What is oral chlamydia? Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease among people ages 15 to 29. It is caused by a bacterium known as Chlamydia trachomatis, which can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal and oral sex. When the infection (chlamydia) affects the mouth or throat, the condition is called oral chlamydia. People often suspect they have chlamydia when they experience symptoms related to the genitals and urinary tract such as painful urination or vaginal discharge. But affected individuals who contract chlamydia through oral sex do not always associate the symptoms with the disease because they can easily be attributed to other conditions. What are the symptoms of chlamydia affecting the oral cavity? In most cases, people suffering from oral chlamydia do not experience symptoms. The only complaint they may have is a sore throat, which can be confused with a host of other conditions from allergies and colds to strep throat or acid reflux. When symptoms of oral chlamydia develop, they often include: Sore throat; Redness in the mouth or oral cavity; Swollen tonsils; Swollen lymph nodes in the neck; Bumps on the tongue; Pain in the mouth; Mouth sores; White spots on the back of the throat or tonsils; Sores around the lips; Mild fever; Fatigue Chlamydia can take one to three weeks after sexual contact to develop, which is another reason why many do not make the connection between their symptoms and this infection. What are the complications of chlamydia affecting the oral cavity? Oral chlamydia can sometimes lead to secondary oral infections. Because the body is so busy fighting chlamydia, it is less able to fight other infections that contribute to gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. Toothache, bleeding gums and tooth loss are among the complications of these diseases. People with oral chlamydia can spread the infection to other people. Depending on which part of the body is affected, chlamydia can lead to complications such as: Conjunctivitis; Epididymitis; Pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the female reproductive organs); Ectopic pregnancy (implantation of a fertilized egg outside the womb); Reactive arthritis (joint pain and swelling caused by infection); Infertility in both sexes In addition, the presence of chlamydia increases the risk of HIV infection. This is because chlamydia triggers an inflammatory response that attracts white blood cells called CD4 + T lymphocytes, which are helper T cells (T-helpers), to the site of infection. These are the cells that HIV aims to infect. For this reason, chlamydia ultimately “helps” HIV establish infection. How is chlamydia infection affecting the oral cavity? A person can become infected with chlamydia affecting the mouth and throat,by having oral sex with a person infected with chlamydia. This includes oral-penile sex, oral-vaginal sex, and oral-anal sex. Chlamydia trachomatis can also be passed from the throat of a person with chlamydia to the penis of someone without the infection. Interestingly, research shows that chlamydia is unlikely to be transmitted from the throat to the vagina or rectum during oral sex. All current evidence suggests that chlamydia cannot be transmitted through kissing. Oral chlamydia is much less common than genital chlamydia. Research shows that about 10% of people who are treated for STDs have genital chlamydia, but only about 1.5% have oral chlamydia. How is oral chlamydia diagnosed? Testing a swab sample is the most accurate way to detect the presence of oral chlamydia. After a swab is taken from the mouth and throat, the sample is sent to a laboratory for evaluation using a technology known as a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT). NAAT or PCR is a type of diagnostic test that detects the presence of genetic material (nucleic acids) of bacteria (or in other cases, viruses). The test is sensitive to even small numbers of bacteria and can usually provide results within one to two days. The swabs required for the examination can also be used to collect secretions from the vagina, cervix or rectum. In addition, NAAT technology is used to detect Chlamydia trachomatis in a urine sample. Testing for chlamydia affecting any part of the body other than the genitals or rectum is not a routine part of STD screening. This explains why oral STDs often go undiagnosed and untreated. What is the treatment for oral chlamydia? Oral chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, just like genital or anal chlamydia. There are several treatments recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Preferred treatment: 100 milligrams (mg) of doxycycline taken by mouth twice daily for seven days; Alternative treatment: 1 gram (g) azithromycin, single dose, taken by mouth, followed by 500 mg of levofloxacin, taken by mouth once daily for seven days After completion of treatment, sex should be avoided for at least seven days . If the patient is diagnosed with chlamydia, all his sexual partners should be informed about the disease and treated. Chlamydia reinfection increases the risk of complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chlamydia statistics 2. Chow EP, Fairley CK. The role of saliva in gonorrhoea and chlamydia transmission to extragenital sites among men who have sex with men: new insights into transmission 3. American Sexual Health Association:National Chlamydia Coalition. How is chlamydia transmitted? 4. MedlinePlus. Chlamydia infections