What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a very common sexually-transmitted infection (STI). It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Anyone who is sexually active can get chlamydia. Chlamydia can be transmitted through oral, vaginal or anal sex if a barrier (such as a condom) is not used. It is important to acknowledge that penetration does not have to occur in order to contract chlamydia. Chlamydia can also be transmitted from mother to child at birth [1].
Signs and Symptoms of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is sometimes referred to as a silent infection, as it does not cause any symptoms in a significant proportion of patients. The infection is asymptomatic in between 40 and 96% of patients [1].
If a person experiences symptoms of a chlamydia infection, these differ between men and women.
In men, symptoms may include:
- burning sensation during urination,
- discharge from the penis, which is yellow or green in colour,
- pain in the lower abdomen and/or testicles.
If the infection occurs in the anus, symptoms can include discharge, pain and bleeding in the area [1].
In women, the symptoms may include:
- pain with sexual intercourse,
- vaginal discharge,
- burning sensation during urination,
- pain in the lower abdomen,
- inflammation of the cervix.
If the infection is left untreated and spreads to the fallopian tubes, it may cause a serious condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a medical emergency which may require hospitalisation and can become life-threatening. Symptoms of PID include fevers, severe pelvic pain, nausea, and abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Infection in the anus in women also presents with pain, discharge and bleeding [1].
Treatment for Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, and therefore can be treated with antibiotics. Azithromycin is the frontline treatment, which is prescribed as a single, large dose. Another option is Doxycycline, which is prescribed as twice daily for about one week [1].
It is important to adhere to the instruction when taking antibiotics, and do not stop taking them even if you start feeling better until you finish the dosing regimen.
The infection may take up to two weeks to clear fully. It is important to avoid sexual activity during the treatment time, as it is still possible to transmit or contract chlamydia again, even if you are being treated for a previous infection [1].
Chlamydia In the Mouth
Besides the genitals and anus, chlamydia can infect the throat, with symptoms affecting the mouth.
When chlamydia infects the throat, it often causes no symptoms. However, with a symptomatic presentation, the symptoms include:
Does Chlamydia Cause Tongue Bumps?
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Oral chlamydia is usually contracted through oral sex with an infected person. The risk of oral chlamydia is increased when the oral sex is unprotected, or when you have multiple sexual partners [1, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Which STIs Cause Tongue Bumps?
While chlamydia does not cause bumps on the tongue, two other STIs, namely syphilis and herpes, can cause tongue bumps.
Syphilis can cause sores (called chancres) on the tongue during the first stage of infection. These start as small, res patches and eventually develop into larger sores that can appear red, yellow or grey [7, 8].
Herpes can cause blisters or ulcers on the tongue that are painful [9].
How to Prevent Chlamydia?
The most effective way to prevent chlamydia in sexually active people is to use barrier protection methods during sex. These include condoms (male and female) or dental dams. It is important to use this protection during oral sex as well as penetration.
In addition, it is important to know your STI status by getting tested regularly, especially if you have multiple sexual partners [1]. Communication about STI status is important between partners prior to initiating sex.
Community initiatives have also been shown to be effective in preventing chlamydia. Such initiatives can include:
- counselling of school children and at-risk communities,
- establishment of free sexual clinics,
- offering of at-home test kits, and popularisation of these options via mass media [10].
If your healthcare system is offering STI testing kits or a testing service, you should take advantage of this service. As with every disease, early detection and intervention is important for successful treatment and to minimise future complications.
How is Chlamydia Detected in the Laboratory?
Multiple methods can be used to detect chlamydia. The gold standard is the PCR test, which has high sensitivity and specificity (meaning it is reliable and not prone to false results) [11]. The PCR test detects the genetic material of the chlamydia bacteria in a sample, which can be urine or a swab.
Chlamydia can also be detected using immuoassay tests, however, these are expensive [12]. Probably the cheapest way of detecting chlamydia is culture - a sample is taken and incubated with a mix of nutrients, allowing the bacteria to grow in a laboratory setting. This is useful in preventing pelvic inflammatory disease [13].
Self-collection at home test kits have significantly increased screening, particularly in women [14]. It is important to take advantage of these services, and know your STI status.
Summary: Tongue bumps with chlamydia
Chlamydia, a bacterial STI, does not cause bumps on the tongue. However, chlamydia can infect the throat via transmission by oral sex. It is important to use barrier protection methods such as condoms or dental dams, and be screened for STI status periodically, particularly when having multiple sexual partners.