Images Of Chlamydia In The Throat

Can You Really Get Oral Chlamydia

When the term Chlamydia comes to mind, we do not usually think about it having any kind of relationship with our mouth and throat, but it does. The truth is that you can, indeed, develop Chlamydia in your mouth and throat. Unfortunately, oral Chlamydia is not explored extensively as the genital form of the disease, but its safe to expect things to change in the near future. A study from the Clinical Oral Investigations detected the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in cellular specimens from the lining epithelium of diseased periodontal sites. In other words, the study provided preliminary evidence that Chlamydia can affect the oral cavity, in this case, in adults with periodontal disease.

In orderto understand how a person can develop oral Chlamydia in the first place, it isimportant to remember the very nature of this STD. A person develops Chlamydiawhen their mucous membranes such as penis, vagina, or rectum come in contactwith certain bacteria. Upon contact, the bacteria enter mucous membranes andstart multiplying.

Mostcases of Chlamydia occur due to unprotected vaginal or anal sex, but it isentirely possible to get this STD through oral sex as well. While oralChlamydia is not very common, its still possible to develop this STD, which iswhy safe sex practices are crucial.

Can I Compare Pictures Of Chlamydia With My Own Body

This isnt a good way to tell if you have chlamydia although it may be tempting to look at pictures of chlamydia on the internet and compare this to any symptoms you are suffering or clinical signs you may have, this is not recommended because:

• Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms or signs

• There are a variety of symptoms of signs that may well not be due to chlamydia

• If you guess you have chlamydia, and get it wrong, you may well be missing another serious infection or medical condition

• The internet does not always give accurate information

• You cannot visualise your own genitalia properly

What if I compare pictures and I think they match? if you have any concerns you may have chlamydia you are strongly advised to have a chlamydia test. Remember even if you compare yourself with pictures and dont see matching symptoms, you could still have chlamydia without visible symptoms. This is very common.

What if I dont want to get tested? there is no good alternative. Chlamydia is a common infection, and it is easy to have a test and be treated if it is positive. Doctors and nurses are trained to deal with these issues, and they will do their best to put you at ease.

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How Common Is Pharyngeal Chlamydia

You may think about cold sores on the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus , but for the most part, you probably associate other STIs with genital infections. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause burning while urinating and discharge syphilis can cause ulcers HSV can cause blisters human papillomavirus can cause warts, and so on. However, many of these STIs can also cause symptoms in other parts of the body, called extragenital infections.

Common parts of the body that are susceptible to extragenital infections are the rectum and mouth or throat since these parts of the body may also be involved in sexual contact. Being aware of infections outside the genital area is important for your sexual health, especially if you want to be screened for STIs. To truly make sure you dont have certain STIs, you cant just rely on a urine sample or vaginal swab. Instead, you need to check everywhere that may be at risk for infection.

Chlamydia is one of the STIs that can cause an extragenital infection and is sometimes found in the throat. This is sometimes called oral chlamydia or pharyngeal chlamydia. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, so when you say you have pharyngeal chlamydia, it means you have an infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis in the throat.

A review of the medical literature shows the rates of oral chlamydia in women, men who have sex with women , and men who have sex with men are as follows :

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How Common Is Chlamydia

Very. In the United States, chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection . In 2018, nearly 1.8 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . However, it is estimated that almost 3 million cases actually occur each year.

Chlamydia is most common in younger people. It is estimated that 1 in 20 sexually active young women aged 14-24 years has chlamydia.

What It Looks Like

Symptoms of oral chlamydia look very similar to tonsillitis or strep throat. The throat will be red, and the tonsils will be swollen. White spots might appear on the back of the throat. In addition, a person might feel swollen lymph nodes on the sides of the neck.

The most accurate way to know whether you have oral chlamydia is through swab testing. Testing for chlamydia outside of the genital area is not a routine part of STD screening, which means that throat infections can go undiagnosed and untreated.

Untreated chlamydia of the throat could be a reason for the ongoing spread of the disease.

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Most Common Stds Pictures And Descriptions

Leah McCabe

Leah McCabe

Leah likes writing about health and science subjects. Through her writing she hopes to help people of all backgrounds have equal access to information and quality healthcare.

Dr. Katalin Karolyi

Dr. Katalin Karolyi

Katalin Karolyi, M.D. earned her medical degree at the University of Debrecen. After completing her residency program in pathology at the Kenezy Hospital, she obtained a postdoctoral position at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, Florida.

This article contains images of STD infected genitalia sourced from top medical sites. Not all STDs will present as displayed in each image. In order to have an STD diagnosed you must receive STD testing and consult with a doctor.

What Is The Difference Between Chlamydia In The Throat And Streptococcus Infections

Both chlamydia in the throat and streptococcus throat are bacterial infections that affect the mouth and throat area.

The main difference is that they are caused by a different bacterium. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis and strep throat is caused by bacteria streptococcus pyogenes.

This means that although they share some of the same symptoms, such as pain and soreness in the throat, inflammation of the lymph nodes and fever, they also have symptoms that differ. For example, chlamydia often presents as white spots towards the back of the throat and strep throat causes red spots. Aside from this difference, itâs difficult to distinguish the difference between the two.

A swab test is required to accurately diagnose both.

Chlamydia is treated using either doxycycline or azithromycin, and strep throat infections are treated using penicillin and erythromycin antibiotics.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Chlamydia

Chlamydia is commonly referred to as the silent infection, the reason for this being pretty self-explanatory – most people infected with the disease are asymptomatic and experience little to no symptoms.

In saying that, when chlamydia in the mouth and throat do show symptoms, they may include:

• A sore throat that is not being treated effectively with throat medicine
• A cough that is not being treated effectively with cough medicine
• Feeling feverish
• Dryness and itchiness in the mouth and throat

What To Think About

Some people who have chlamydia may also have gonorrhea. In that case, treatment includes antibiotics that kill both chlamydia and gonorrhea. For more information, see the topic Gonorrhea.

Reinfection can occur. Symptoms that continue after treatment are probably caused by another chlamydia infection rather than treatment failure. To prevent reinfection, sex partners need to be evaluated and treated.

Repeated chlamydia infections increase the risk for pelvic inflammatory disease . Even one infection can lead to PID without proper treatment. Make sure to take your antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Take the full course of medicine, even if you feel better in a couple of days.

Some doctors recommend retesting 3 to 12 months after treatment to reduce the risk of complications from reinfection.footnote 4

If you have chlamydia, your doctor will send a report to the state health department. Your personal information is kept confidential. The health department may contact you about telling your sex partner or partners that they may need treatment.

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What Are The Complications Of Oral Chlamydia

Untreated pharyngeal chlamydia could potentially infect a sexual partner. This could cause the sexual partner to experience genital symptoms, like vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and a burning sensation while urinating. It also increases the chances of the chlamydia infection spreading back to you, infecting other parts of your body.

Untreated genital chlamydia that spreads can cause serious complications like infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease , urethritis, and epididymitis. It can also lead to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy outside of the uterusthis condition is a medical emergency and may even cause death.

How Do You Get Oral Chlamydia

A person can get oral chlamydia by giving vaginal, penile, or anal oral sex to another person already infected with the bacteria.

Chlamydia trachomatis can also be spread from an infected persons throat to the penis. Research has not shown that the infection can spread from an infected persons throat to the vagina or rectum during oral sex.

Chlamydia does not seem to spread through kissing.

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What Other Problems Can Chlamydia Cause

In women, an untreated infection can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Women who have had chlamydia infections more than once are at higher risk of serious reproductive health complications.

Men often dont have health problems from chlamydia. Sometimes it can infect the epididymis . This can cause pain, fever, and, rarely, infertility.

Both men and women can develop reactive arthritis because of a chlamydia infection. Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that happens as a reaction to an infection in the body.

Babies born to infected mothers can get eye infections and pneumonia from chlamydia. It may also make it more likely for your baby to be born too early.

Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV/AIDS.

Chlamydia Signs In Females And Males

Chlamydia is often called the silent infection and fora good reason. 70% to 80% of those infected experience no signs of bacterialinfection. 50% to 70% of females will not develop any signs despite beingexposed to the bacteria for a long time. The same applies to men since 50% of them wont experience any signs at all.

The bacteria can linger in the system for years ormonths on end before its finally diagnosed. But, by then, there is a 50%chance the infection will cause abdominal pain, abnormal and unusual discharge,and bleeding from the reproductive organs, fever, and more.

There are exceptions, and some people do develop signs that can help with early detection.

If not properly managed, it can be transmitted to asexual partner through oral, vaginal, anal sex. It can also infect the eyes andthroat if they come in contact with the infected vaginal fluid or semen.

If you do ignore the signs, however, it can haveserious health consequences. This infection can reduce fertility in men, causeinfertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy in women. This has madechlamydia a serious issue for those who dont know they carry it.

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Who’s At Risk Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

It’s estimated that half of sexually active young adults acquire at least one of these STIs by age 25. In fact, sexual diseases are the most commonly reported type of infection in America. Though more common in teens and young adults, anyone who is sexually active is potentially at risk. The risk is raised by having multiple sex partners. The incidence of some sexually transmitted diseases, including LGV and syphilis, is increasing in men who have sex with men.

Hpv In The Throat And Mouth

Human papillomavirus are a group of more than 200 viruses that cause warts. Of these 200 viruses, 40 variants can be transmitted through sexual contact and affect someone’s genitals, anus, mouth, or throat.

HPV is often an asymptomatic infection. However, HPV symptoms can include:

• Genital lumps or bumps
• Warts

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What Is The Treatment For Oral Chlamydia

Oral chlamydia is treated with the antibiotics, azithromycin or doxycycline. Doxycycline is the recommended treatment as it is more effective. Chlamydia antibiotics come as oral tablets or pills that are swallowed with water.

It is important that you use chlamydia treatment if you have tested positive. According to the NHS, more than 95% of chlamydia cases are curable if the medication is taken correctly. These antibiotics work by slowing or stopping bacterial growth and this cures the infection, reducing the risk of transmission.

If you are diagnosed with chlamydia of the throat, you should wait until you finish your prescribed dose and your symptoms have completely gone before engaging in sexual activity.

Do not stop your course of antibiotics early, even if your symptoms improve or go away. This could cause the infection to come back.

Chlamydia Symptoms All Women Should Know

Chlamydia, an STI caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, is most prevalent in women under 25, but any sexually active person is at risk. Its actually really common in both men and women, and can be spread via vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Unfortunately, chlamydia symptoms can be easy to miss.

The STI is sometimes called a silent infection, meaning that most people dont experience symptoms, according to the CDC. This is especially problematic for women. If chlamydia is left untreated, it can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Both PID and untreated chlamydia can cause permanent scarring in the reproductive organs, blocking sperm and eggs from meeting and leading to infertility. In fact, about 25 percent of infertility cases are due to obstructed fallopian tubes, Meike L. Uhler, M.D., a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at the Fertility Centers of Illinois, tells SELF. In some cases, this can be fixed surgically. In others, it cannot be reversed.

Pregnant women with chlamydia are more likely to deliver prematurely, and can pass the infection to their babies, causing eye infection or pneumonia.

Lots of things can change how your discharge looks, smells, and feels. A smelly, yellow-green color can be an indication of an infection like chlamydia.

Especially if the infection has been left untreated for a while and has caused PID, you may experience lower abdominal pain.

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Chlamydia In Female Genitals

Chlamydia in female genitals is often recognized by:

• vaginal discharge
• bleeding when not on period
• Pain and discomfort whenurinating
• Bleeding immediately after sexualintercourse

For most women, chlamydia will infect the opening to their uterus, known as the cervix. This is the type of infection that causes discharge and redness. If left untreated, there is a high chance it will travel to the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. In such cases, chlamydia can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and cause painful intercourse, inflammation, and abdominal pain.

The image below depicts a cervix inflammation in the early stages and has resulted in redness and vaginal discharge. Complications have not yet occurred, but if this infection isnt properly managed, it can cause serious complications in the fallopian tubes and result in infertility or ectopic pregnancy.

In this particular example, the discharge is white andcan easily be confused with a harmless discharge. But, the infected fluid canhave a very strong smell. If the color of the discharge is yellow, it couldmean the vagina has been infected and could possibly carry chlamydia.

Aside from discharge and a cervix inflammation,chlamydia can also cause blood in the urine. Infected females can experiencevaginal bleeding or spotting after intercourse or between periods.

Oral Chlamydia Diagnosis And Treatment

To test for oral chlamydia, most doctors will do a swab of your throat. That swab will be tested for presence of the bacteria.

In most cases, chlamydia is easy to cure. Your local or Nurx medical provider can prescribe you with antibiotics. Its important to take the full antibiotic regimen before you have sex to avoid spreading the infection to any partners.

Many people dont realize they have chlamydia since it typically does not produce any symptoms. Unfortunately, the longer you go without treatment for chlamydia, the more serious the infection will be. If the infection becomes severe, it may cause serious health complications or irreversible damage. Routine STI screenings are highly recommended, especially for sexually active young men and women.

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How Exactly Can A Person Develop Oral Chlamydia

Eventhough a person can transmit Chlamydia through oral sex to the mouth or throat,and the other individual can develop symptoms there, the STD is not spreadthrough the mouth to mouth kissing. In other words, you cantget Chlamydia just by kissing someone who has it.

Asmentioned above, oral Chlamydia develops as a consequence of giving oral sex toa person affected by this STD. Oral sex involves using the mouth, lips, andtongue to stimulate the vagina, penis, or anus of another person.

• Givingoral sex to a female partner with an infected vagina and urinary tract
• Performingoral sex on a male partner with an infected penis
• Performingoral sex on either a male or female partner with the infected rectum

Thelikelihood of developing oral Chlamydia also increases if a person has dentalproblems such as tooth decay, gum disease i.e., bleeding gums and oral cancer.All these factors increase inflammation and lower immune defenses, thusallowing bacteria to thrive.