Oral chlamydia is a bacterial infection that can affect the throat, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. While chlamydia is widely recognized for causing genital infections, it can also manifest in the pharynx, the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity. This infection is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), meaning it is primarily passed through sexual contact. Oral chlamydia is less common than genital infections but still represents a public health concern due to its often asymptomatic nature.
Understanding Oral Chlamydia
Oral chlamydia, or pharyngeal chlamydia, is a Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the mouth or throat. While the same bacteria cause both oral and genital chlamydia, symptoms and prevalence differ. The bacteria target mucous membranes in both genital areas and the throat.
An oral infection can exist independently or concurrently with genital or anal chlamydia. It is treatable and curable, but if left untreated, can lead to complications.
How Oral Chlamydia Spreads
Oral chlamydia primarily spreads through unprotected oral sex with an infected partner. Bacteria transfer from an infected individual’s genital, anal, or oral areas to their partner’s throat, occurring during mouth-to-penis, mouth-to-vagina, or mouth-to-anus contact.
Chlamydia can spread even without ejaculation or full penetration, as bacteria in infected genital fluids transfer through mucous membrane contact. While less likely to transmit through oral sex than vaginal or anal sex, it remains a possible route. Casual contact like kissing or sharing utensils does not typically transmit the infection.
Recognizing Symptoms
Oral chlamydia is often asymptomatic, meaning many infected individuals experience no noticeable signs. This “silent” nature makes detection challenging and can lead to unknowingly spreading the infection. When symptoms appear, they typically manifest in the throat and can be mild, often mistaken for a cold or strep throat.
Potential symptoms include a sore throat, redness in the mouth or throat, swollen tonsils, persistent cough, difficulty swallowing, mouth sores, or swollen lymph nodes in the neck. A mild fever may also occur. Symptoms usually appear one to three weeks after exposure.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing oral chlamydia involves a specific throat swab test. A healthcare professional collects a sample from the back of the throat for laboratory analysis using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). This test accurately detects Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, even in small amounts. Requesting an oral chlamydia test is important, as not all routine STI screenings include throat swabs.
Common antibiotic treatments include a single oral dose of 1 gram of azithromycin or 100 milligrams of doxycycline taken twice daily for seven days. Completing the entire medication course is crucial, even if symptoms improve, to ensure the infection is fully cleared. Retesting may be recommended after treatment to confirm resolution. Inform any sexual partners from the past 60 days for testing and treatment to prevent reinfection and further spread.
Prevention
Preventing oral chlamydia involves safe sex practices to reduce transmission risk. Consistent use of barrier methods, such as condoms or dental dams, during oral sex is effective. Use a condom for mouth-to-penis contact, and a dental dam or cut-open latex condom for mouth-to-vulva/vagina or oral-anal contact.
Open communication with sexual partners about STI status is an important preventative measure. Regular STI testing, especially for sexually active individuals or those with new or multiple partners, aids early detection and treatment. Abstinence from sexual activity is the only sure way to completely avoid oral chlamydia.