Scientists have warned that kissing with tongues can spread gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection.

Researchers said the STI can be contracted through saliva even though the NHS previously dismissed kissing as another way of catching it.

It was also discovered that spreading the infection through kissing may be more common than expected. It was found gay people were more likely to have gonorrhea in their throat than penises. The risk of contracting it was higher for kissing than performing oral sex.

Scientists suggested that antiseptic mouthwash could be created to help kill the bacteria which can cause swollen lymph nodes and sore throat.

The research into oropharyngeal gonorrhea occurred amid increasing concerns about strains of the STI starting to become resistant to drugs.

Australian scientists at Monash University and the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre surveyed 3,000 bisexual and gay people in the city.

Professor Eric Chow and colleagues wrote in the paper: “A number of pieces of evidence suggest transmission from the oropharynx [back of the throat] may be more common than previously thought.

“[The bacteria] can be cultured from saliva, suggesting that the exchange of saliva between individuals may potentially transmit gonorrhoea.

“Several case reports in the 1970s suggested kissing as a mode of transmission for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea… but kissing has always been neglected as a risk factor.”

Scientists and doctors must search for new ways to stop the infection. Professor Chow also encourages the use of condom during sex.

In the study, men were more likely to catch gonorrhea in their throat than in their anus or penis. More than 6 percent had the infection in their throat while only three percent had it in their penis, and six percent in the anus.

Kissing multiple partners result in a significantly higher risk of catching the infection. “Previously, it has generally been assumed that oropharyngeal gonorrhoea can only be acquired from an infected penis or anus, not from another man’s [throat],” the researchers said.

“Hence, the importance of the oropharynx has been neglected in gonorrhoea transmission. Our results suggest kissing with or without sex may be a risk factor for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea.”

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