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概述-术语
Introduction - Terms
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维纳斯
“维纳斯的诞生”（桑德罗·波提切利，1445-1510）
Venus
After “The Birth of Venus”
by Sandro Botticelli
(1445-1510)
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经由性传播的传染病和虫害侵扰性疾病现在通常被称为性传播疾病[
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)]。另外的表达是性传播传染病[sexually transmitted infections
(STIs)]。这个术语把经由虫害侵扰性疾病排除在外了，诸如疥疮和阴虱等就排除在外；但是，它把无症状和症状显露之前的性传播传染病包括在内了。既然现在的教程主要讨论传染病的可能后果，也就是疾病及其症状，我们在此使用性传播疾病这个术语。
过去，人们也惯常使用“社会病”，或使用更具诗意的称谓“维纳斯病”[（"venereal diseases"——照字面意思，因维纳斯引起的疾病；维纳斯是古罗马的爱神。）（中国几乎所有的文献里，以前将它翻译成性病——译者注）]。
这些术语都不精确。毕竟说来，后两个术语显然是委婉说法，主要为了避免公开地谈论到性（“社会病”的称谓倒说得过去，因为疾病的传染也与人们的行为有关；“维纳斯病”的称谓却是有性别歧视的嫌疑。——译者注）。另一方面，将其称为“性传播的”，也不完全令人满意，因为，事实上所有的传染性疾病都能够通过身体密切接触而传播，也包括性接触传播。（法国国王路易斯八世死于天花。）至于性传播传染病与虫害侵扰性疾病都应该包括在性传播疾病内的决断因而是略微武断的。不过，当今在医学实践中，大家普遍认可有关性传播疾病的病名标准，我们也以此标准为基础展开往下的讨论。
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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. |
