Chlamydia, patient information 8 September 2005




Patient information and directions. Communicable Disease Prevention leaflet issued by the Swedish Society for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control.  

You have become infected (or are suspected of being infected) with chlamydia. Chlamydia infection is caused by bacteria that spread infection through sexual intercourse. The bacteria are found in the urethra, and also in the vagina in women. Most people have no symptoms of chlamydia infection and do not know that they are infected.  

Women can sustain injury to their Fallopian tubes with a risk of ectopic pregnancy and sterility. Men can contract infection of the epididymis. The infection is cured using antibiotics.  

Since a lot of people have chlamydia without knowing it, it is important that the people with whom you have had sex, and who may have infected you – or become infected by you – go to a doctor for examination. This is known as contact tracing.  

To prevent the spread of infection, you must follow these directions:

  • You must take your medicine in the way prescribed by your doctor. 
  • You may not have intercourse or other sexual activity (e.g. petting) in which infection can be transmitted until you have taken the whole course of antibiotics and 10 days have passed since you started treatment.
  • If your doctor wants you to come for a new visit to check that the infection has cleared up, you must go.  
  • Following a positive chlamydia test, you are obliged to help with in contact tracing.    

Under the Communicable Diseases Act (Smittskyddslagen), you are obliged to follow the directions you have been given. If you want these changed, contact the County Medical Officer (Smittskyddsläkaren) and request a reconsideration of the directions.

 
Senast uppdaterad 2007-03-11