[Human chlamydial infections (author's transl)]

Abstract

Due either to Chlamydia psittaci or to Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydial infections are transmitted to man directly or indirectly via birds or mammals. Directly transmitted chlamydial infections may be located in the eye (trachoma, inclusion body conjunctivitis), the urogenital tract (above all urethritis but other sites are possible) or in the ENT or respiratory systems (giving rise in particular to atypical pneumonias). Reiter's syndrome (urethritis, conjunctivitis, polyarthritis, enterocolitis) and lymphogmauloma venereum are two more examples. Combinations of them are not rare. Indirectly transmitted chlamydial infections rarely affect man with the exception of psittacosis. Treatment is dominated by cyclines, erythromycin and for chlamydia trachomatis by sulphonamides.