Traveling to Japan:‍ A Rising Concern⁣ for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Taiwanese visitors ​to Japan have exceeded ​571,700 in July, ⁢setting another record high.​ However, with the rise in tourism,‍ there’s also‌ a growing concern for sexually​ transmitted diseases (STDs)⁣ among⁣ travelers.

According to statistics from ⁢Japan’s National Institute⁤ of Infectious Diseases, syphilis cases have increased for three ‍consecutive years starting in ​2021, with as many as 14,906 cases in 2023, setting a ‌new record. The Japanese⁢ media “Asahi Shimbun” even described⁤ the current ‍spread of syphilis as “once in 50 years.”

Urologist Gu ‌Fangyu shared a patient’s tragic experience. “This 30-year-old man is an office⁣ worker in the ‍financial industry. He was single and traveled to ⁢Japan a while ago. He heard that⁣ there were ‍many women standing on‌ the wall ‍in Okubo Park near Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Japan, and the prices‍ are cheap, so he went to see them.”

Gu Fangyu‍ said, “The man was wearing a⁢ condom ‌at first, but later the woman ‌claimed ‘no condom and no extra money’, so ⁤she is excited ‘she brought‌ a ⁢gun to fight’ ‌and even used her mouth.” ‍Unexpectedly, after returning to Taiwan, the‍ man discovered a rash ​all⁤ over⁣ his body and severe pain in his neck.

After testing, I found gonorrhea ​in the mouth and syphilis in the lower body. Fortunately, ⁤gonorrhea and syphilis‍ can‍ be cured. The​ virus⁤ can be⁣ controlled by taking oral⁢ antibiotics or penicillin. However, you will⁢ not be immune ⁤to‍ this in the⁣ future, so you still‌ have to stick to the principle ‌of safe ⁢sex,” Gu Fangyu said.

In addition to ‍Japan, cases of syphilis​ have continued to surge in South Korea and⁤ the United States.​ In South Korea, 1,881 people have been‌ infected between January and August this year, far more than four times the number in the⁣ same period last year. The United States, when statistics are collected in 2022,‍ more than 210,000 people will be​ infected throughout the country.

Taiwan has⁢ also‌ seen an‍ increase in syphilis and gonorrhea infections among those aged 15 to ⁢24. Syphilis even⁣ increased by almost 20%.

Dermatologist Wu ‌Mingying said that the course of syphilis is divided into three stages. The symptoms of the first stage ⁤of syphilis are painless ulcers that last for about 2 to 6 weeks. The second stage,‍ the most common is a special red rash on the limbs, and‌ some people may experience abnormal hair loss normally.

In the third stage,⁢ the ⁣virus will begin to attack different organs of the body, such as the nervous system and the cardiovascular‌ system, causing irreversible damage. Therefore, ⁣if you suspect symptoms, you should seek medical ‍treatment quickly to avoid regretting it.