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概述-術語
Introduction - Terms
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維納斯
“維納斯的誕生”（桑德羅·波提切利，1445-1510）
Venus
After “The Birth of Venus”
by Sandro Botticelli
(1445-1510)
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經由性傳播的傳染病和蟲害侵擾性疾病現在通常被稱為性傳播疾病[
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)]。另外的表達是性傳播傳染病[sexually transmitted infections
(STIs)]。這個術語把經由蟲害侵擾性疾病排除在外了，諸如疥瘡和陰虱等就排除在外；但是，它把無症狀和症狀顯露之前的性傳播傳染病包括在內了。既然現在的教程主要討論傳染病的可能後果，也就是疾病及其症狀，我們在此使用性傳播疾病這個術語。
過去，人們也慣常使用“社會病”，或使用更具詩意的稱謂“維納斯病”[（"venereal diseases"——照字面意思，因維納斯引起的疾病；維納斯是古羅馬的愛神。）（中國幾乎所有的文獻裏，以前將它翻譯成性病——譯者注）]。
這些術語都不精確。畢竟說來，後兩個術語顯然是委婉說法，主要為了避免公開地談論到性（“社會病”的稱謂倒說得過去，因為疾病的傳染也與人們的行為有關；“維納斯病”的稱謂卻是有性別歧視的嫌疑。——譯者注）。另一方面，將其稱為“性傳播的”，也不完全令人滿意，因為，事實上所有的傳染性疾病都能夠通過身體密切接觸而傳播，也包括性接觸傳播。（法國國王路易士八世死於天花。）至於性傳播傳染病與蟲害侵擾性疾病都應該包括在性傳播疾病內的決斷因而是略微武斷的。不過，當今在醫學實踐中，大家普遍認可有關性傳播疾病的病名標準，我們也以此標準為基礎展開往下的討論。
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Diseases resulting from sexually transmitted infections and infestations are now generally known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Another expression often used is sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This term excludes infestations such as scabies and crab lice, but includes infections without symptoms or before symptoms have appeared. Since the present course deals mainly with the possible consequences of infections, i.e. diseases and their symptoms, we are speaking here of STDs.
In the past, people also used to speak of “social diseases” or, more poetically, of "venereal diseases" (literally, diseases attributed to Venus, the ancient Roman goddess of love).
None of these terms is very precise. After all, the last two are obvious euphemisms used mainly in order to avoid talking openly about sex. On the other hand, calling the diseases “sexually transmitted” is not entirely satisfactory either, because virtually all infectious diseases can be transmitted by close physical contact, including sexual intercourse. (The French king Louis XV died of a sexually transmitted smallpox infection.) The decision as to which infections and infestations should be included among the STD's is therefore somewhat arbitrary. Nevertheless, today there is general agreement in medical practice about a standard list of STDs, and this list is also used as a basis for the following discussions. |
