Can STDs harming Immune system make us weak fighting COVID 19?

Coronavirus is not a sexually transmitted disease. You may get infected with Corona by coming in close contact with the infected person in the radius of 3 feet and if the person spits, sneezes or coughs as the droplet released spreads virus. 

Coronavirus has the incubation period of  2 – 14 days, meaning it wont show any signs or symptoms of contraction till that day. So while having sex you obviously may come in close contact with your partner have intercourse, kiss, breath heavily, come in close contact etc. So the obvious fact is “yes”, you may acquire corona if you have sex with the infected person even though it is not declared a sexually transmitted disease by any health authority yet.

Is there any chance that a person infected with an STD cannot survive Coronavirus or COVID19 ?

People infected with certain STD need to be very careful of not getting infected by Corona. As this could be a huge risk. Even though the mortality rate of Corona is below 5%. How? There is no vaccination or medication or any cure designed to cure ourselves from the Coronavirus. Then why so small the mortality rate? The answer to this is our “Immune system response”. The virus can cause the immune system to overreact. 

In very short, our immune system is has two types of response: innate and adaptive

• Innate: Our bodies natural barrier against disease, virus and bacterial attack
• Adaptive: This immunity develops over a lifetime of contact with pathogens and vaccines, preparations which help our immune systems to distinguish friend from foe.

Until a vaccine is available, our immune systems will need to adapt unaided to COVID-19. 

STD causing problem within your immune system

Certain STDs cause problems related to immunity or rather weakens our immune system.

STD such as HIV and Gonorrhea weakens our immune system.

1. HIV and COVID19 risk

As HIV affects or weakens the immune system of our body. It may come naturally in the minds of the HIV positive people that are at somewhat risk.

According to CDC (Center for disease and Healh Control). The risk for people with HIV getting very sick is greatest in:

• People with a low CD4 cell count.
• People not on HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART).

As per CDC, people with HIV to protect themselves against Corona need to take extra care of themselves.

HIV patients should work on improving their immune system as the mortality rate among the people with weak immune system is higher.

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Immune system can be boosted up by practicing simple things

• Sleeping for at least 8 hours
• Reducing stress
• Eating nutritional food
• Avoiding smoking and alcohol

Can HIV medicines be used to treat COVID19

Some types of ART medicines were tried on HIV infected personal in treating COVID19.Results from a clinical trial in China showed that lopinavir-ritonavir did not speed up recovery or reduce the amount of virus produced in patients hospitalized.So, people with HIV should not switch their HIV medicine in an attempt to prevent or treat COVID-19.

2. Gonorrhea and COVID19 risk

Just like HIV,  Gonorrhea too affects the immunity of the body. A study was conducted by the Scientists at Monash University say they discovered how the gonorrhea superbug evades the immune system. It was found that Neisseria gonorrhoea by evading innate immunity (discussed above)

Is there any connection between Gonorrhea and COVID19 cases?

Not as of yet,  no connection has been traced. There is no record that traces the Gonorrhea-Coronavirus together or causes stimulation of the immune system.

 Also read: STD testing during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Disclaimer: Let us be very clear, we don’t fully understand this Coronavirus or COVID19 as there is research happening in major labs across the world to know more about the virus and eventually finding out its remedy. The following article is based on the finding given by some reputed sources(WHO, CDC, NYtimes etc). The author or the website doesn’t want to connect or conclude anything related to STD and Corona. The ideas shared in the article are based on confirmed facts and hence it is clear that there is not intended to popularize or sensationalize it unnecessarily. The citations have been mentioned where and when required. You can also refer to the Reference section.