Self-treatment for sexually transmitted diseases

Author: Xie Guanghui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: In recent years, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in China has been increasing year by year. According to the 2000 National STD Epidemic Report, among the eight STDs mandated by the Ministry of Health for reporting, the annual incidence rate increased by 2.59% compared to the previous year. Except for gonorrhea and syphilis, the incidence of the remaining six STDs showed growth, with non-gonococcal urethritis (cervicitis) having the largest increase (31.71%). In all 31 provinces (municipalities, and autonomous regions) across the country, 21 reported a higher number of cases compared to the previous year. These figures do not include a significant portion of patients who sought treatment in private or informal clinics or were missed from reporting. This increasingly severe trend of STDs has, on one hand, made the general public constantly feel the threat of STDs while traveling, engaging in business, or even in daily life. On the other hand, it has given rise to a large number of quacks. The tragedies of people losing their families' fortunes due to being deceived by quacks, suffering severe complications from delayed treatment, or being misdiagnosed with STDs without actually having them are frequently reported in the media. Faced with such a complex situation, how to enable the general public to understand basic knowledge about STDs, identify suspicious symptoms early, and obtain correct and effective treatment promptly to avoid falling into the traps of quacks has become an urgent task for healthcare workers and relevant government departments. This is also the original intention behind the compilation and publication of this book. We hope that after reading this book, readers will gain useful knowledge and reduce the social and family harm caused by STDs to the minimum extent possible.