Trends of sexually transmitted infections in a tertiary care center: A5 year’s analysis

Abstract
Background: Knowledge of the changing trends of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in different geographical regions in association with the epidemiological factors prevailing in the respective geographic areas of a country is necessary for proper planning and implementation of STIs control strategies. Aim: the aim of the study to determine the current trends of STI in a Tertiary Care Referral Center of Delhi (North India) in 2014-2018 and comparing this data with relevant published data from different parts of India.Materials and Methods: This hospital-based, retrospective study was conducted from January 2014 to December 2018 at Apex Regional STD Center Safdar Jung hospital, Department of Skin and STD on patients attending sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic. Diagnosis was made clinically by expert doctors and, if required, appropriate specimen were taken and tested in STD laboratory. Results: A total of 37,549 patients, 24,995 (66.56%) male and 12,554 (33.43%) females, attended the STI OPD during study period. A trend of increasing total STI cases was observed from 2014 to 2018. Upon analyzing the trends of various STIs, the most common presenting symptoms was of vaginal discharge1847 (4.9%) which was most commonly due to candidal vulvo-vaginitis, 793 (42.9%), followed by bacterial vaginosis348 (18.8%) and trichomonal vaginitis 83 (4.4%).The second common presentation was genital ulcer, 1647(4.38%), which was predominantly caused by herpes genitalis 1212(73.6%). Number of lab confirmed Syphilis were 842 (2.2%). Genital warts were reported 1127(3%) in number and 305(0.81%) urethral discharge cases were diagnosed as the gonococcal urethritis 170(55.7%) and non-gonococcal urethritis 135(44.26%) respectively.Conclusion: In our study most common STI reported was vaginal discharge followed by genital ulcers. A rising trend of viral STI and syphilis was observed from 2014-2018. Gonococcal urethritis was ongoing with its declining trend, by and large similar as mentioned in studies in other regions of India.