Chlamydia is spread almost exclusively through sexual contact. Infection during pregnancy may result in eye and lung infection of the newborn. The symptoms of chlamydia are similar to those of gonorrheal infections. In males, symptoms can include urethritis including an opaque discharge, itching, and burning upon urination. The symptoms associated with chlamydia appear from one to two weeks after infection.
Some people never develop obvious symptoms throughout their infection.
A person can spread chlamydia from the time they are infected until they are cured. Past infection with chlamydia does not protect a person from contracting the disease again. Chlamydia is treated by antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline. Erythromycin is the drug of choice for the newborn and for women with a known or suspected pregnancy. Chlamydial infections are difficult to distinguish clinically from gonorrheal infections and these infections may be acquired concurrently.