “silent” nature of the symptoms that can occur. Despite the complications that having Chlamydia might pose for a pregnant woman, it is manageable if detected and treated and cured with the correct antibiotics. Chlamydia is caused most commonly by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis that can only replicate inside cells and must invade other cells in order to create energy to do so. It can be transmitted from an infected sexual partner to the other through oral, anal or vaginal intercourse; Chlamydia trachomatis can therefore be found in the rectum, throat, and cervix and, can spread to the fallopian tubes and urethra. In pregnant women, Chlamydia can pose detrimental risks for both mother and child. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100,000 pregnant woman contract Chlamydia each year in the United States (2). In an infected mother, the chances of having premature labor, premature delivery, low birth weight and still births are greater than if she was not infected. It is also common in pregnant women who do not treat their infections early enough, that they develop pelvic inflammatory disease. This can commonly lead to ectopic pregnancy and ultimately in the death of the unborn child. However, if an infected pregnant woman carries to term, the child can contract chlamydial conjunctivitis and chlamydial pneumonia during the delivery. Approximately 30% of women in the United States report noticeable symptoms of the Chlamydia infection; therefore, it is commonly difficult to identify weather a person has Chlamydia without proper testing (1). The symptoms that might occur in women are abnormal vaginal discharge, burning during urination, painful sexual intercourse and rectal pain or discharge. However, many of the symptoms that can occur because of Chlamydia can also be due to various sequelae that can be developed if the initial infection was not treated early enough. This poses a potential risk for those who unknowingly have the infection because they can also develop other serious infections. It is common for those who have developed sequelae to have certain symptoms that alarm them and afterwards have to be treated for more than one disease. Among the many diseases that can occur because of Chlamydia, one of the most dangerous is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is developed when the Chlamydia trachomatis travels from the cervix to the reproductive organs and damages them. This can lead to the forming of scar tissue in the fallopian tubes and therefore cause an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is caused by the blockage of the passageway in the fallopian tubes, interrupting an eggs journey to the uterus. This leads to the development of the embryo outside of the womb causing miscarriage. PID and ectopic pregnancy both damage the reproductive organs in woman and can lead to infertility. Although Chlamydia is initially found in a pregnant woman, her baby can also contract it during vaginal delivery. Forms of chlamydial infections in newborns are chlamydial conjunctivitis and chlamydial pneumonia and can be treated with immediate antibiotics. Chlamydial pneumonia occurs when “nasopharyngeal [Chlamydia trachomatis]…secretes during delivery”(5). Symptoms include a persistent cough, low grade fever and, in premature babies, it can be indicated by respiratory distress that may become worst. This may also lead to the child developing asthma in later years. Chlamydial conjunctivitis is an infection of Chlamydia trachomatis in the eyes. It develops about 2 weeks after birth and can initially spread from one eye to the next. However, chlamydial conjunctivitis is usually mild and can be cured with antibiotics. Furthermore, there are many preventative measures that pregnant women can take to minimize their chance of contracting Chlamydia. First and most importantly, condoms can be used to prevent the spread of any sexually transmitted disease and prevent possible pregnancy. Also, it is important for women to get at least an annually Pap smear to test for various sexually transmitted diseases that can be harmful to her and her sexual partners. Contracting Chlamydia can also be prevented with the proper knowledge of sexual partners and the diseases they might be carrying. In all, it is critical for pregnant women to be aware of any diseases they might contract before or during their pregnancies. If not, it can deem detrimental their health as well as their unborn child’s health. In most extreme cases, the outcome of contracting Chlamydia and continuing without treatment can cause miscarriage, still births or infertility.