Chlamydia is one of the most common types of sexually transmitted diseases. It is caused by a type of bacterial infection that occurs in the genital tract, and it it spread through various types of sexual contact. The disease infects several million people each year of all ages, rages, and genders. It is most common, however, among teenagers.

The symptoms of chlamydia can be very difficult to detect because they tend to be mild, and in some cases, they are not present at all. When the symptoms are detected, it is very easy to overlook them or mistake them as symptoms of a different problem. Though the disease is spread through sexual contact, the causes of chlamydia are different than the causes of some other types of sexually transmitted diseases.

Chlamydia is caused by a type of bacterium that is known as chlamydia trachomatis. Chalamydia trachomatis causes infections within the genital tracts of both men and women, and when this occurs, the resulting condition is what is known as chlamydia. Chlamydia is most often spread from person to person through sexual intercourse or through other types of contact between the genitals or rectal area. In some rarer cases, chlamydia may also be passed from a mother to her child during delivery.

When the disease is passed to a baby during the birthing process, it can cause severe infections of the eyes or pneumonia. A variation of the chlamydia trachomatis bacterium is also responsible for causing another type of sexually transmitted disease that is common in Africa, South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and Caribbean nations. This disease is known as lymphogranloma venereum, or LVG, which is known to cause genital sores that are later followed by swollen lymph nodes in the groin region and fever.

When diagnosed early, most forms of chlamydia can be easily treated with prescription antibiotics. These antibiotics will most often clear up the infection with in a few weeks, during which time you should abstain from sexual activity. If you think you have been exposed to chlamydia, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible.