PREVALENCE OF CHLAMYDIA INFECTION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Chlamydiae are small gramnegative obligate intracellular microorganisms that preferentially infect squamocolumnar epithelial cell www. Google. Com.2010.

Chlamydia is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease resulting in urethritis, with frequencies exceeding those of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

In the United State for instance, roughly four million cases are reported annually mostly occurring in men and women under the age of 25 Barners, 1990.

In Nigeria and indeed most developed nation, majority of the reported cases urethritis are diagnosed as being caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, StaphyLococcus aureus and streptococcus Spp.

This could be attributed to inadequate facilities to establish proper test for the diagnosis of chamydia infection. As a result, cases of urethritis are wrongly diagnosed and treated. This calls for proper research work to establish the major aetiologic agent of urethritis. This will go a long to aid prompt treatment of reoccurring urethritis resulting from wrong diagnosis and treatment.

According to the centers of disease control and prevention CDC, chlamydia is the most common bacteria infection in the United State. About 1.1 million new cases were reported in 2007.

However, because as many as 75 of infected women and 50 Infected men do not experience symptoms of infection, the CDC estimates that up to 2.8 million new cases may occur each year in the United States. Chlamydia is most prevalent among teenagers. Nearly 75 of all new cases occur in women under the age of 25. By age 30, 50 of sexually active women have been exposed to Chlamydia.

Nongonococcal urethritis is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease in men in the United States.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

i. To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia infection.

ii. To ascertain the age distribution of the infection.

iii. To determine the sex distribution of the infection.

iv. To make recommendations on how to control or eradicate the infection.