What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and what are they?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are a group of infectious diseases that can be transmitted through sexual contact, and in our country, they are simply called sexually transmitted diseases. Its concept is different from the classic sexually transmitted diseases, including more than 20 kinds of diseases. The term "sexually transmitted" does not necessarily refer to genital intercourse. Sexual transmission is a mode of transmission that can be direct or indirect, as well as from parent to fetus or newborn. Venereal diseases (VDs) are systemic diseases transmitted through sexual intercourse with obvious symptoms of genital damage, also known as classic STDs. They include syphilis, gonorrhea, chancre and lymphogranuloma venereum. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a group of infectious diseases that can be transmitted through sexual contact and are referred to as STDs in China. Its concept is different from that of classical STDs and includes more than 20 types of diseases. The pathogens and STDs that can be transmitted sexually are listed in the following table: ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Pathogens Pathogens STDs ─────────────────────────────────── Viruses Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Genital herpes (mainly caused by HSV-2)* Macrocytosis (caused by HSV-2)* Herpes simplex virus (caused by HSV-2)* Macrocytosis (caused by HSV-2) Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Genital herpes (mainly caused by HSV-2)* Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Genital CMV infection Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Hepatitis B Hepatitis A virus (HAV) Hepatitis A Human papillomavirus (HPV) Condylomata acuminata* Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Genital molluscum contagiosum Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)* Chlamydia Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Non gonorrhea Chlamydia Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Non-gonococcal urethral (cervical) infection (caused by types D-K)* Lymphogranuloma venereum (caused by type L) Mycoplasma Mycoplasma urealyticum (UU) Non-gonococcal urethral (cervical) infection* Mycoplasma hominis (MH) Non-gonococcal urethral (cervical) infection* Mycoplasma genitalium (GU) Non-gonococcal urethral (cervical) infection Helminthes Syphilis (Pale) Spirochaete (TP) Syphilis* Bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea (NG) Gonorrhea* Podococcus granulosus (DG,CBG) Granuloma inguinale Haemophilus ducreyi (HD) Noma Haemophilus gattii (GV) Gattnerella vaginitis* Shigella spp. Dysentery Shigella infections Campylobacter Campylobacteriosis Group B streptococcus Necrotizing infections and vaginopathies Certain anaerobic vaginal organisms Bacterial vaginopathies* Fungi Candida albicans Candida albicans vaginitis* Candida vulvovaginalis Infections Candida glans phimosis* Saccharomyces cerevisiae Vulvovaginal fungal infections Superficial fungi Tinea corporis Protozoa Trichomonas vaginalis Trichomonas vaginitis Urethritis* Amebiasis Amoebiasis Giardia lamblia Giardia lamblia Infections Surface parasites Pubic lice Pubic lice infestation* Scabies mites Scabies pubis* ───────────────────────────────── * Included in the table are the following Labeled are STDs that are more commonly found or important in STD clinics. According to the Measures for the Control and Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), there are 8 STDs*** that are currently the focus of control in China. These are syphilis, gonorrhoea, AIDS, soft chancre, lymphogranuloma venereum, nongonococcal urethritis, condyloma acuminatum and genital herpes. The first three of these are classified as category B infectious diseases under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Law of the People's Republic of China, and the other five are diseases that the Ministry of Health requires to be monitored and reported. Mode of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) 1. Sexual transmission: STDs can be transmitted through sexual behaviors including kissing and touching, which are the main means of transmission. Pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, HIV, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and Trichomonas vaginalis can be present in vaginal secretions and semen, and can be transmitted from one partner to the other through sexual intercourse, while syphilis, genital herpes and chancre can be transmitted through direct contact with mucous membranes of the skin, even though the pathogens are not present in semen. Women are more susceptible to STDs than men. People who are circumcised are more likely to be infected with STDs.　2. Non-sexual contact transmission: the secretions of patients with STDs contain a large number of pathogens, and indirect contact with clothes, utensils, articles, bedding, and commodes contaminated by urogenital secretions of pathogen carriers or patients may also be infected.　3. Blood-borne transmission: AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and cytomegalovirus infection can be transmitted through blood transfusion. Transfusion of blood containing the above pathogens can have an infectious rate of more than 95%, and the incubation period is short, the onset is fast, the symptoms are serious, and there are many comorbidities. There is no conclusive evidence that hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual contact.　4. Mother-to-child transmission: 4.1 Intrauterine infections: Syphilis spirochetes, HIV, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta, resulting in intrauterine infections. Fetal infection usually occurs after the fourth month of pregnancy. HIV can cross the chorionic amniotic membrane into the amniotic cavity and then infect the fetus through swallowing the amniotic fluid via the intestines, or directly via the mucous membranes, or the virus can cross the trophoblast layer of the placental syncytiotrophoblast and infect the bloodstream. Transplacental infection of syphilis can cause fetal miscarriage, preterm labor, stillbirth, or death after birth, and even if the baby survives, malformations and mental retardation are common. Fetal transmission of herpes simplex virus can cause fetal death, miscarriage, malformations, encephalitis, intrauterine growth retardation, cataracts and congenital heart disease.　4.2 Natal infections: although some STDs cannot be transmitted through the placenta, the fetus can be infected when it passes through the birth canal, for example, neonatal gonorrheal ophthalmia, nongonococcal conjunctivitis in infants, neonatal pneumonia, etc. HIV can also be transmitted to the fetus through the birth canal of pregnant women.　4.3 Postnatal infections: Breastfeeding and close contact between mother and child after delivery can cause infection in the infant. If the mother is HIV-infected, the baby can be infected by ingesting HIV-containing breast milk.　5. Medical transmission: Inadequate sterilization of instruments used in medical operations can lead to medical infections. Mainly unsterilized or incompletely sterilized syringes, surgical instruments, and other medical devices that pierce the skin or mucous membranes, resulting in patient-to-patient and doctor-to-doctor transmission, especially the transmission of AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.　6. Artificial insemination, organ transplants and sexual violence: Artificial insemination and organ transplants can result in the transmission of STDs, especially HIV. Children or adults who are raped sometimes get STD. Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) 1. STD prevention and treatment: Many social factors greatly influence the occurrence, transmission and prevalence of STDs, so the prevention and treatment of STDs is a difficult and complex social system project. China's Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) clearly states that the prevention and control of STDs in China should be based on the principle of prevention, combination of prevention and treatment, and comprehensive management. Health and medical departments alone is not enough, must be combined with the construction of socialist spiritual civilization, strengthen the legal education, mobilize the power of the whole society *** with the participation of all levels of government under the leadership of the formation of multi-sectoral division of labor and cooperation, each of its own responsibility, close coordination, and grasp *** management of the disease prevention network, in order to effectively control the epidemic.　2. STD prevention: STD prevention includes two levels of content, one is to protect healthy people from infection, which is often referred to as the primary prevention of STD; the second is to STD patients and suspected patients to follow up, and strive for early detection, early diagnosis and correct treatment, so as to avoid the disease from developing into the late stage of complications and sequelae, as well as to prevent further transmission to the healthy people around the formation of second-generation infections, i.e., the second level of prevention.　2.1 Primary prevention of STDs 2.1.1 Popularize the knowledge of STD prevention and raise the awareness of self-protection. Popularize the knowledge of STD prevention and control, should be for different groups of people to adopt different health education mode. Through health education, people can fully realize the danger and preventability of STD, and know how to protect themselves from infection.　2.1.2 Strictly prohibit sexual misconduct. Strictly abide by the ethical concept of monogamy and strictly prohibit sexual misconduct. In particular, avoid sexual intercourse with people who belong to high-risk groups. Unhealthy sexual habits can easily transmit STD, for example, rectal epithelium is more delicate than vaginal epithelium, anal sex is more likely to cause mucosal damage than vaginal sex, which increases the risk of STD infection.　2.1.3 Condom use. For those who refuse to change their high-risk sexual behavior, it is important to promote the correct use of condoms every time they have sex.　2.1.4 Avoid pregnancy. Screening for STD infections in pregnant women is very important and should be made routine. Syphilis, gonorrhea, AIDS, cytomegalovirus infection and genital herpes can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta, and gonorrhea, nongonococcal cervicitis, genital herpes and condyloma acuminatum can cause newborns to be infected through the birth canal. Therefore, women with these diseases should avoid pregnancy until they are cured completely, and those who have already gotten pregnant should be treated thoroughly in time and consult with a doctor.　2.1.5 Strict control of blood-borne infections. Blood transfusion and the use of blood products are important ways to spread AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and cytomegalovirus infection. According to the relevant regulations, blood suppliers should be tested for HIV antibody, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), syphilis seroprevalence and so on before supplying blood, and only those who have been tested negative for all the items are allowed to supply blood.　Although transfusion of tested blood is basically safe, it is not equal to 100% safe and reliable. Because of any kind of infectious disease from infection to the current use of detection means can be detected to prove infection, there is a certain interval (window period), at this time, although the test is negative, but the infectiousness of the existence of the reagent quality and the impact of a number of factors, there may be false negatives, so the clinical work of the transfusion should be avoided as far as possible. For the same reason, the raw materials (plasma) of blood products which cannot detect pathogenic contamination will contaminate a large amount of plasma once it is put into production, so the spreading range of the produced blood products is even larger, so the use of blood products should also be more vigilant.　2.1.6 Application of antimicrobials and local disinfectants. Although taking antimicrobials before or after sexual intercourse is useful in preventing some STDs. However, it is unreliable for sexually promiscuous persons, prostitutes and johns to use antimicrobials taken afterward or injected for STDs to protect themselves from infection. There is no single antimicrobial that can prevent all STDs. In particular, there is no specific treatment for viral STDs such as HIV, genital herpes, and condyloma acuminatum. Repeated use of antimicrobials can also lead to the development of drug resistance and secondary infections, resulting in adverse effects. Topical disinfectants, even if they contain disinfectants, and to ensure the concentration and duration of use, but at best only kill pathogens already present on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes, but it is difficult to ensure that the pathogens from the deeper part of the lesion, tissues or organs at any time to be discharged. Users also tend to place too much faith or reliance on their disinfectant effect and neglect other preventive methods.　2.2 Secondary prevention of STDs 2.2.1 Timely diagnosis and correct treatment of STDs. There are many types of STDs and many pathogens that cause STDs. Especially for virus-induced STDs, there is still no specific treatment drug. There are many similarities in the clinical features of different types of STDs, and since mixed infections and atypical cases often occur in the clinic, it is necessary to use a variety of tests to make a clear diagnosis. Most patients stop treatment once their symptoms are relieved or disappear, do not complete the full course of treatment, or blindly use drugs, so that the treatment is incomplete and becomes chronic, which brings difficulties to further treatment. Therefore, STDs should be diagnosed in time and treated regularly in an effective and thorough manner. Almost all STDs do not have a long protective immunity due to a single infection, so they can be re-infected and develop again after treatment. Prophylactic treatment should be given to close contacts to cut off the chain of infection as early as possible.　2.2.2 Tracing sexual partners and treating husband and wife together. Clinicians should try their best to persuade patients to notify all their sexual partners or spouses to undergo examination and necessary treatment for STD infection, and emphasize that husband and wife should undergo the same examination and treatment, so as to eliminate the source of infection and prevent circulating infection.　2.2.3 STD patients should be prohibited from sexual intercourse before cure, or at least should use condoms for safe sex, in order to prevent further spread of disease transmission. 3.　3. Do a good job of counseling patients with sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, clinicians should also do a good job of counseling. The main aspects are: mobilizing sexual partners or spouses to timely diagnosis and treatment; advice and guidance to patients to accept AIDS antibody test; the correct use of condoms; good publicity, do not trust the street doctor ads; advised to stop high-risk sexual behavior; to prevent contact within the family.　4. Follow-up visits for STD patients after treatment. For example, syphilis should be completed within one year after the regular treatment of syphilis at intervals of 3 months, the second year at intervals of 6 months to do non-syphilis spirochete antigen syphilis serology test (RPR or USR, etc.), gonorrhea regular treatment of gonorrhea on the 7th to 10th day and 14th day before and after gonorrhea culture, etc., in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and to prevent the recurrence of the disease.