IndexCauseIncubation PeriodDiagnosticsCounty StatisticsState StatisticsFederal StatisticsPrimary PreventionSecondary PreventionTertiary PreventionConclusionReferencesSTDs have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 20 million new STDs occur in the United States each year, with more than half occurring among young people ages 15 to 24. Specifically, chlamydia has been reported as one of the most commonly known sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. It is considered one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and has accounted for the highest percentage of all sexually transmitted diseases since 1994 (CDC, 2017). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Why Chlamydia is Caused by the Bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis is the leading cause of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the United States and around the world. The disease is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact from person to person. Cases have been reported in which individuals who contracted chlamydia were asymptomatic for an extended period of time. When this occurs, the infected person may not immediately seek treatment, leaving them susceptible to many complications of the disease such as worsening inflammation in the pelvic region or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause reproductive infertility. Incubation period The incubation period of chlamydia is poorly defined, so much so that it has been defined as a “silent infection” (CDC, 2017). The time between initial exposure and the onset of symptoms varies from person to person. Symptoms may appear one to three weeks after initial contact with the affected individual. Some of the symptoms an individual might experience are fever, foul-smelling discharge from the anus, vagina, or eyes if the infection starts there, painful urination, painful sexual intercourse, post-coital bleeding, and/or abdominal pain. Chlamydia bacteria require human hosts to survive and live as parasites in cells without replicating. Chlamydia is transmitted between cells and between people, in the so-called “elementary bodies”. These structures are spore-like in nature and eventually transform into cells known as reticulate bodies. These are cells that can replicate once passed on to a new host, they are more sophisticated in this form. Diagnosis Chlamydia can be diagnosed in a few ways; for women, a urine sample may be taken or a vaginal, cervical, anal or oral swab may be collected. For men, as for women, it is possible to obtain a urine sample, however it is also possible to collect a urethral, ​​anal or oral swab (CDC, 2016). Serum studies can be performed, but they will only indicate an increased level of white blood cells if the infection has reached a colonization that causes the individual's body to react. County Statistics For the most recent measurement period (2017) and compared to other California counties, Riverside County reported a chlamydia incidence rate of 467.3 cases per 100,000 population. The Strategic Health Alliance Pursuing Equity (SHAPE) organization, which is a community-wide effort to coordinate resources from public health system partners to improve the health of all communities in Riverside County, reports that this is the second-worst quarter that the county has had since 2013, when the valueit was lower, at 392.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. State Statistics At the state level, California has a chlamydia incidence of 552.2 cases per 100,000 Californians, which is worse when compared to Riverside County's infection rate. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), chlamydia infections have increased statewide by about 9% in recent years. Chlamydia rates among women were 60 percent higher than those among men, and 54 percent of cases were in people younger than 25. Federal Statistics In 2017, a total of 1,708,569 chlamydia infections were reported to the CDC in 50 states and the District of Columbia. This case count correlates to a rate of 528.8 cases per 100,000 population. From 2000 to 2011, the rate of reported chlamydia infections increased from 251.4 to 453.4 cases per 100,000 U.S. residents. Subsequently, in the period 2011-2013, the rate of reported cases decreased to 443.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This was followed by an increase in reported cases in each of the following four years, when in 2016-2017 the rate increased 6.9%, from 494.7 to 528.8 cases per 100,000 U.S. residents. Primary Prevention Public health nurses are responsible to the people and communities they serve to assist in the primary prevention of disease and disability. For primary prevention, the public health nurse's goal is to prevent cases of chlamydia through sex education and behavior modification strategies, such as avoiding having multiple sexual partners or avoiding unprotected sex. These interventions are listed by the CDC as preventative measures as there are no vaccinations against this STI. Secondary Prevention Secondary prevention involves early screening and treatment if the disease is diagnosed. The goal of the public health nurse is to prevent transmission of the disease from affected hosts to unaffected hosts. Additionally, if an individual is diagnosed with chlamydia, the goal is to avoid any complications of the disease. For example, salpingitis is a complication that can cause ectopic pregnancy or tubal infertility. Therefore, screening becomes vitally important to avoid such complications, especially since there is a risk that an individual may be asymptomatic for the disease and adversely experience the devastating effects of the STI on the reproductive system. Tertiary Prevention Tertiary prevention involves the care of the person who is suffering from a chronic disease or condition. The goal is to maximize quality of life by limiting the effects of the disease or condition on the body, avoiding or minimizing complications, and restoring function as much as possible (Paavonen, 1997). Unfortunately, if a person with chlamydia is not treated promptly, the damage that occurs may be permanent. For example, a woman may become infertile due to a chlamydia infection, so the public nurse's goal, in that case, perhaps is to advocate for reproductive counseling, especially if the woman has not had children. Unfortunately, tertiary prevention of acute and chronic chlamydial infections of the upper genital tract have largely failed because irreversible tubal damage has already occurred by the time symptoms develop or the patient experiences infertility or tubal pregnancy. Please note: this is just an example. Get a customized document from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Although chlamydia continues to be the most commonly reported STI, various measures have been identified through ongoing surveillance to help reduce.73.2.103