The bacterium Chlamydia must live and reproduce inside the cells of a host. The question of whether it can cause seizures relates to its ability to move beyond the primary infection site and affect the central nervous system. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common species, often causing asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections. The respiratory species, Chlamydia pneumoniae, is more commonly associated with systemic spread that can affect the brain, raising concerns about severe, rare complications like seizures.
Understanding Chlamydia’s Systemic Potential
Chlamydia infection is not always limited to the initial site of entry, such as the genital, ocular, or respiratory tract. The bacteria can disseminate throughout the body, moving beyond localized infection via the bloodstream (hematogenous dissemination) or through the body’s inflammatory response.
While C. trachomatis primarily causes urogenital and ocular infections, the respiratory species C. pneumoniae is more frequently linked to systemic spread. C. pneumoniae is a widespread respiratory pathogen associated with chronic inflammatory diseases outside the lungs. This systemic potential allows the bacteria or the resulting inflammation to affect distant organ systems, including the brain.
Chlamydia and Neurological Involvement: Addressing Seizures
Chlamydia causing seizures is an extremely rare, but medically recognized, possibility, typically occurring as a secondary complication of a severe systemic infection. Seizures are not a common symptom; if they occur, they signal serious central nervous system inflammation, such as chlamydia-induced meningoencephalitis.
Meningoencephalitis involves the inflammation of the brain tissue (encephalitis) and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). This inflammation disrupts normal brain activity, which can lead to a seizure. This severe complication is more frequently linked to C. pneumoniae or C. psittaci, though cases involving C. trachomatis have also been reported.
The mechanism is often an intense inflammatory response rather than direct bacterial invasion, though the bacteria can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid in some cases. Patients who survive meningoencephalitis or meningitis have an increased risk of developing unprovoked seizures later in life. A seizure during a Chlamydia infection signals a medical emergency requiring immediate attention for a widespread, severe complication.
Other Systemic Effects of Untreated Chlamydia
When a Chlamydia infection goes untreated, systemic spread can lead to a range of other serious complications. In women, the most significant risk is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), an infection of the reproductive organs. PID can cause damage and scarring to the fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.
In men, untreated Chlamydia can cause epididymitis, a painful inflammation of the coiled tube at the back of the testicle that stores and carries sperm. This condition leads to swelling and tenderness and may negatively impact fertility. In both men and women, Chlamydia can also trigger reactive arthritis, which causes inflammation in the joints, eyes, and urethra.
Seeking Diagnosis and Treatment
Because Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, screening is a crucial step in preventing the severe systemic complications of the infection. Testing for C. trachomatis is typically performed using highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) on urine samples or swabs collected from the affected sites, such as the urethra, cervix, or rectum.
The infection is highly treatable with antibiotics, which can prevent the development of systemic issues like PID and neurological complications. The preferred treatment for non-pregnant adults is typically a seven-day course of Doxycycline, taken twice daily. An alternative is a single, one-gram dose of Azithromycin, particularly when adherence to a multi-day regimen is a concern.
Following treatment, it is important to notify any recent sexual partners so they can also be tested and treated. A retest is recommended approximately three months later to ensure the infection is fully cleared and to check for reinfection.