Chlamydia is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the UK and is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular pathogen. Approximately 1 in 10 young women in the UK have Chlamydia. The incubation period is around 7-21 days, although it should be remembered a large percentage of cases are asymptomatic

Screening

• in England the National Chlamydia Screening Programme is open to all men and women aged 15-24 years
• the 2009 SIGN guidelines support this approach, suggesting screening all sexually active patients aged 15-24 years
• relies heavily on opportunistic testing

Risk factors:

• Age under 25 years, sexually active
• new sex partner or multiple sex partners
• sexual activity with infected partner
• condoms not used
• Hx of prior STI

PC

• asymptomatic in around 80% of women and 50% of men
• women: cervicitis (odourless discharge, bleeding), dysuria
• men: urethral discharge (mucopurulent - cloudy or yellow), dysuria

NOTE - discharge + urethritis is more indicative of gonorrhoea, chlamydia most likely presents with just urethritis

Uncommon symptoms - pelvic pain (PID), fevers/chills, nausea/vomitting, myalgia, abdominal pain, joint pain, eye irritation, rashes, scrotal pain