Why is chlamydia much more common than syphilis?

Question

A.  Chlamydia is spread via droplet inhalation.
B.  Syphilis can penetrate a condom whereas chlamydia cannot.
C.  Many chlamydia infections are asymptomatic.
D.  Chlamydia is viral, and viral diseases spread much quicker.
E.  Chlamydia is resistant to most antibiotics.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about chlamydia? How does it relate to the question?
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

C.  Many chlamydia infections are asymptomatic.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o You observe that there are far more cases of chlamydia than of syphilis. Which hypothesis best explains this phenomenon?
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is an “analyze” question, so it is asking you to merge your knowledge of two different groups (chlamydia and syphilis) to find similarities and differences. Which of the differences best explains the observed phenomenon?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about chlamydia? How does it relate to the question?
        o The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is an STD, meaning that it infects a new host when they have sex with an infected person. Women in the early stages of infection generally do not show any symptoms, even though they can transmit the disease. Late-stage symptoms include pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility, and heart disease. Untreated, chlamydia can cause death. It can be treated using antibiotics such as tetracycline.
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is an STD and can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. It can also be transmitted vertically from a mother to her fetus or horizontally by coming in contact with an open syphilis sore. Symptoms include a rash, open sores, a sore throat, heart disease, nerve damage, mental disease, and blindness. In the third stage of the disease, symptoms disappear for a while and the host is no longer infectious.
 
Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Make a Venn Diagram for syphilis and chlamydia. How are they similar? How are they different?
        o Which of their differences best explains why chlamydia is so much more common than syphilis?
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question asked you to pick the best hypothesis that explains why chlamydia is so much more common than syphilis.
        o If you got the correct answer, great job!
        o If you got an incorrect answer, where did you get stuck?
            · Both diseases have an asymptomatic stage, but syphilis patients are not contagious during this stage. Women with early-stage chlamydia can be asymptomatic but still be contagious.