Is Chlamydia Spread Through Kissing? All Transmission Paths

Is it possible to get chlamydia with a kiss

Content

• 1 Types of microorganisms
• 2 Distribution of various forms of microorganism

• 3 Ways of infection with the urogenital form

  • 3.1 Oral and anal contact
  • 3.2 Oral contact
• 4 Ways of household infection with extragenital form

In most cases, the clinical manifestations of chlamydia are blurred, and the person does not know about the disease. Chlamydial lesion becomes chronic. The patient not only harms his body, but also is the source of the spread of the disease. Whether chlamydia is transmitted through a kiss and how not to get an infection in everyday life, our experts will tell.

Types of microorganisms

When diagnosing chlamydia in a patient, in 70% of cases, the doctor means a urogenital infection, which is provoked by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The remaining 30% of patients are infected with other types of bacteria. According to statistical studies, 5% of women and 3% are infected with the bacterium chlamydia, but the disease was diagnosed in only 1%. The rest of the patients continue to be unaware of the infection and, until the first signs appear, are carriers of the infection.

Chlamydia refers to about thirty different types of bacterial infection. Each bacterium causes its own individual pathologies in the body. The methods of transmission of the microorganism are also different.

The following types of chlamydia are clinically significant:

• Trachomatis. Causes urogenital infection, is the cause of conjunctivitis in children and adults.
• Pneumoniae. It provokes the development of mild pneumonia and bronchitis. Has no pronounced symptoms, quickly flows into a chronic form.
• Felis. Mostly found in domestic animals: cats, dogs. It affects the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx of the animal, possibly human infection.
• Psittaci. Birds are more likely to be infected. In humans, it causes serious pathologies: encephalitis, atypical pneumonia, myocarditis, psittacosis.

In fact, chlamydia in any form does not belong either to viruses or bacteria. This organism is as if an intermediate link between viruses and bacteria. Like any bacterium, chlamydia has its own cell with a nucleus and DNA, but like any viral disease, chlamydia can only multiply in someone else's living cell.

As a virus, chlamydia enters the human cell and integrates into its genetic apparatus. The cell begins to produce proteins from which young chlamydia are formed. With the depletion of resources in the host's body, chlamydia destroys the membrane and passes into the external environment.

For the vital activity and reproduction of chlamydia, only certain cells of the human body - the cylindrical epithelium - are suitable. Such cells cover the nasopharyngeal mucosa, cervix, rectum, urethra, conjunctiva. Infection of a person is possible only when a microorganism enters the mucous membrane of these parts of the body.

The spread of various forms of microorganism

Different forms of microorganisms have their own transmission characteristics. In more detail in the table, you can consider the causative agents, which diseases are different forms of chlamydia, and how the bacterium is transmitted:

Type of bacteria	Transfer method			Causes disease
	Sexual, anal, or oral contact	At home	Airborne method
trachomatis	Yes	Yes	Not	urogenital infection
pneumoniae	Not	Not	Yes	pneumonia and bronchitis
felis	Not	Yes (via animals)	Not	conjunctivitis
psittaci	Not	Not	Yes (from animals and birds to humans)	encephalitis, atypical pneumonia, myocarditis, psittacosis.

Ways of infection with the urogenital form

Chlamydia, which causes urogenital infection, completely affects the human reproductive system. It is transmitted in two ways:

• During intercourse or during its variations;
• Contact-household way. The possibility of transmission of the microorganism is only 10%.

During intercourse, a microorganism from the mucous membrane of a sick person enters the cervix or into the urinary canal of a healthy partner. Chlamydia quickly penetrates into the cell and develops. You can prevent infection with a condom. It is only necessary to put it on before the start of intercourse. If a condom is put on during intercourse, then microorganisms have time to pass to a healthy person. It must be understood that a condom not only protects against unwanted pregnancy, but also helps prevent chlamydia infection.

Oral and anal contact

With oral contact, a woman is more likely to become infected. If a man is sick with chlamydia, then microorganisms are secreted from the urinary canal and enter the woman's oral cavity. The bacterium settles in the nasopharyngeal mucosa, and causes chlamydial pharyngitis in a woman.

If a woman is the sick partner during oral contact, then the man is less likely to become infected. A condom will help prevent infection during oral sex, which should be used before the penis comes in contact with the woman's mouth.

During anal sex, both partners can become infected. But to a greater extent, a passive partner falls into the risk group. During contact, chlamydia from the urinary canal of the active partner enter the rectum of the passive partner and settle there. Only a condom can prevent infection.

Oral contact

Oral contact

Chlamydia is transmitted through kissing only in one case, if the pharyngeal mucosa contains a sufficient number of microorganisms. There should be enough chlamydia in the saliva of a sick person so that they can settle in the mucous membrane of a healthy partner. During a kiss, some of the saliva of one partner enters the mouth of the other, but the microorganisms are swallowed and enter the stomach. In the gastrointestinal tract, chlamyds die under the influence of hydrochloric acid.

Infection through a kiss is possible only if one of the partners is sick with chronic generalized chlamydia. The likelihood of spreading the disease through a kiss is almost zero, but a small percentage always exists.

Ways of household infection with an extragenital form

Ways of household infection with an extragenital form

Extragenital chlamydia affects the nasopharyngeal mucosa, conjunctiva, or intestines. It is transmitted mainly through personal contacts in everyday life or by airborne droplets.

In everyday life, the microorganism is transmitted through personal belongings:

• Towel;
• Toothbrush;
• Underwear.

Chlamydial conjunctivitis or trachoma can be spread easily with a damp towel. The microorganism settles in the moist environment of a towel and a healthy person, while wiping his face, easily becomes infected. And infection is also possible through dirty underwear.

Children are often susceptible to diseases caused by Chlamydia felis. The spread of bacteria is carried out through sick animals. It is important to thoroughly wash your hands with soap during treatment of your pet and explain to children that you should not touch animals on your face.

The microorganism Chlamydia pneumoniae is transmitted by airborne droplets, which, when sneezing or coughing, enters the air. A healthy person can breathe in the bacteria and get serious upper respiratory illness. Chlamydia pneumoniae is also easily transmitted through kissing.

You can prevent chlamydia infection by following simple hygiene rules:

• Use a condom during any sexual intercourse;
• Use a personal towel (in public places, wiping your hands and face with a disposable tissue is preferable);
• Do not wear someone else's underwear;
• Do not touch animals on the street, especially sick ones;
• Treatment of pets is carried out in disposable gloves, after the procedure, hands are washed with soap.

Any form of chlamydia causes a serious illness that requires costly and prolonged treatment. You can get infected through a kiss with an extragenital form of the disease. Less often, the urogenital form of the disease is transmitted through a kiss. It is important to take the choice of your partner more seriously and follow simple rules of hygiene.