eli5: Why did we go from calling sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
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Thanks for asking this! My teen sons learn about STIs at school and I was confused about the same thing.
The main reason is that people are dumb, so it’s better to have an STI then an STD, cause of this thing called stigma, because a disease is worse then an infection. from a linguistic standpoint, it’s like the difference between HIV and AIDS.
If you want the practical difference, infection is the start, disease is what the infection causes.
Disclaimer: IANAD
My understanding is:
STIs are the (mostly) curable or (at least) treatable initial infections: Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HSV, HIV. The first 3 are remedied with antibiotics, the latter 2 with drugs that reduce or eliminate the carrier’s ability to infect others.
STDs are the more serious conditions that develop as a result of an untreated infection that are mostly preventable with vaccines and prophylactics: HPV, AIDS, Hepatitis
Again, I might be wrong, IANAD.
I would think it’s similar to the transition from transsexual to transgender. More thought went into the accuracy of the word.
The short answer is:
a disease is a body process that can harm or kill you. It just happens in the body.
An infection is caught from someone else (COVID, flu, syphilis, gonorrhea, etc).
Generally speaking, an infection can be cured and be gone, but a disease must be managed.
~Jail Nurse
Disease is something you develop; cancer, COPD, Parkinsons, epilepsy. Tend to be long term conditions.
Infection is something you catch either fungal, viral or bacterial.
Of course some infections can lead to long term diseases and there are always exceptions to the rule.
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Because an infection can clear naturally or using drugs, and prevent a disease from taking hold, meaning, it does not stay in your body. The odds of this being a disease will depend on the type of infection.
A bacterial infection isn’t necessarily a disease, but it can be transmitted via sex and cause great pain.
If we call them Sexually Transmitted Diseases, we lose the inclusion of infections that are not diseases but instead bacterial or other. Sexually Transmitted Infections include the discussion of any ailment, bacterial, viral, or other, that is transferred or picked up from sexual activity (note: not always with a human, unfortunately).
There are two major classes and two minors infections and diseases. Infections are your bacterial they are acute and with the proper meds they can go away if acted upon. For example gonorrhea, chlamydia , syphilis, etc. These would be your STIs sexually transmitted infection, some folks can be carriers or asymptomatic to them. Which is why you should be tested every 3-6 months.
Sexually transmitted diseases are virus based and don’t go away. There symptoms are managed or medication is taken to keep the virus dormant. Example are HIV, HPV, Hep C, herpes, etc. These you will get an infection and depending on the virus it can be very active or dormant in your system and everyone reacts differently.
Now here is where it can be complicated in that some STIs If not treated correctly or right away can become STDs but they are considered complications of an STI. Like ladies if gonorrhea goes untreated it can cause infertility issues for you.
Then you have the 4th class and that is medication resistant STIs. Certain strains of STI can be resistant to medication currently on the market and there is nothing current to get rid of it. I believe there has been some luck with you microphages but don’t quote me on that. But you are essential stuck and living with this STI that can then morph in complications etc.
So everyone get tested every 3-6 months, or between partners if they have been long term, because you never know what you may have.
Because you can be infected by something and not be diseased. I remember a famous case of someone who got HIV, was infected, but never developed aids – they just lived normally, infected by the virus but with no harm done to them. This person was infected (relevant, because they can transmit it to others), but wasn’t diseased (relevant, because they didn’t need any medical treatment, no symptoms).
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