Measure the Current Understanding of Chlamydia in the UK Essay

Measure the Current Understanding of Chlamydia in the UK - Essay Example Chlamydia is very common in western countries. â€Å"Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK. It affects both sexes, although young women are more at risk. In 2009, 216,000 people were treated at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics for Chlamydia. Of these, 130,000 were women, and 86,000 were men. Many more cases were treated by GPs or by private doctors. And it’s thought that tens of thousands of other people have caught the infection, but they are unaware that they’ve got it. Screening has recently shown that in some parts of Britain, 10 per cent to 20 per cent young adults have Chlamydia† (Okkhattak 2012). Chlamydia is known as a silent disease, because in most cases Chlamydia doesn’t show any symptoms. â€Å"Around 70-80% of women with Chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If women do get symptoms, the most common  include:   Pain when urinating (peeing) A change in vaginal discharge Pain in the lower abdomen Pain and/or bleeding during sex Blee ding after sex Bleeding between periods Heavier periods than usual† (Symptoms of Chlamydia 2011). As many as 1 in 4 men with Chlamydia have no symptoms. In men, Chlamydia may produce symptoms similar to gonorrhea. Symptoms may include: Burning sensation during urination Discharge from the penis or rectum Testicular tenderness  or pain Rectal discharge or pain† (Chlamydia 2010). 1. Prevalence of STIs in England then lead to the prevalence of STIs in London, then link it to Chlamydia. There has been a substantial increase in the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases in the United Kingdom, especially among the young. â€Å"In 2009 there were 482, 696 new STI diagnoses in the UK, 3 per cent more than in 2008. Young people aged between 15 and 24 continue to be the group most affected by STIs in the UK. In 2009, around two thirds of new STI diagnoses in women were in those aged under 25, and over half of the new diagnoses in men were in under 25s† (Sexually Trans mitted Infections Fact sheet (November 2010)). The residents of urban areas in London are more affected with acute STIs. There can be many reasons for that, like increased population, more people having sex with infected people etc. Chlamydia is the most common STI, diagnosed in the United Kingdom. â€Å"Since 1999 the number of annual cases of Chlamydia has more than doubled. In 2008 there were 123,018 new diagnoses of Chlamydia in GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinics, which was a record number. Between 2008 and 2009, an estimated 16 percent of young people aged between 15 and 24 in England were tested for Chlamydia at a community setting (outside GUM clinics).By 2009, an estimated 1.5 million Chlamydia tests performed under the programme† (STD Statistics and STDs in the UK n.d.). The rate of Chlamydia infection will be much larger, since Chlamydia remains undetected, and also because people don’t come forward for testing. But Chlamydia can be easily diagnosed and if diagnosed, and treated, it is easily curable. 2. What are the modes of transmission of STI’s especially Chlamydia? In gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, HIV, hepatitis, STI is transmitted by vaginal, anal or oral sex, in which exchange of body fluids takes place. It can also be transmitted through skin to skin contact, like genital warts, herpes, scabies, and pubic lice. Some are transmitted thro