Chlamydia: A major health threat to adolescents and young adults

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) constitute a major health burden in the United States, causing a number of health problems. Of the top 10 infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), five were STDs--chlamydia, gonorrhea, AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Chlamydia trachomatis infections are among the most prevalent of all STDs, and is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the United States. The CDC estimates that about four million acute infections occur each year. The number of cases that are reported to the CDC has increased every year since 1995. The highest incidence of Chlamydia is in teens and young adults from the ages of 15 to 25 years. It is prevalent in lower socioeconomic groups and large urban populations, particularly African Americans. This major health problem is a serious threat to teens and young adults, both male and female, but particularly African Americans. This paper addresses this major health problem by providing a brief overview of STDs, and discusses the most common sexually transmitted disease that women experience--Chlamydia. The discussion will include an overview, prevalence, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and screening for Chlamydia and observations from research.