Chlamydia vs Yeast Infection
Chlamydia and yeast infect genital organs as well as other organs. Both chlamydia and yeast cause similar symptoms in genital infections. However, they differ greatly in other situations. Despite many similarities, there are a lot of differences between chlamydia and yeast infections, which will be talked about in this article, highlighting their clinical features, symptoms, causes, investigation and diagnosis, prognosis, and also the course of treatment they require.
Chlamydia Infection
Chlamydia affects various systems. Therefore, chlamydia symptoms vary according to the affected organ system. Chlamydial pneumonia is the commonest chlamydial infection in the body. It spreads via droplets. It causes sore throat, hoarseness of voice, ear infections followed by pneumonia. It is easily diagnosed with blood tests for chlamydial infections. Chlamydial pneumonia responds well to tetracycline. Chlamydia psittaci causes psittacosis. It is a disease acquired from infected birds. Symptoms include headache, fever, dry cough, lethargy, arthralgia, anorexia, dizziness, and vomiting. Extra pulmonary features are legion, but they are rare. It can cause meningitis, encephalitis, infective endocarditis, hepatitis, nephritis, rash and splenic enlargement.
Chest x-ray shows patchy consolidation (seen as shadows on the x-ray film). Serology for chlamydia confirms the diagnosis. The best treatment is tetracycline. Chlamydia causes a sexually transmitted disease which presents with urethral or vaginal discharge. Chlamydial genital infection may be asymptomatic or can present as ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia may spread upwards along the vagina and uterus to cause pelvic inflammation. This results in adhesions around the fallopian tubes which may give rise to ectopic pregnancies. Urethral swab for chlamydia is diagnostic. Chlamydia antigens and nucleic acid probe assays also are confirmatory tests.
Yeast Infection
Yeast infection is also commonly seen in immunocompromised elderly and pregnant individuals. Candida occurs in earnest, in HIV patients and ICU patients. Candida lives without causing any harm on skin, throat and vagina. Prolonged ventilation in ICU, urinate catheterization, intravenous lines, regular use of broad spectrum antibiotics and IV nutrition are known risk factors for introducing yeast infections to the system. Oral thrush presents as white deposits on the tongue and sides of the oral cavity and bad breath. These whitish patches are hard to remove and bleed if scraped. Esophageal thrush presents as painful and difficult swallowing. Vaginal candidiasis presents as whitish creamy vaginal discharge associated with vulval itching. It can also cause superficial pain while intercourse and lower abdominal pain when it causes pelvic inflammation.
Candidiasis responds well to antifungal treatment. Vaginal inserts containing antifungals, oral drugs and intravenous drugs are effective against candidiasis. In case of pelvic inflammation, the patient complains of deep pain during intercourse, vaginal discharge, and heightened lower abdominal pain during periods.
What is the difference between Chlamydia and Yeast Infection?
• Chlamydia is a bacteria while yeast in a fungus.
• Chlamydia infects many systems while yeast infects the mouth and genital organs only.
• In patients with poor defense against infections, both can thrive in the body causing various symptoms.
• Chlamydia vaginitis features greenish yellow discharge while yeast causes a creamy white discharge.
• Chlamydia is more likely to cause pelvic inflammation than yeast.
• Chlamydial vaginal discharge gives off an offensive fishy odor while yeast discharge does not.
• Chlamydia causes nephritis, meningitis, encephalitis and endocarditis while yeast does not.
Also, read the Difference Between Yeast Infection and Bacterial Infection