-
Essay / An Overview of Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Chlamydia
Table of ContentsCauseIncubation PeriodDiagnosesCounty StatisticsState StatisticsFederal StatisticsPrimary PreventionSecondary PreventionTertiary PreventionConclusionReferencesSTIs have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 20 million new STIs occur each year in the United States, more than half of which occur among young people aged 15 to 24. Specifically, Chlamydia has been reported to be one of the most commonly reported STIs in the United States. It is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and since 1994, it has accounted for the largest percentage of all STDs (CDC, 2017). Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayCauseChlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis is the leading cause of the most commonly reported STIs in the United States and around the world .The disease is transmitted through unprotected person-to-person sexual contact. There are reported cases of people who contracted Chlamydia and remained asymptomatic for an extended period of time. When this happens, the infected person may not seek immediate treatment, making them susceptible to many complications of the disease, such as worsening inflammation in the pelvic area or pelvic inflammatory disease ( MIP) which can cause reproductive sterility. Incubation Period The incubation period for Chlamydia is poorly defined, so much so that it has been called a “silent infection” (CDC, 2017). The time between initial exposure and the appearance of symptoms varies from person to person. Symptoms may appear one to three weeks after first contact with the affected person. Some of the symptoms a person may experience are fever, foul-smelling discharge from the anus, vagina or eyes if the infection starts there, painful urination, painful intercourse, post bleeding. -coitus and/or abdominal pain. Chlamydial bacteria require human hosts. survive and live parasitically in cells without replicating. Chlamydia is transmitted between cells and between people in what are called “elementary bodies”. These structures resemble spores and eventually develop into cells called reticulate bodies. These are cells that can replicate once transmitted to a new host, they are more sophisticated in this form. DiagnosisChlamydia can be diagnosed in several ways; for women, a urine sample may be collected or a vaginal, cervical, anal, or oral swab may be taken. For both men and women, a urine sample may be obtained, but a urethral, anal, or oral swab may also be collected (CDC, 2016). Serum studies can be done, but will only indicate an increased white blood cell count if the infection has reached a colonization that causes the individual's body to react. County Statistics For the most recent measurement period (2017), and compared to other California counties, Riverside County reported a Chlamydia incidence rate of 467.3 cases per 100,000 population. The Strategic Health Alliance Pursuing Equity (SHAPE), which is a community-wide effort to coordinate resources from public health system partners to improve the health of all Riverside County communities, reports that This is the second worst quarter the county has seen since. In 2013, thevalue was lower, at 392.2 per 100,000 residents. State Statistics California's statewide incidence of Chlamydia is 552.2 cases per 100,000 Californians, which is worse than the rate of infection of Riverside County. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), chlamydia infections have increased by approximately 9% statewide in recent years. Rates of chlamydia in women were 60% higher than in men, and 54% of cases were in people under 25 years old. Federal StatisticsIn 2017, a total of 1,708,569 chlamydia infections were reported to the CDC in 50 states and the District of Columbia. This number of cases corresponds to a rate of 528.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Between 2000 and 2011, the rate of reported chlamydia infections increased from 251.4 to 453.4 cases per 100,000 U.S. residents. Then, between 2011 and 2013, the rate of reported cases fell to 443.5 cases per 100,000 population. This was followed by an increase in reported cases in each of the next four years, when in 2016-2017 the rate increased by 6.9%, from 494.7 to 528.8 cases per 100 000 American residents. Primary prevention Public health nurses are responsible to the population and communities. they serve to contribute to the primary prevention of diseases and disabilities. For primary prevention, the public health nurse's goal is to prevent cases of chlamydia through sex education and behavior modification strategies, that is, avoiding having multiple sexual partners or avoid unprotected sex. These interventions are listed by the CDC as preventative measures because there is no vaccine for this STI. Secondary prevention Secondary prevention involves early detection and treatment if the disease is diagnosed. The goal of the public health nurse is to prevent transmission of disease from affected hosts to unaffected hosts. Additionally, if a person is diagnosed with chlamydia, the goal is to avoid any complications from the disease. For example, salpingitis is a complication that can lead to ectopic pregnancy or tubal infertility. Therefore, screening becomes vitally important to avoid such complications, especially because there is a risk that a person may be asymptomatic of the disease and experience the devastating effects of the STI on the reproductive system. Tertiary prevention Tertiary prevention involves taking care of the person who is affected. affected by an illness or chronic condition. The goal is to maximize quality of life by limiting the effects of the illness or condition on the body, avoiding or minimizing complications, and restoring function as much as possible (Paavonen, 1997). Unfortunately, if a person with a Chlamydia infection is not treated promptly, the resulting damage can be permanent. For example, a woman may become infertile as a result of a Chlamydia infection. The goal of the public nurse, in this case, may be to promote reproductive counseling, especially if the woman has not had children. Unfortunately, tertiary prevention of acute and chronic Chlamydial infections of the upper genital tract has largely failed because irreversible tubal damage has already occurred by the time symptoms develop or the patient experiences tubal infertility or pregnancy. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper from our expert now. authors.Get a Custom EssayConclusionAlthough chlamydia continues to be the most commonly reported STI, various measures have been identified through.73.2.103