Six major transmission routes of STDs that adults must know

　　sexually transmitted diseases It is spreading rapidly in our country and has now become the second most common infectious disease. The epidemic has spread to coastal areas, cities, inland and rural areas, and most of the patients are young adults. The main diseases are gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis, genital warts, and syphilis. AIDS The number of people infected with the virus (HIV) is also increasing. Common modes of transmission include:

　　1. Sexual transmission

　　Sexual behavior including kissing and touching can transmit STDs and is the main route of transmission. Various pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, HIV, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and Trichomonas vaginalis can be present in vaginal secretions and semen, and one sexual partner can transmit the disease to the other through sexual intercourse. ； Although the pathogens of syphilis, genital herpes, and chancroid do not exist in semen, they can pass through skin Direct contact with mucous membranes infects each other. women than male More susceptible to STDs. People with excessive foreskin are more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases.

　　2. Non-sexual contact transmission

　　There are a large number of pathogens in the secretions of STD patients. You may also be infected through indirect contact with clothes, utensils, articles, bedding, toilets, etc. contaminated by pathogen carriers or patients' urogenital tract secretions.

　　3. Blood-borne transmission

　　AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and cytomegalovirus infections can all be transmitted through blood transfusions. The infection probability of transfusion of blood containing the above pathogens can generally be as high as more than 95%, and the incubation period is short, the onset is rapid, the symptoms are severe, and there are many complications. The jury is still out on whether hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual contact.

　　4. Mother-to-child transmission

　　(l) Intrafetal infection: Treponema pallidum, HIV, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus can be transmitted through the placenta fetus , causing intrauterine infection. Fetal infection usually occurs after 4 months of pregnancy. HIV can pass through the chorioamnion and enter the amniotic cavity, and then be infected through the intestine through the fetus swallowing amniotic fluid, or directly through the mucosa, or the virus can pass through the placental syncytiotrophoblast and be infected through the blood. Transplacental infection of syphilis can cause fetal miscarriage, premature birth , stillbirth or death after birth, even if baby Survival, deformity, mental retardation, etc. often occur disease . Fetal transmission of herpes simplex virus can cause fetal death, miscarriage, malformations, encephalitis, intrauterine growth retardation, cataracts, congenital heart disease, etc.

　　(2) Birth canal infection: Although some STDs cannot be transmitted through the placenta, infections can occur when the fetus passes through the birth canal, such as neonatal gonococcal ophthalmia, non-gonococcal infant conjunctivitis, neonatal pneumonia, etc. HIV can also infect the fetus through the birth canal of pregnant women.

　　（3）Postpartum Infections: Postpartum breastfeeding and close contact between mother and baby can cause infections in the baby. If the mother is HIV-infected, the baby can be infected by eating human milk containing HIV.

　　5. Iatrogenic transmission

　　Improper disinfection of instruments used in medical operations can cause hospital-borne infections. Mainly unsterilized or incompletely sterilized syringes, surgical instruments and other medical instruments that puncture the skin or mucous membranes, causing the spread between patients and doctors and patients, especially the spread of AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

　　6. Artificial insemination, organ transplantation and sexual violence

　　Artificial insemination and organ transplantation can cause the spread of STDs, especially HIV. Children or adults sometimes contract sexually transmitted diseases after being raped.