TMJ Dysfunction Linked to Sexually Transmitted Disease
Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, has been implicated as one
of the causes of TMJ-dysfunction. Research at Boston University and Baylor
University have found that chlamydia induced arthritis may cause the
TMJ dysfunction and pain.
One of the research teams testing the finding found that the average
prevalence of chlamydia bacterium was found in only 0.2% of the general
population, whereas in approximately 20% of TMJ patients, the chlamydia
bacterium was found.
The second research group found approximately half of the group with
TMJ dysfunction had prior exposure to the chlamydia bacterium. With chlamydia
being approximately 8 times more likely in women, the researchers suggest
that female patients with TMJ dysfunction be tested for chlamydia even
if they have no other symptoms associated with it.
|
