From the Guidelines
Chlamydia has not been established as a cause of pharyngitis. Although chlamydia can be detected in the pharynx after inoculation from oral-genital exposure 1, the current evidence suggests that it is not a common cause of pharyngitis. The study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1993 found that while chlamydia can be present in the pharynx, it is not typically associated with symptoms of pharyngitis 1.
Key Points to Consider
- Chlamydia can be detected in the pharynx after oral-genital exposure 1
- However, it is not typically associated with symptoms of pharyngitis 1
- Other causes of pharyngitis should be considered and ruled out before attributing symptoms to chlamydia
- If chlamydia is suspected, specific nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) of throat swabs can be used for diagnosis, as standard strep throat tests won't detect chlamydia
Treatment and Prevention
- If diagnosed with chlamydia, treatment with azithromycin or doxycycline may be considered, but this is typically for genital or rectal infections, not pharyngitis
- Patients should abstain from sexual activity for 7 days after single-dose therapy or until completion of a 7-day regimen to prevent reinfection
- Sexual partners from the previous 60 days should also be evaluated and treated to prevent reinfection
From the Research
Chlamydia and Pharyngitis
- Chlamydia trachomatis can cause pharyngitis, as suggested by a study published in the Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases 2.
- The study found that 2 out of 48 persons (4%) with pharyngeal discomfort had pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis, and 11 out of 92 women (12%) and 4 out of 58 men (7%) tested positive for pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis 2.
- Another study published in the International journal of STD & AIDS compared the eradication rate of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis infection after treatment with azithromycin and doxycycline, and found that doxycycline was associated with less treatment failure 3.
Symptoms and Treatment
- Pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis infection can cause symptoms such as throat discomfort and upper respiratory tract symptoms 2.
- Treatment of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis infection typically involves antibiotics such as azithromycin or doxycycline 3, 4.
- A study published in the New England journal of medicine found that a 7-day course of doxycycline was superior to single-dose azithromycin in the treatment of rectal Chlamydia infection among men who have sex with men 5.
- Another study published in Sexually transmitted diseases found that doxycycline may be more effective than azithromycin in the treatment of rectal chlamydial infections 6.