Bacterial Vs Viral STDs


On the surface, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can all seem the same: After sexual activity with an infected partner, it passes into our bodies and it begins harming our bodies even as we head down to the nearest STD clinic to get tested and receive treatment.

This view isn’t entirely misguided. However, it does overlook crucial differences between the different STDs and how they go about their business. These differences also explain the differences between treatments and the long-term health prospects for those infected.

This article will look at the 2 most common types of STDs: bacterial and viral STDs. It will explore how each type of STD, in that order, acts and how treatment methods address each STD.

Bacterial STDs

Common bacterial STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and cancroid.

Infections are caused when bacteria is transferred into a human body via physical contact or the entrance of bodily fluid from an infected person. The bacterium uses the host body as an environment to continue its natural reproduction. Only once the bacteria reproduce to sufficiently large numbers do symptoms begin showing.

Bacteria are single cell organisms that possess the necessary “cell machinery” to reproduce, produce energy for itself and react to environmental changes. Essentially, bacteria are living things within a host body, floating around or infecting a specific spot.

Subsequently, treating bacterial STDs usually only require antibiotics to aid the immune system eliminate the bacteria. Bacterial STDs can usually be easily treated in Singapore’s STD clinics through antibiotics if detected early, before bacterial levels get out of hand and causing an overwhelming infection.

Viral STDs

Viral STDs present the most fearsome of all STDs. the infamous 4 H’s: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Herpes, Hepatitis and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Similar to bacterial infections, viruses enter our bodies upon physical contact or through bodily fluid entering. However, this is where the paths to an infection differ.

These differences are due to the nature of viruses. If viruses are alive has long been a debate within scientific circles. Viruses without a host body are simply genetic material encased within protein shells. They are fully dependent upon the host body to stay alive and reproduce.

Upon entrance into a body, the virus immediately attaches itself to cells to facilitate its replication and survival. Once within these cells, the virus encodes itself into the DNA of the cells to continuously replicate more viruses. The immune system is unable to completely eradicate the virus and halt the constant cycle to infection and replication as the virus resides within our cells which cannot be handled by white blood cells.

This is also reflected in treatment methods for viral STDs. Treatment methods look to halt the replication process and managing symptoms caused by the virus. Medication for HIV is antiretroviral, designed to hinder the virus’ replication at one stage of its life cycle.

To conclude, bacterial STDs are probably the lesser of the two evils. They can usually be cured using antibiotics, unless one is unfortunate enough to pick up a strain resistant to antibiotics. Viral STDs stay with one for life and can be entirely symptom free, despite building up reservoirs of virus within the body. It is important to get screened for STDs at an STD clinic to be sure of your status, to prevent unknowingly passing it to someone else.