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Chlamydia in the Throat: Causes, Symptoms, and More

Contents

Chlamydia is one of the major sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can affect the throat and cause severe discomfort. A general misconception about STIs is that they are only associated with the genitals, however, this is incorrect as STIs can also affect other areas like the mouth and throat.

Keep reading to learn about chlamydia mouth symptoms, mode of transmission, prevention, treatment, and what std causes sore throat

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects both genders but is more severe in women. Chlamydia trachomatis infects wet mucous membranes in the body. The bacteria can infect various parts of the reproductive tract, including the urethra, cervix, uterus, epididymis, and fallopian tube. Chlamydia can also infect the throat, rectum, and eyes. However, cases of Chlamydia in the throat are rare.

How is Oral Chlamydia Transmitted?

Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual intimacy. Unprotected penetrative vaginal and anal sex and sharing sex toys are the most common mode of transmission. Mother-to-child transmission can also occur during childbirth if the vaginal fluid comes in contact with the baby.

Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual intimacy. Unprotected penetrative vaginal and anal sex and sharing sex toys are the most common mode of transmission. Mother-to-child transmission can also occur during childbirth if the vaginal fluid comes in contact with the baby.

There are various misconceptions concerning the transmission of Chlamydia and other STIs. Here, we’ll discuss essential things to note. The first is that Chlamydia can still be transmitted even with no ejaculation. Also, this infection cannot be transmitted by kissing, hugging, or eating with an infected person.

Symptoms of Chlamydia in the Throat

Chlamydia infection is asymptomatic, so it is referred to as a “silent infection.” However, research has answered “what STD causes sore throat,” in which Chlamydia is one of them, including Syphilis, Herpes, and Gonorrhea.

Chlamydia mouth symptoms like sore throat are mistaken for regular flu or cold. Other symptoms of Chlamydia in the throat include white spots on the tonsils, itchy throat, chlamydia bumps on the tongue, swollen lymph nodes, and lip sores. Although oral Chlamydia symptoms are not obvious, the disease can still be transmitted. These symptoms usually manifest about three weeks after infection.

Diagnosis of Chlamydia in the throat is made through swab testing. However, the swab test isn’t part of the regular STI screening. This is because chlamydia infection is most common in the genitals, so urine samples are usually collected for screening. As a result, most cases of oral Chlamydia go unnoticed, and the consequence of this is that it increases the spread of the infection.

Chlamydia Treatment

Chlamydia is a curable disease; however, treatment does not offer immunity. Thus, you can be reinfected if you indulge in unprotected sex. The treatment for oral Chlamydia is usually the same as that of the genitals.

Once diagnosed, Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics for three to seven days, as the case may be. Also, infected persons must get their partners tested. During treatment and about a week after, a Chlamydia patient should abstain from every form of sexual activity. Antibiotics prescribed for Chlamydia infections include Doxycycline, Azithromycin, and Levofloxacin.

Prevention of Chlamydia

The primary preventive measure against Chlamydia infection is abstinence. However, barrier approaches like condoms and dental dams reduce the risk of Chlamydia and other STDs. Also, staying faithful to one sexual partner is an excellent way to avoid Chlamydia infection and other STIs.

Complications of Chlamydia

Being a silent infection, the major problem with Chlamydia in the throat is that for people who don’t show Chlamydia mouth symptoms, there is a high risk of spreading the disease to other sexual partners. Also, Chlamydia infection makes you vulnerable to more severe STIs like HIV.

The infection weakens your immunity as the body’s defence is channelled toward the bacteria; thus, you are less immune to other infections. This weak immunity from Chlamydia infection in the throat can result in the std white spot on the tonsils, swollen gum, toothache, and eventual tooth loss. Generally, untreated Chlamydia infection can cause the following:

  • Prostatitis
  • Infertility
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • Cervical cancer.
  • Mother to child transmission leading to pneumonia and conjunctivitis in the baby
  • Reactive arthritis
  • Ectopic pregnancy.

If you are sexually active or indulge in high-risk sexual activities, ensure you get tested for STDs regularly. Some of these STDs are asymptomatic and can be dormant in your body for an extended period. Hence, regular testing allows for early diagnosis and treatment and reduces complications

Summary

Chlamydia is a common STI, although cases of infection in the throat are rare. However, this infection is preventable and curable, but treatment does not provide immunity. Hence one can be reinfected, and untreated cases can lead to severe complications. Therefore, it is crucial to get regular STI screening if you indulge in high-risk sexual activities.

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