title: Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: An epidemiological study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia infections in adult females by enzyme immunoassay and microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained smears. Endocervical swabs were collected from 126 females attending OB/GYN ward at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. 13.5% of 126 females tested were positive by enzyme immunoassay and only 5.6% were positive by the Giemsa-staining method. The infection rate among pregnant and nonpregnant women with urinogenital problems were 11.8% and 14.7%, respectively. The majority of females complained of excessive cervical discharge and pain in the lower abdomen. A high prevalence of infection in normal pregnant women (18.2%) indicates the asymptomatic nature of this infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Somji
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kazmi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sultana
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy