Clinico-epidemiological profile of patients with sexually transmitted infections at a tertiary care centre

Abstract

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are one of the most disastrous events of human health causing huge psychosocial and economic morbidity in young and sexually active adults. Population explosion, migration from rural to urban areas, commercial sex and lack of awareness has all led to enormous spread of STIs in the community. Their epidemiological profile varies from country to country and from one region to another within a country. This study highlights the pattern of STIs in patients as seen at our hospital for a period of 2 years. Aim: To study the clinico-epidemiological profile of the patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections. Methods and Material: This study was conducted at Dept. of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy at PDU Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat. This included 300 consecutive symptomatic STI patients presenting to the clinic between November-2013 to October-2015. Diseases were diagnosed on the basis of detailed history, clinical examination and relevant investigations. Results: Most common age group affected was 21-30 years (39%). Incidence of STI was high among Males (75.33%). Married persons were more commonly affected (55.33%) as compared to unmarried. Herpes Genitalis (42.33%) was the most common STI followed by Genital warts (27.33%), Genital Molluscum Contagiosum (16.67%). The overall sero-prevalence of HIV among the STI patients was-19% and Herpes Genitalis was most commonly associated with sero-positivity.Conclusion: Study concluded that bacterial STIs are having declining trend and viral STIs are having upward trend. The persistent and recurrent nature of viral infections is responsible for their increasing trend in the current STI scenario.