What are the ways of chlamydia infection? How chlamydia is spread Chlamydia is spread by kissing

The question of whether chlamydia is transmitted through kissing worries many people who are actively sexually active. This sexually transmitted disease leads to numerous complications if therapy is carried out untimely or incorrectly. Pathogenic microorganisms that can cause infection live not only on the mucous membranes of the genital organs, but also in the larynx and oral cavity.

Is it possible to kiss with chlamydia

Thanks to medical research several decades ago, scientists have found that up to 250 types of microorganisms can be transmitted through a kiss. Oral caresses often cause the herpes virus, tuberculosis bacillus, and acute respiratory infection to enter the body. Kisses include the contact of the lips with the following areas:

cheeks;
lips;
genitals.

Chlamydia cannot be transmitted if a healthy person touches with his lips any points of the patient's body, not counting the area of the lips and genitals. On the epithelial membranes of the mouth, these bacteria practically do not multiply, and this is due to the presence of their own microorganisms in the mouth, which take part in the breakdown of food and the destruction of viruses. When chlamydiae gets into the mouth, the risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease is extremely low, since they are neutralized by a healthy microflora. If saliva with bacteria has penetrated the lesions on the mucous membranes or immediately got inside the body, the likelihood of contracting chlamydia increases significantly.

With a kiss that occurred immediately after oral sex on the genitals, the risk of microbial penetration into the body of a healthy person is greatly increased.

In the case when a partner suffers from bronchitis or pneumonia of chlamydial etiology, a healthy person can be infected with these bacteria.

When infection occurs through saliva

Chlamydiae are rarely transmitted through saliva. Usually, an infected partner infects a healthy person with prolonged contact or an advanced form of the disease, when a large number of bacteria are present in the body of a sick person.

The immune and other systems of a person are always on guard for health and, when foreign bodies enter, they begin to activate. Currently, for many people, due to a number of factors, the defenses do not work to their full extent, and then the body becomes more vulnerable to many diseases transmitted by airborne droplets or sexually transmitted infections.

The likelihood of developing chlamydia in a healthy person increases if the partner has a generalized form, and the bacteria are spread through the blood.

Oral-genital route of transmission of chlamydia

The most common route of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is sexual or oral-genital. Doctors believe that the receiving party during sexual intercourse is much more likely to develop chlamydia. For example, a woman who does not have a sexually transmitted disease is more at risk of developing it than an infected man.

When the mucous membranes of the oral cavity come into contact with the genitals of the sick partner, the larynx is affected by chlamydia. The risk increases if there are cracks, ulcers in the oral mucosa. During genital caresses, infection occurs in most cases, since the largest number of chlamydia is found in the seminal fluid and lubricant of the partner.

A woman caressing a man's genitals with her mouth gets an infection of the pharynx. Pathogenic microorganisms attach to its mucous membrane, and then begin to multiply, causing pharyngitis and other symptoms of venereal disease.

In order to reduce the risk of contracting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary to use barrier methods of contraception. If there is no confidence in the partner, it is better to discuss the issue of protection in advance and opt for a condom. Doctors recommend avoiding sexual contact with an infected person, since the risk of chlamydia getting into a healthy body in this case increases.

If one of the couple has unpleasant symptoms, including purulent discharge, itching of the genitals, general weakness, hyperthermia, you should immediately be examined by a doctor.

If a sexual infection is detected in one of the partners, the second person must also visit a medical facility.

It is quite difficult to get chlamydia with a regular kiss. The risk of activating the disease is extremely low in people with strong immunity. Nevertheless, in order to completely protect yourself, you must annually be examined by a gynecologist or urologist, and be tested for chlamydia. Also, do not kiss with a partner suffering from an advanced form of chlamydia!

Chlamydial infections most often occur in an erased form without pronounced clinical manifestations and in some cases go unnoticed. Since the disturbances caused are minor, the patient does not see the need to see a doctor. This is doubly dangerous - and for the health of the person himself, since the consequences of chronic chlamydial lesions can be very serious, and for those around him. In this case, it is the source of the infection.

Speaking of chlamydia, they mean a urogenital infection caused by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis. According to statistics, about 2% of men and 5% of women are infected with the bacterium, in 30% of cases it is about the urogenital form. However, in addition to this, several more species of bacteria of this genus are isolated, which cause more than 20 different pathological conditions. The modes of transmission for various forms of chlamydia are also dissimilar.

According to the modern classification, there are about 30 types of chlamydia, but only a few are of clinical importance:

Chlamydia trachomatis occurs most often and is the cause of urogenital chlamydia, can also cause conjunctivitis;
Chlamydia pneumoniae causes bronchitis and mild pneumonia. Diseases proceed without pronounced clinical manifestations and are prone to chronicity;
Chlamydophila felis causes inflammation of the nasal mucosa, pharynx and conjunctiva in domestic animals (cats), and can also affect humans;
Chlamydia psittaci causes a wide variety of diseases in birds. In humans, when infected, it causes serious diseases: psittacosis, atypical pneumonia, encephalitis and myocarditis.

The question arises why such different microorganisms are assigned to the same family. What do they have in common?

Features of the structure and life cycle of chlamydia

Microbiologists often refer to chlamydia as an intermediate form between a bacterium and a virus. Indeed, it, like bacteria, has its own cell membrane, contains DNA and RNA and is able to exist outside a living cell in the form of elementary bodies. At the same time, like viruses, it can reproduce only inside a living cell, for this it is transformed into reticular bodies.

https://youtu.be/E02auKCAKPI

Like viruses, chlamydiae penetrate the cell wall by phagocytosis, integrate into the genetic apparatus of the cell and force it to synthesize its own proteins, from which new chlamydiae are built. When the resources of the host cell are depleted, young microorganisms pass into the extracellular form and, destroying the membrane, enter the extracellular environment.

If we talk about body tissues bordering on the external environment, then only cells of the columnar epithelium, which covers the urethra, cervical canal, rectum, conjunctiva, as well as the nasopharynx and oropharynx, are suitable for the life and reproduction of chlamydia. For chlamydia infection to occur, the bacterium must get onto just such a mucous membrane, and it is in the form of an elementary body.

Ways of transmission of urogenital infection

Chlamydia trachomatis, which causes damage to the external and internal genital organs, is most often indulged during traditional sexual intercourse or its various variations (perversions). At the same time, the condom protects both partners from infection - regardless of which of them is the source of infection. The possibility of contracting chlamydia through household contact has now also been proven, but the significance of this route of transmission is somewhat exaggerated.

Infection during traditional intercourse

In classical intercourse, discharge from the genital organs of a sick or asymptomatic carrier enters the mucous membrane of the urethra or the cervix of a healthy person and is introduced into the cells. To prevent this from happening, it is enough to put on a condom, and this must be done before the start of intercourse, and not in the process.

Transmission by oral and anal-genital contact

With oral-genital intercourse, a woman is more likely to contract chlamydia. During a blowjob, discharge from the genital tract of a man enters the mucous membrane of the woman's pharynx. If they are infected, she may develop chlamydial pharyngitis. If a woman is sick, the likelihood of infection is lower, but it is still possible. The easiest way to avoid this is to use a condom, even with oral-genital contact.

During anal-genital contact, as a rule, a woman or a passive partner becomes infected. The scheme is the same as for traditional intercourse. Again, the problem can be solved very easily: put on a condom.

Is it possible to get infected with a kiss

So, as we have already found out, contact of a sufficient number of microorganisms with the mucous membrane of a certain type is necessary for infection. For this to happen when kissing, chlamydia must be contained in the saliva of an infected person, and in a sufficiently high concentration. This happens in very rare cases, with severe forms of generalized chlamydia.

In addition, the stratified epithelium of the oral cavity is of little use for reproduction; relatively acceptable conditions for the fixation of bacteria exist only in the pharynx. It turns out that the partner's infected saliva must be swallowed. At the same time, the bacteria should leave the oral cavity quickly enough, because the own protective factors contained in saliva are able to neutralize them in the shortest possible time. But in the throat you need to stay longer so as not to slip further into the aggressive acidic environment of the stomach.

It turns out that the probability of infection during a kiss is practically zero, although theoretically it exists.

Species of the Chlamydia family and the modes of transmission of diseases caused by them (Table 1)

Extragenital chlamydia: routes of infection

In addition to the external and internal genital organs, chlamydia can affect the mucous membrane of the pharynx, rectum, as well as the conjunctiva and synovial membrane of the joints. For these types of chlamydia, contact-household and airborne transmission is more characteristic.

What forms are transmitted by household

It is very easy to get chlamydial conjunctivitis, or trachoma, using a towel and linen from a sick person. Chlamydiae live long enough on moist matter, from where they get on the skin of a healthy person. All that remains is to rub your eyes with your hands, and the microbe enters the favorite cubic epithelium. For urogenital chlamydia, this route of transmission is less likely, except in childhood. In girls, the vaginal epithelium is immature, therefore it is easily affected by chlamydia.

Chlamydia felis inflammation of the lining of the eye is a type of chlamydia that spreads from cat to person. It occurs through close contact with animals affected by chlamydial conjunctivitis or rhinopharyngitis. When caring for a sick pet, wash your hands thoroughly with soap or use protective gloves. Children need to be explained that it is impossible to touch stray animals, especially those with an unhealthy appearance, as this can lead to illness.

Airborne method of infection

Chlamydial bronchitis and pneumonia (Chlamydia pneumoniae), as well as psittacosis, atypical pneumonia and other lesions of internal organs by chlamydial psittaci are transmitted by airborne droplets. When coughing and sneezing, bacteria are released into the external environment and deposited on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, causing their damage.

Prevention measures for chlamydial infection are simple: protected sex, individual linen and towels, and good personal hygiene.

https://youtu.be/ScsznIuS5ho

Sources:

Dermatovenereology: national guidelines short edition. Yu.S. Butov, Yu.K. Skripkina, Yu.L. Ivanova - 2013.
Dermatovenereology: a textbook for students of higher educational institutions. Chebotarev V.V. and others - 2013.
Urogenital chlamydia. Kokolina V.F. - 2007.

The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis can be transmitted through saliva. But it should be noted that this possibility is almost exclusively theoretical. In medical practice, this route of transmission is observed in less than 1% of cases. The thing is that for the transmission of chlamydia through saliva, a number of conditions must be met, each of which in itself is quite rare.

Saliva transmission of chlamydia requires compliance with the following conditions:
1. the presence of an infection in the oral cavity;
2. high concentration of bacteria in saliva;
3. weakened immunity of the recipient ( infected person).

The presence of an infection in the mouth.

A typical place for the development and reproduction of chlamydia in the human body is the mucous membrane of the genitourinary tract. The causative agent has a special affinity for the cells of the columnar epithelium and it affects other types of tissue relatively rarely. In particular, the epithelium of the oral cavity is practically unsuitable for the introduction of chlamydia. Somewhat more favorable conditions for their existence are in the throat and pharynx.

However, even with a suitable mucous membrane, chlamydia must enter the pharynx. This is only possible with orogenital contacts. But even in this case, bacteria are almost unable to be excreted from the pharynx with saliva, because the excretory ducts of the salivary glands are located higher in the oral cavity. Saliva entering the throat is swallowed.

There is a small chance of chlamydia getting into the oral cavity with generalized chlamydia, when the pathogen enters the bloodstream and spreads through the body through the vessels. However, in the entire history of medicine, only a few such cases have been described.

High concentration of bacteria in saliva.

Chlamydia refers to infections that require a significant number of microorganisms to become infected. That is why the main route of transmission of the disease is unprotected sexual contact, when there is a prolonged contact of the mucous membranes. Saliva, one way or another, plays the role of a diluent, and a negligible amount of chlamydia can be released with it. In addition, saliva is not a favorable environment for the existence of these microorganisms.

Chlamydia in saliva cannot exist for a long time for the following reasons:

a large amount of natural antibacterial substances in saliva;
a large number of competing microbes in the oral cavity ( they inhibit the growth and development of chlamydia);
cleansing saliva thanks to special cells in the oral mucosa.

Thus, the content of chlamydia in saliva in a concentration high enough for infection is an extremely rare case.

Weakened immunity of the recipient.

Each organism has its own immune system that protects it from pathogenic ( disease-causing) microorganisms. Given the fact that the oral cavity is not a normal environment for chlamydia, the immune system can easily cope with the destruction of the infection. Infection is possible only if the body's defenses are greatly weakened by concomitant diseases or taking certain medications. Only in this case, a small number of chlamydia that have fallen into the oral cavity will be able to take root and multiply in the pharynx.

Thus, the theoretical possibility of transmission of chlamydia through saliva exists ( with a kiss or with cutlery), however, in practice, the chances of infection by this method are close to zero.

Chlamydia is considered a fairly common infectious disease caused by a microorganism from the genus Chlamydia. This microbe infects the organs of the reproductive system and is diagnosed both among the female half of humanity and among the male. Chlamydiae are not able to continue their activity outside the host's organism. The main routes of transmission of chlamydia are sexual, contact-household, vertical.

How is chlamydia mainly transmitted?

The main routes of transmission of infection are distinguished:

Sexual... This method is considered the most popular. Chlamydia can be infected with unprotected contact.
Vertical... This method is also common. Chlamydia is passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. The intrauterine route of chlamydia infection has not yet been proven.
Contact and household... This transmission route has not yet been documented, however, it occurs quite often.
Airborne... Microorganisms can be transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

And also the infection is instantly transmitted through kissing after oral sex.

Is chlamydia capable of being transmitted in the household?

The chlamydia bacterium, which is the causative agent of the disease outside the body, retains the ability to become infected for several days. This feature of the bacterium explains the possibility of transmission of chlamydia by the contact-household method.

The survival of bacteria in the outside world depends on the following factors:

Temperatures... These microorganisms are very active at 30-38 C. At high or low temperatures, chlamydia quickly becomes latent and dies after a certain time.
Effects of chemical elements... These microorganisms are sensitive to the influence of alkalis and acids. For this reason, they die from almost any disinfectant.
From sunlight... Chlamydia die in a few hours under the influence of direct sunlight. High temperatures with ultraviolet radiation provoke rapid drying and death of bacteria.
Humidity... Microorganisms survive well in humid conditions for 4-5 days.

Infection through the contact-household way mainly occurs through the use of personal hygiene items and household accessories, for example, bed linen, towels, underwear, sanitary napkins. As a rule, family members become infected among themselves. Less commonly, infection occurs in swimming pools or saunas. After all, bacteria cannot be transmitted through water. You can get infected in such places only by using common washcloths or towels.

Transmission of chlamydia by contact-household method is very rare. To reduce the risk of infection, it is recommended to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene.

Sexual transmission of chlamydia

The most popular way of transmission of chlamydia is unprotected intercourse. In the female half of humanity, the probability of infection is slightly higher than in the male, since there is more columnar epithelium in the female genital tract. Chlamydia is transmitted through vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse.

Can chlamydia be transmitted to a partner during sexual intercourse through a condom?

A condom is considered to be a very reliable method of protecting against infection. With the correct use of contraception, it is impossible to become infected with chlamydia during sexual intercourse. However, there have been cases of infection in people who regularly use condoms.

In these situations, infection is possible for the following reasons:

With extragenital forms of chlamydia: chlamydial pneumonia and chlamydial conjunctivitis.
Infection by contact-household method.
Due to improper use of contraception.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease, usually sexually transmitted. But chlamydia can continue their vital activity not only on the mucous membrane of the genitourinary system. In some cases, the disease takes on an extragenital form. In these situations, the condom is unable to protect against infection.

And also during intercourse, discharge from the genitals can get on the underwear before putting on a condom. In such situations, contraception is also powerless.

Many men use contraception incorrectly. As a rule, this leads to its damage or tear. Using a damaged condom does not protect against disease infection.

The most common mistakes when using a contraceptive are:

Simultaneous use of 2 condoms. This does not increase protection against transmission of chlamydia. Such use, on the contrary, increases the possibility of the condom slipping or breaking, due to which infection occurs.
Application of a female and male condom together. Such use also increases the potential for damage. To protect against chlamydia, it is recommended to use a male condom, as it securely covers the male penis.
Trapped air in the condom. Almost all condoms have a semen reservoir at the end. If the condom is worn incorrectly, then air can accumulate in this reservoir and the released semen will provoke its rupture.
Later application. Some of the men do not use contraception at the very beginning of sexual intercourse, but in the middle of it. Such use of contraception can protect against unwanted pregnancy, and not against chlamydia.
Incorrect donning. Men do not completely unwind the condom before putting it on. This can damage the condom. Even the smallest gaps are enough for an infection to occur.
Damage during unpacking. Any sharp objects used when unpacking the condom can damage it.
The expiration date has passed. Few people know that contraceptives have an expiration date. After a certain time, the latex is damaged and the lubricant dries up. These defects can cause transmission of chlamydia.
Improper storage. The condom must be stored in the correct conditions. It should not be exposed to direct sunlight and should not be heated or cooled. These factors provoke the destruction of latex.

Summing up, it can be argued that the condom is able to reliably protect against chlamydia. The main thing is to use it correctly.

Is it possible to get chlamydia from kissing through the mouth?

According to many studies, it is believed that chlamydia can be transmitted through saliva.

Can partners kiss with chlamydia?

Conventionally, all kisses are divided into types:

kisses on the cheek;
a passionate kiss;
oral-genital kiss.

It is possible to kiss with chlamydia without fear so that there is no contact between the mucous membranes of both partners.

To become infected through a passionate kiss, there must be a sufficient number of pathogenic microorganisms in the saliva. Such situations are extremely rare. In addition, pathogens usually die in the mouth or stomach.

Can chlamydia be transmitted to a partner through a kiss?

Also, an infected person can kiss his partner on any part of the body, except for the lips and genitals, so as not to infect him. The risk of infection from kissing is minimal, however, there is.

Infection requires the presence of a large number of bacteria in the saliva of the infected. Such situations occur only with a severe course of generalized chlamydia.

Is chlamydia transmitted to a partner through saliva?

Medical research has shown that chlamydia can be transmitted through saliva, but this is extremely rare.

For infection to occur, the following favorable factors are necessary:

The presence of infection in the oral cavity.
The presence of pathogenic microorganisms in saliva in large quantities.

As a rule, chlamydiae develop and multiply on the mucous membranes of the genital organs. The causative agent usually prefers columnar epithelium, and other tissues are rarely affected. The oral epithelium is not considered an ideal place for bacteria to live.

Chlamydiae feel better in the throat or throat. They get there only as a result of orogenital contact. However, even in such situations, chlamydia practically cannot be excreted with saliva, since the ducts of the salivary glands are located higher.

There is a low risk of infection with generalized chlamydia. In such situations, chlamydia enters the bloodstream and is carried through the vessels.

Is chlamydia transmitted to a partner through saliva?

For infection with chlamydia, a large concentration of them is needed. The main route of infection is considered to be unprotected sex. There is a very low concentration of chlamydia in saliva. And also saliva is not considered a favorable place for the normal functioning of these microorganisms.

There are the following reasons why chlamydia is not able to exist in saliva for a long time:

saliva contains natural substances with antibacterial effects;
there are many microbes in the oral cavity, which are ways to inhibit the development of chlamydia;
The mucous membrane of the mouth contains special cells that cleanse saliva.

Based on the above factors, a high concentration of chlamydia in saliva is a very rare case.

Chlamydia is a dangerous disease that is usually transmitted through unprotected sex. But there are other ways of infection as well. To reduce the risk of infection, it is important to know by what means chlamydia is transmitted.

According to the modern classification, there are about 30 types of chlamydia, but only a few are of clinical importance:

Chlamydia trachomatis occurs most often and is the cause of urogenital chlamydia, can also cause conjunctivitis;
Chlamydia pneumoniae causes bronchitis and mild pneumonia. Diseases proceed without pronounced clinical manifestations and are prone to chronicity;
Chlamydophila felis causes inflammation of the nasal mucosa, pharynx and conjunctiva in domestic animals (cats), and can also affect humans;
Chlamydia psittaci causes a wide variety of diseases in birds. In humans, when infected, it causes serious diseases: psittacosis, atypical pneumonia, encephalitis and myocarditis.

The question arises why such different microorganisms are assigned to the same family. What do they have in common?

Features of the structure and life cycle of chlamydia

https://youtu.be/E02auKCAKPI

Ways of transmission of urogenital infection

Infection during traditional intercourse

Transmission by oral and anal-genital contact

Is it possible to get infected with a kiss

It turns out that the probability of infection during a kiss is practically zero, although theoretically it exists.

Species of the Chlamydia family and the modes of transmission of diseases caused by them (Table 1)

Extragenital chlamydia: routes of infection

What forms are transmitted by household

Airborne method of infection

Prevention measures for chlamydial infection are simple: protected sex, individual linen and towels, and good personal hygiene.

https://youtu.be/ScsznIuS5ho

Sources:

Dermatovenereology: national guidelines short edition. Yu.S. Butov, Yu.K. Skripkina, Yu.L. Ivanova - 2013.
Dermatovenereology: a textbook for students of higher educational institutions. Chebotarev V.V. and others - 2013.
Urogenital chlamydia. Kokolina V.F. - 2007.