In the hustle and bustle of the city, Li Qing is drinking and chatting with her girlfriend in a small café on the side of the road, Li Qing has long silky hair and clear eyes, with a bit of playfulness. But today, she was nervous because of an inadvertent decision.
"I'm so stupid, how can I trust that person so easily?" Li Qing shook her head and laughed at herself.
The best friend took her hand and comforted her in a gentle tone: "Qingqing, it is normal for people to make mistakes, and the key is to learn from them." ”
Li Qing sighed, she knew that her best friend was right. Recalling that night, when she met that handsome guy, everything seemed so good, and it was only later that she realized that she had not only been deceived by her feelings, but also contracted the disease.
"I... I checked it out and it was... It's a sexually transmitted disease. Li Qing's voice was barely audible.
My best friend's eyes instantly became serious: "What? Are you feeling unwell?
"Go, the doctor said..."Li Qing paused and bit her lip, "It's syphilis and genital herpes." ”
"Ah, these two diseases..."The girlfriend suddenly became a little at a loss, she had heard of these diseases, but she didn't know the specifics.
In fact, what Li Qing and her best friend don't know is that syphilis and genital herpes are marked for life once they are infected. Below, as a public health doctor, I will take you through an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of the two sexually transmitted diseases.
Harm of syphilis and genital herpes
First, let's talk about syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Its pathogens are tiny, but they can cause complex immune responses in the human body. The danger of syphilis is that its symptoms are variable, from simple painless sores to severe cardiovascular and neurological damage over the years if left untreated.
Genital herpes, on the other hand, is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), specifically HSV-2. Once infected, the virus "lurks" in the ganglia and can recur when the immune system is low, even if there are no symptoms. Although the current level of medical science cannot completely eradicate HSV, antiviral drugs can effectively control the disease and reduce transmission.
Why are these two diseases marked for life once infected?
This is related to their biology and the body's immune response. Treponema pallidum is extremely sensitive to the environment, and it needs mild humidity within the host cell to survive. This is an elongated, spiral-shaped pathogen called spirochetes, and syphilis is just one member of a large family of spirochetes that are transmitted through sexual contact.
What is scary about it is that it has a long incubation period and complex and variable symptoms. Medically, the course of syphilis can be divided into early and late stages. Early symptoms may appear as simple ulcers, which can be controlled if treated properly. However, if neglected, pathogens can gradually invade the internal organs, causing serious damage to the heart, brain and even bones. Even after treatment, specific antibodies persist in the body and become an indelible marker, with long-term effects on the patient's psychological and social life.
It is also able to evade the host's immune system and avoid timely clearance, while the resulting antibodies are lifelong and cannot be eliminated even with treatment.
Treatment of syphilis is mainly with penicillin antibiotics, but the key is early diagnosis and treatment to prevent it from spreading to deeper tissues and causing irreversible damage.
In contrast, the management of genital herpes is more complex. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), which is able to retreat into the body's nerve cells after initial infection, forming a latent infection. When the body's immunity is weakened, such as when you are under stress, infected with other viruses, or have a change in your menstrual cycle, the virus may reactivate and herpes may reappear.
Such recurrent nature of attacks makes it difficult for infected people to live their lives, and although we cannot completely clear the virus, we can reduce symptoms and prolong the seizure-free period with antiviral treatment.
Strategies to prevent syphilis and shingles
Prevention of syphilis
1. Safe sex: Using condoms is one of the most effective ways to prevent syphilis. While condoms do not provide 100% protection because syphilis sores can appear outside of condom coverage, it significantly reduces the risk of transmission.
2. Sexual Partner Screening: Get tested regularly for STDs, especially if you have a new sexual partner. Ensuring that your partner is also tested and treated can reduce the chances of cross-infection.
3. Avoid high-risk behaviors: Limit the number of sexual partners and avoid sexual contact with people with STD symptoms.
4. Health education: Raising public awareness of syphilis, including how it spreads, risk factors, and prevention methods, is an important public health strategy.
5. Prompt treatment: For patients who have been infected with syphilis, antibiotic treatment should be given as soon as possible to prevent further spread of the disease.
Prevention of shingles
Herpes zoster is caused by a recurrence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), so its prevention strategy differs from that of syphilis.
1. Varicella vaccine: Chickenpox vaccination is the first step to prevent shingles. The vaccine can prevent the initial infection with chickenpox, which reduces the risk of developing shingles in the future.
2. Herpes zoster vaccine: For the elderly, especially adults over the age of 50, vaccination with herpes zoster vaccine can reduce the likelihood of onset and complications such as postherpetic neuralgia.
3. Boost the immune system: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as moderate exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep, can strengthen the immune system and reduce the chance of virus recurrence.
4. Manage chronic diseases: Chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, may weaken the immune system. Effective management of these conditions can help prevent the onset of shingles.
5. Stress reduction: Long-term stress can suppress the function of the immune system. Learning stress management techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing, can help maintain physical and mental health.
In summary, the prevention of syphilis and shingles focuses on personal habits and self-hygiene, so that the maximum prevention can be achieved.
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