chlamydial infections

Question 0

chlamydia trachomatis infections (most common STD)

Answer 0

1. genital and neonatal infections (C.trachomatis).
   men: urethritis, sometimes epididymitis or proctitis (rectum + anus inflm)
   women: cervicitis –> endometritis, salpingitis (scarring-> infertility), PID
   prenatal transmission: NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS (inclusion conjunctivitis), PNA.
   2-3rd month: tachypnea, paroxysmal cough
2. lymphogranuloma venereum (contract thru skin breaks): (C. trachomatis). NECROTIZING LYMPHADENITIS, GENITAL ULCERS. (most resolves)
   -lymphadenitis: tender, pus -> inflm->scarring -> chronic lymphatic obst –> ELEPHANTIASIS
   men: ulceration ->fistulas, urethral stricture
   women, homo: hemorrhagic proctitis, rectovaginal fistulas,
   genital elephantiasis
3. trachoma (C. trachomatis): PROGRESSIVE SCARRING OF CONJUNCTIVA AND CORNEA. leading cause of BLINDNESS in poverty countries. most prevalent in dry/sandy regions. spread by CONTACT, FOMITES, H20, FLIES.
   SX: abrupt onset of palpebral, conjunctiva inflm->tearing, purulent conjunctivitis, PHOTOPHOBIA, lymphoid aggregates w/i 3-4wks beneath palpebral conjunctivae –> EYE DEFORMITY –> 2ary inf, dec ocular func –> BLINDNESS

Question 1

3 classes of chlamydial infections

Answer 1

1. chlamydia trachomatis infections
2. psittacosis (ornithosis)
3. chlamydia pneumoniae

ALL OBLIGATE INTRACELLULAR PARASITES, CANNOT MAKE ATP, need host cells to reproduce

Question 2

psittacosis (ornithosis)

Answer 2

-parrots / birds:::C. psittaci, spread by INHALATION of psittai from feathers.
-infects pul macrophages –> PNA (interstitial mostly), reproduces in liver+spleen (necrosis) –> heart, kidneys, brain
SX: dry cough, fever, malaise, headache. if untx persists 2-3wks as pul dz regresses. RARELY FATAL W. TETRACYCLINE.

Question 3

chlamydia pneumoniae

Answer 3

acute, self-limited, mild respiratory tract infection, incl. PNA.
COMMUNICABLE DZ, only 10% causes clinical pna
FEVER, SORE THROAT, COUGH. 2-3WKS UNTX